Fueling Discovery 2024

FUELING DISCOVERY

RESEARCHIS THEFOUNDATION

OFOURLIBERALARTSEDUCATION

ThefundamentalstrengthofUW–Madison’sCollegeofLetters&Scienceexperience isthatitisbroadandinherentlyinterdisciplinary —characteristicsthatserveuswell inanever-changingglobalcommunity.

Throughtheartsandhumanities,socialsciences,biologicalandphysicalsciences,andthecomputer,data andinformationalsciences,ourliberalartseducation preparesstudentstounderstandandappreciatearange ofdisciplines,tothinkcriticallyandtocommunicatewell. Weensurethatourstudentsunderstandnotjustwhatwe knowabouttheworld,buthowthatknowledgeisbuilt.We callthistheactof“siftingandwinnowing,”aprinc ipalthat isthecoreofourteachingphilosophyandaskillthatis invaluableforourgraduateswellbeyondtheirtimeatUW.

Onemajorwaythatweputthesewordsintoactionisby prioritizingresearchaspartoftheL&Sexperience.UW–Madisonisoneofthetop-ratedresearchinstitutionsin theworld,whichmeansthec ampusispositivelyhumming withdiscovery.Andmuchofthegroundbreakingfindings fromtheuniversityarecomingfromresearchersinthe CollegeofLetters&Science.Wi thexpertsinfieldsrangingfromcomputerscienceandphysicstojournalismand history,weareattheforefrontofresearchthatanswers someofthetoughestquestionsfacingoursocietytoday.

Icannotoverstatetheimportanceofcuriosity-driven research.MyL&Scolleaguesaredrivenbyquestionsof howandwhy.Weseektounderstandthenaturalworldwe inhabit,beitthecomplexfunctionsofEarth’satmosphere andclimate,freshwaterecosystemsortheuniverseasa whole.Wearedr iventounderstandhowweashumans interactwithoneanotherasindividualsandassocieties, andhowtheseinteractionshavechangedoverthecourse ofhumanhistory.L&Sresearchisalsoinspiredbythinking aboutourpoliticalsystems,ourhistoriesandourcultures andthesometimesdifficulttruthsthisthinkingreveals. Astechnology—includingtherecentsurgeofAI—has changedourworld,weseeaneedtounderstandhowthis changeslifeforworkers,familiesandeverydaycitizens.

Thiseditionof“ FuelingDiscovery”isacelebrationofthe researchthatisthelifebloodoftheCollegeofLetters& Science.Itisourmissiontoaddressandtacklethemost challengingandimportantquestionsofourtime.Wesee thissupplementofthe WisconsinStateJournal asan opportunitytoshareourworkwithourfellowWisconsinites.InthespiritoftheWisconsinIdea,theresearch wedoinL&Sdirectlybenefitsthecitizensofourstate, countryandworld.Inthesepagesyou’llreadessaysfrom facultymemberswhoareattheforefrontoftheirfields andmakingcutting-edgediscoveriescoveringtopics includingthewaysquantumcomputingisrevolutionizing modern-daytechnology,how plantsareadaptingtoour changingclimatesandtheformerlyuntoldhistoryofhow BlackpeopleshapedtheearlyMidwest.

You’llalsohearfromourstudents,whohaveunparalleled accessandopportunitiestocontributetothediscoveries beinguncoveredthroughresearchonourcampus.Being abletoworkwithfacultymentorsasanundergraduate studyingastronomyshapedmyowncareer,andI’mproud thatourstudentssharethatsameexperiencetoday. ThroughprogramslikeUndergraduateResearchScholars(URS),LettersandScienceExcellenceinResearch (LASER)andL&SSTEMScholars,ourundergraduate studentsareinthefieldandatthelabworkingside-bysidewithfacultyandgraduatestudents.TakeAhmia Williams-Walshforexample.She’sapartofateaminthe DepartmentofChemistry’sHermansResearchGroup thatistacklingoneoftheworld’smostpressingchallenges:Howcanweproduceplasticinawaythatlessensthe environmentalimpact?Theworkbeingdonebyherand theresearchteamcouldhavethelong-termindustryimpactofdecreasingcarbonemissions.Andshe’sjustone ofthreeoutstandingundergraduatestudentsfeatured

inthispublication,whorepresentasmallsamplingofthe talentontheUW–Madisoncampus.

Throughthebreadthof L&Swearedrawntotherealizationthatresearch,innovationandcreativityarethe enginesthatdrivediscovery.Byfuelingdiscoverytoday, weareinvestinginourfutureandthatofourchildrenand theworldtheywillinherit.

ABOUTTHEDEAN

ERICM.WILCOTS isthedeanoftheCollegeofLetters&Science andtheMaryC.JacobyProfessorofAstronomyintheDepartmentof Astronomy,hishomedepartmentsince1995.DeanWilcotsiscommitted tocreatinganenvironmentwhereallcansucceedandthrive.In2020, helaunchedtheDean’sInitiativeforDiversity,EquityandInclusionand createdtheSTEMScholarsprogram,whichprovidescriticalsupport forL&Sstudentsenteringtheuniversitywithaninterestinscience, technology,engineeringormath.Heiscurrentlypresidingoverthe designandconstructionofanewL&Sacademicbuilding,Irvingand DorothyLevyHall,aswellasanewfacilityfortheSchoolofComputer, Data&InformationSciences,MorgridgeHall.DeanWilcotsisdedicated topromotingoutreachandtheWisconsinIdeaandservesasco-chairof theWisconsinScienceFestival.

DeanEricM.Wilcots(Photo:PauliusMusteikis)

DeanEricM.WilcotswelcomesthenewestclassofCollegeofLetters&Sciencestudentstocampusattheconvocationevent.(Photo:IsabelleDelfosse) -Coverphoto:GettyImages

ERICM.WILCOTS

DeanandMaryC.JacobyProfessorofAstronomy

KATEMCCULLOH

RebeccaBlankProfessorandAssociateProfessor, DepartmentofBotany

A NGIEWHITE

ExecutiveDirector,SuccessWorks

DANCAVANAGH

Director,PamelaO.Hamel/MusicBoardofAdvisors

ChairandProfessor,MeadWitterSchoolofMu sic

SUNNYS.YUDKOFF

AssociateProfessor,DepartmentofGerman, Nordic,andSlavic+andMosse/WeinsteinCenterforJewishStudies

TOMERICKSON

FoundingDirectorandExecutiveAssociateDeanofStrategyand Innovation,SchoolofComputer,Data&InformationSciences

CHRISTYCLARK-PUJARA

ChairandProfessor,DepartmentofAfricanAmericanStudies

MARKERIKSSON

INDEXOFCONTRIBUTORS

JohnBardeenProfessorandChair,DepartmentofPhysics

KATHLEENBARTZENCULVER

Director,ProfessorandJamesE.BurgessChairinJournalismEthics, SchoolofJournalisman dMassCommunication

COREYJACKSON

AssistantProfessor,TheInformationSchool

HOWARDOWENS

UndergraduateinPsychology

GRÁINNEMCDONAGH

UndergraduateinHealthPromotionandHealthEquity withaCertificateinGender&Women’sStudies

AHMIAWILLIAMS-WALSH

UndergraduateinChemistry,BiochemistryandSociology

SECTIONSTAFF

CollegeofLetters&ScienceDean: ERICM.WILCOTS

L&SAssistantDeanofStrategicCommunicationsandAdvancement: DENISEP.HICKEY

L&SEditorandContentStrategist: ALLIWATTERS

L&SCreativeServicesSpecialist: CARLING.SOOD

L&SSeniorUniversityRelationsSpecialist: AARONR.CONKLIN

Photographer: ISABELLEDELFOSSE

THEREMARKABLE ADAPTABILITY OFPLANTS

Youknowtheinconspicuoushouseplantinyourkitchenwindow? Ithassuperpowers. It,andnearlyallplants,harnesstheenergyinthesun’sgoldenbeams toconvertcarbondioxidefromtheairintousablesugarsthatpowertheircellularprocesses. Essentially,plantsusesunlighttoeatair.

UndergraduateresearcherAvaCoppleexplainsherresearchto ChancellorJenniferL.Mnookinatthe2023Researchinthe RotundaintheWisconsinStateCapitol.

Istillremembersittinginclassasanundergraduateand learningaboutthisprocess.Ihadheardofphotosynthesis before,butneverhadIreallythoughtaboutthetransformationofinorganiccarbondioxideintosugarsassomethingsocompletelyprofound.EachfallItrytoconveythe importanceofthisprocessinmyIntroductoryBiology course.Wedon’tcoverthegorydetailsofthebiochemistry—Ileavethatjoyformoreadvancedclasses—butinsteadfocusonthebeautyofthecycleofphotosynt hesis. Nearlyalltheoxygeninouratmosphere,whichwerequire tosurvive,isabiproductofphotosynthesis.

Plants’remarkablefeaturesdon’tstopatphotosynthesis, andtheresearchteamIleadinUW–Madison’sbotany departmentaimstouncovermorebyansweringafundamentalquestion:Howdoorganismsthatcannotmove acrossalandscapetoleratethevariousinsultstheworld hurlsatthem?Animals,incontrast,moveintothesun whentheyarechilly,ortheshadeiftheyarehot , orquicklyawayiftheyfeelthreatened.Plantshavenone ofthesesolutionsasoptions.Instead,theircomplex physiologyrespondstoeachofthesethreatsinoften quitesubtleways.Thesolutionsthatplantsemploydiffer amongspecies,varyingwiththeclimateinwhichthose speciesevolved.

Ourchangingclimatehasmadeunderstandinghow plantsworkevenmoreimperative.Globally,photosynthesisremovesanenormousamountofcarbondioxide fromtheatmosphereeachyear,ebbin gtheincreaseof greenhousegassesinourairfromouruseoffossilfuels. Muchoftheworkinourresearchgroupisfocusedonunderstandinghowphotosynthesisislimitedbythestresses inplants’habitats,forexampledroughtandhighorlow

temperatures.Partofthisinvolvesquantifyinghowmuch plantscanshifttheirbodyplanandfunctioninresponse tostresses.

OnerecentcollaborationwithUW–Madisoncolleagues TomGivnish–theHenryAllanGleasonProfessorof BotanyandEnvironmentalStudies–andScientist DuncanSmithexploredtheseideasin10speciesof eucalyptustreesthatnaturallygrowinareasthatdiffer intheamountofrainfalltheyreceiveannually.Ourstudy speciesrangedfromtreesthatreach100meterstall growinginthemoistmountainsnorthwestofMelbourne, Australiatostuntedtreesthattopoutatfivemetersand survivetheharsharidityofAustralia’sOutback.Wegrew individualsfromeachofthese10speciesineachoffour sitesalongthisgradientinwateravailability—fromthe wetmountainsidesinthesouthwesttothedryinteriorof Victoria,Australia–andmeasuredvarioustraitsrangingfromtheirphotosyntheticrates,tohowmuchwater stresstheyexperienced,totheirsizes.Welearnedthat speciescanadjustseveraltraitsthatimprovetheirability togrowineitherwetterordrierconditionsthanthosein whichtheyevolvedbutareunabletoadjustenoughto growaswellasintheirhomeconditions.

Theseresultsprovideusefulinsightintothelimitson species’abilitytoadjusttothenewconditionscreatedbyourchangingclimate.Aspartofthisproject,we alsoofferedacourseinwhichwetook14UW–Madison undergraduateandgraduatestudentsona16-daytripto Victoria,Australia,wherethestudentslearnedaboutthe ecologyandevolutionofAustralianplantsandanimals andconductedindependentresearchprojectsthatthey haddevelopedduringourpreparativeseminar.

Ourlabgrouphasworkedonseveralotherprojectsto understandhowplantsrespondtotheirenvironment.We havestudiedhowcycads(anancientgroupofseedplants whooutlivedthedinosaurs)evolvedtotoleratedrought stress,thetraitsthatallowWisconsin’streesandshrubs toliveintheirhabitats,howspeciesdifferintheirabilitytotakeupwaterthroughtheirleaves,whatlimitsthe growthofsomeoftheworld’stallesttrees,andhowspeciesthathaveevolvedwithregularfiresbothsurvivefires butalsofacilitatefires.Ourlabgrouppridesourselveson involvingundergraduatesinmeaningfulresearchexperiences,andwehaveworkedwithstudentswhohavegone ontograduateschool,industryandgovernmentagencies,butalsomedical,denta landlawschool.Learning abouttheremarkableadaptationsofplantsspecifically, butalsohowtoaskscientificquestionsgenerally,isenriching,rewarding,andfun!

ABOUTTHEAUTHOR

KATEMCCULLOH isanassociateprofessorinUW–Madison’sDepartmentof BotanyandtheinauguralRebeccaBlank Professor.Herresearchexploreshow plantstolerateenvironmentalstresses suchasdrought.Shehasstudiedpl antsin manyhabitats,includingtemperateforests,temperateandtropicalrainforests, grasslandsandsavannas.

ScientistDuncanSmithusesaverylong“selfiestick”tocapturethecondition ofyoungeucalyptustreesgrowinginoneofthecommongardensinAustralia.

PREPARING STUDENTS FORADYNAMIC

Whatistheroleofaliberalartseducation inanerawhentechnologieslikeartificial intelligencearerapidlytransformingthe workforce? Forstudentslikesophomore KittyWang,afirst-generationstudentfrom Franklinmajoringininformationscienceand English,theanswerisstraightforward. SUCCESSWORKS

Byfollowingtheirpassionsandsupplementingtheirclassroomknowledgewithhands-onexperience,studentsin theCollegeofLetters&Sciencearedevelopingthedurable,flexibleskillsthatareincreasinglysoughtbyemployers andessentialtobuildingsuccessfullong-termcareers.

Assheleanedintoherinformationsciencecourses, Kittydiscoveredshelovedcraftingcomputercodeto solveproblemsandcreateuser-friendlyexperiences. ButKittyalsohasapassionforliterature,whichismore thanjustan enjoyableadditiontohereducation.Through theEnglishmajor,saysKitty,“I’mdevelopingskillslike analyticalthinking,gatheringinformationefficientlyand writingforamultitudeofaudiences.”

Asafirst-generationstudent,Kittydecideditwasimperativetogetanearlystartexploringthewiderangeof careeroptionsunlockedbyanL&Sdegree.Shestarted byenrollingintheL&Scareercourse,whereshebuilther resumeandlearnedhowtouse,articulateandbuild upon whatshewaslearninginherclasses.

Recent,rapidtransformationsofthejobmarketare topicsoflivelydiscussionamongmycareeradvisingcolleaguesatSuccessWorks,wherestudentsintheCollege ofLetters&Sciencecometotranslatethevalueoftheir academicdegreesintosuccessfulcareersbeyondgraduation.We’rehearingfromemployersthatthechanges

WORKFORCE

takingplaceintheeconomyandjobmarketunderscore andamplifythecorevalueofadegreefromL&S.

Arecentanalysis bytheprofessionalsocialmedia networkLinkedInfoundthatmorethanhalfofcurrent LinkedInmembershavejobspoisedtobe“disruptedor augmented”byAI.Thestudyalsofound90%ofglobal executivessurveyedagreedthat“human”skillssuchas communication,leadership,projectmanagementand teamworkaremoreimportantthanever.Theseareexactlytheskillsbeingcultivatedbystudentsin65majors withintheCollegeofLetters&Science,whichserves thestateofWisconsina savitalengineforequipping studentswiththeskillstheyneedtothriveintoday’s workforce,andtheworkforceoftomorrow.

Throughcareeradvisingandprograms,SuccessWorks showsL&Sstudentshowtobuildbridgesbetweentheir majorsandcareers.Ouradvisors,alumnimentorsand partnersinacademicdepartmentsencouragestudents tobuildontheirclassroomexperiencesbytryingout differentcareerpathsanddevelopingthehands-onskills thatactivatethevalueoftheL&Sdegree.

Kitty receivedvitalexperiencethroughtheSuccessWorks jobshadowprogram,whereshesatinonmeetingsand discussionswiththeCEOofaprominenttechfirmbased intheMidwest.“ThekeyinsightItookawaywasthat

L&SstudentsnetworkwithalumniandemployersataSuccessWorksevent.

technologyintersectswithsomanyindustries,and ‘techjobs’cantakeonsomanydifferentforms,”shesays. Wisconsin-basedEpicSystems—aSuccessWorks EmployerPartner—isamongthetoprecruitersof L&Sgraduates.“L&Sstudentsinanutshellarecreative, brighta nddriven,”saysrecruiterAmandaS.Mui.“While we’reahealthcareITcompany,wehireallmajors,and we’recontinuouslyimpressedbytheuniqueperspectives anddiversityofthoughtL&Sstudentsbringtothetable.” Thisisthesortofdynamic,people-firstworkplace KittyWangknowsherL&Sdegreeispreparingherfor asshereadiesforacareerinuserexperiencedesign. “AnL&Sdegreeopensthedoortocultivatingmeaningful experiences,”shesays.“Skillssuchascreativityandanalyzingcomplexproblemsaredevelopedandvaluedbymy professorsandalsointhecareersI’mexploring.”

ABOUTTHEAUTHOR

ANGIEWHITE istheexecutivedirectorfor SuccessWorksatUW–Madison’sCollegeof Letters&Science.Whiteholdsamaster’s degreeineducationfromtheUniversityof Minnesotaandhasmorethan25yearsof experienceasacareerservicesleader,most ofwhichincludesservingL&Sstudents.

Curiosity-drivenscienceallowsustoaskquestionsabouthowtheworldworks. Whenwedothat,wedon’tknowwhatwe’regoingtofind.Mostmajor breakthroughsinhumanhealthcamefromexploringunexpectedplaces.

—PhilNewmark, regenerativebiologist

M USIC ANDTHEHUMANSPIRIT

Inthisageofrapidlydevelopingartificialintelligenceandvasttechnologicalacceleration, Ioftenwonderaboutthosedistinctfeatures thatmakeushuman —thoseactivitiesandthoughtsthatdistinguishusfromnotonlyotherlivingbeings,butalsofrommachines.

Asacomposerandpianist,oneofmyprimarygoals throughmyworkistocreatemusicdesignedtoengage eachofusinthisimportantconsiderationofourcollectivehumanity.Whyisitsoimportantforustoengagein suchcontemplation?Inmanyways,it’soneofthemost importantquestionswecanreflectupon.Otherwise,we mightaswellturnoverourfuturetodeterministiccomputingalgorithms.It’snodifferentthanlookingupatthesky onamoonlessnight,farawayfromcitylights,perhapsup inthenorthwoodsofWisconsin.Ponderingavastuniverse andmarvelingatourminisculeplaceintheMilkyWayhas alwaysgivenmeasenseofreverenceandgratitudeforour seeminglyimpossibleexistence.Forme,likemanypeople, thiswonderatthecosmosisakintonothingshortofa spiritualorreligiousexperience.Ifindthatthebestmusical momentsarenodifferent—theyprovidemewithaknowledgeandclearunderstandingofoursharedhumanitythat Ican’taccessanywhereelse.Thispursuitofpurehuman spiritisthedriverofmylife’swork,ofmypassiontobring similarexperiencestopeoplearoundtheworld.

Thenatureofunderstandinghowhumansknowsomethingcomprisesabranchofphilosophycalledepistemology,orthestudyofknowledge.Perhapsthemostfamiliar typeofknowledgeisasetoffactsthatwecanjustify throughrationalargument,suchasastatementlike, “ThecapitalofWisconsinisMadisonbecausehistorical recordsshowthatthele gislaturepassedalawtomakeit soin1836.”

Thereareothertypesofknowledge,however,suchas knowinghowtodosomething,orknowinganindividual. Myworkasamusician,likethatofmanyotherartists, revolvesaroundproducingaestheticknowledge,thetype ofknowledgeonegainsfromapowerfulaestheticexperience.Thisknowledgeisindividualandintricate,andvery human.Itcanemergefrommanydirections—anintense hiphopconcertbyyourfavoriteartist,anundergroundpoetryreading,animmersivefilmoraworkonabrickwallby Banksy.Thisunderstandingexistsatamoreabstractlevel fromfactualcomprehension,somethingnotneedingthe constructsoflanguagetocementitselfatthecoreofyour being.Myworkhasproventomethatthebestmusical experiences,whetherasaperformerorlistener,summona typeofknowledgenotattainablethroughothermeans. ThegreatAmericanpoetRobertBlytaughtusabout the“poeticleap,”ajourneyfromtheknownpartofthe mindtoth eunknown,andback.Manyoftheworld’smost importantpoemscontainthisleap.Theleapisapsychological“aha,”amomentinwhichthereaderjustgets it.Thisisthelightningboltofunderstanding,ofgaining newknowledgethroughanaestheticexperience.Ihave argued,drawingfromBly,thatthesamethinghappensin manyartforms— theaestheticleap. Itcertainlyhappens inmusic.Thinkaboutthosemomentsinwhichyouhada transcendentalexperiencethroughmusic—mostadult human shave.Forme,thosemomentshappenmostoften inclassicalart,musicorjazz,butthemediummaybe

differentforanyone.Thesemomentsaren’treplaceable withwords.Theyareaboutfeelingandunderstanding, aboutaleapintogreaterhumaninsight.

Ultimately,grapplingwiththequestion(orquestions)of whatmakesushumanhelpsusunderstandourplaceinour communities,inourcountry,onourplanetandinthisuniverse.Thisisthemaindriverofmyteachingpracticeand workinhighereducation.Musicisaprofessionladenwith mentorshippractices.IntheMeadWitterSchoolofMusic, oneofmyjoysistoworkwithmyamazingcolleaguestofacilitateourstudents’internalizationoftheculturalimperativefortheconsiderationofouruniquehumanness.Rarely aweekgoesbyinwhichIamnotawestruckbyastudent’s leapintoafullerunderstandingofthewaysmusiccan promptunderstandinginallofus.Musiciansattheirbest— whetherperforming,composingorrevealingthewonders ofmusicthroughscholarlywork—giveusthosemoments thatilluminatethehumanityweallshare.

ABOUTTHEAUTHOR

DANCAVANAGH isthedirectorofthe MeadWitterSchoolofMusic,PamelaO. Hamel/MusicBoardofAdvisorsChairanda professorofjazzstudiesandcomposition. Hehasbeencommissionedbyawiderange ofclassicalandjazzartiststhroughout NorthAmericaandEurope.Hismusiccontinuestobeperformedandrecordedaround theglobe.

THEEXPANDING YIDDISHBOOKSHELF

It’sanexcitingtimetobeaprofessorofYiddishliterature. Mybookshelfkeepsexpanding! DEPARTMENTOFGERMAN,NORDIC,ANDSLAVIC+

Thisoftencomesasasurprisetomystudents.Yiddish isthehistoriclanguageofcentralandeastEuropean Jewryanditsdiasporiccommunities.Formanytoday,itis seenasalanguageofthepastorasacollectionoffunny words.Buttheseimpressionsneedrevising.

Yiddishcontinuestobethespokenlanguageoflarge Haredicommunities.Infact,thenumberofYiddish speakersisgrowing,notdeclining.Today,knowledgeof Yiddishdrivesgroundbreakingresearchonthelivesand legaciesofJewishcommunitiesaroundtheworld.Plus, Yiddishpoetry,novels,playsandautobiographiescontinuetodelight.

NewreadersarefindingtheirwaytoYiddishliterature— albeitthroughEnglish.Therehas,infact,longbeenan activeAmericanaudienceforYiddishliteratureintranslation.Bythe1960s,volumesofYiddishpoetry,pro seand HolocausttestimonywereavailableinEnglish.Butuntil relativelyrecently,thetextschosenfortranslationwere almostexclusivelywrittenbymen.

Thepast10yearshaswitnessedaseachange.Andthe newwaveoftranslationssharesonethingincommon: thesearebooksauthoredbywomen.

Butuntilrelativelyrecently,thetextschosenfortranslationwereprimarilywrittenbymen.

ThesearewriterswhowereonceknownalmostexclusivelytoreadersofYiddish.What’smore,the irworkwas frequentlydismissedbymale criticssimplybecausethey hadbeenwrittenbywomen.Now,thesetalentedauthors arenotonlyattractingtheattentionofscholarsbutof anewgenerationofreaders.Andtheirworkoffersusa deeperunderstandingofJewishlifeandJewishculture inthe20thcenturyaswellasinsightfulperspectiveson contemporaryproblems.

Karpilove,forexample,examinesissuesofconsentin thedatinglivesofsinglewomeninthecity.Molodowsky narratesth etraumaticeffectsofmigrationonayoung refugeeinAmerica.AndVogel’spoetryaskshowthe constantpresenceofadvertisementsinourlivesdirects howwesee—ordon’tsee—theworldaroundus.

Everydaysexism.Forceddisplacement.Thefrenzyof modernmedia.Thesearejustafewofthethemes ofYiddishwritingbywomen.

MycurrentresearchexplorestheshortfictionofShtok (1890-1990).BorninwhatistodayUkraine,Shtok immigratedtotheUnitedStatesinherlateteens.She went ontopublishshortstoriesprimarilysetinthesmall markettown,or shtetl,ofheryouth.

Forsomeonefamiliarwith FiddlerontheRoof (perhaps thebest-knownversionofaYiddishoriginal),Shtok’s shtetl isunrecognizable.InShtok’sworld,theconcernsof rabbis,milkmenandbutcherstakeabackseat.Instead, thestrivingsofyoungwomentakethelead,astheylong forcontrolovertheirbodies,mindsandfutures.

StudentsnowexperienceYiddishliteratureasatradition thatincludesSh tok,aswellasKarpilove,Molodowsky, Vogelandsomanyothers.Oursyllabicannowcenter women’svoices.

Andthisletsusallreadcanonicaltextsanew.Consider here,again, FiddlerontheRoof. Themusicaladaptsa YiddishtextbythepopularwriterSholemAleichem.It followsthreedaughtersfromthesamefamilyaseach selectsaspouseontheirownratherthanagreetoan arrangedmarriage.

OntheAmericanstageandscreen,theaudiencefocuses ontheheroicactionsofTevye,thefather,andhisultimate decisiontoblessthemarriagesofeachofhisdaughters. ThereisnodoubtthatTevyeisthestaroftheshow. Butwhathappenswhenyoushifttheattention fromTevye’sblessingstohisdaughters’choices? Whoemergeasthedecisionmakers?

FormystudentsstudyingYiddishliterature,womenare nowrecognizablenotonlyassupportingcharactersbut ascreativeforces.Theyhavelongbeenwritinginthe pagesofYiddishliterature.Now,theyarereadytospeak outi nEnglish.Thebookshelfstandsready.

ABOUTTHEAUTHOR

SUNNYS.YUDKOFF isanassociate professorofYiddishstudiesinthe DepartmentofGerman,Nordic,and Slavic+andtheMosse/WeinsteinCenterforJewishStudies.Sheistheauthor of TubercularCapital:Illnessandthe ConditionsofModernJewishWriting (StanfordUniversityPress,2019).

YiddishauthorMiriamKarpiloveentertainsagroupofrelativesandclosefriends.

IGN ITI NG I NNOVATION

NestledintheCollegeofLetters&Scienceisapowerhouseofinnovationanddiscovery that’smakingwavesinourstateandbeyond. TheSchoolofComputer,Data&InformationSciences(CDIS)attheUniversityofWisconsin–Madisonmayhavebeenofficiallyfoundedin2019, butitsrootsrundeeper,stretchingbackoveracentury.

GuestsattheUniversity’s175thanniversarygalasignedabeamthatwillhanginthefutureSchoolofComputer,Data&InformationSciences(CDIS)bui lding.(Photo:AltheaDotzour/UW–Madison)

AtthecoreoftheCDISmissionistheInformationSchool, whichisatreasuretroveofknowledgethathasbeen aroundsince1906.Thinkofitasaguardianofhumanity’s collectivewisdom,fromtheancientscrollsofAlexandria totoday’sdigitalarchivesbuzzingthroughtheinternet. Thisstoryisn’tjustaboutbooksanddatabases,it’salso thedataandknowledgeunderlyingsomeofthemost innovativediscoveriesweseetoday.

Inthisdigitalage,librarieshavetransformed.They’re nolongerjustbuildingsfilledwithbooks—they’revast digitallandscapesyoucanexplorefromanywhereinthe world.Thisaccesshasrevolutionizedhowwediscoverand learn,makingitpossibletodiveintocenturiesofhu

Butwhatdoesthismeanforstudents?Itmeansgetting theirhandsdirtywithactualprojectsthatmatterbecause ourstudentsdon’tjustlearn—theydo.

TakeWISCERS,forinstance,aprogramthatkicksopen thedoortotheworldofcomputinganddatascience. Studentsdiveheadfirstintoresearchareasincomputer sciences,statisticsanddatascience.ThankstopartnershipswithindustrygiantslikeGoogle,studentsgain real-worldexposureandmentorship,settingthestage forfuturesuccess.

forward-thinking.Thisenricheslearningexperiencesand fuelsWisconsin’seconomyandtechnologicalprowess. Bybridgingthegapbetweenacademiaandindustry, CDISensuresitsstudentsarereadyforthefutureand activelyshapingit.

Aswestandonthebrinkofnewdiscoveriesandtechnologicaladvancements,CDISembodiesthespiritof innovationthatmakesWisconsinproud.It’smorethan aschool—it’sabeaconofprogress,accessibilityand opportunity,lightingupthepathforfuturegenerations tofollow.

And while CDIS is rooted in the past, thetruemissionisto shapethefuture.Thinkof theevolutionoflibrariesfrom ancient scrolls to digitalarchivesasametaphor for the CDIS journey. We’re not just witnessinghistor y, we are makingit.

CD I Si s a l

iencesdepartmentinthecountry.Thefirstwomanto earnaPh.D.incomputersciencesgraduatedhere.The statisticsdepartmentwasfoundedin1960bythefamed statisticianGeorgeBox,wellknownforhisstatementthat “allmodelsarewrong,butsomeareuseful.”CDISstands tallamongthenation’selite,withalldepartmentshighly rankedwhilemakingsignificantreal-worldimpact.From artificialintelligencetocybersecurity,CDISisonthe frontlinesofthedigitalfrontier.

TheCDISCapstoneProjecttakesthisastepfurther bypairingteamsofstudentswithcompaniestosolve genuinebusinesschallenges.Imagineworkingwithgiants likeCapitalOneorEpicSystemstobuildsomethingthat couldchangethegame.Fromresearchtoprototype development,studentsareimmersedintheprocess, honingtheirskillsandmakingmeaningfulcontributions.

Thenthere’stheCreativeDestructionLab,whereentrepreneurialdreamsmeettherigorofreal-worldbusiness. Here,studentshelpshapethenextbigstartups,offering freshideasandgettinginvaluableexperienceinreturn.

CDISisn’tjustaboutpreparingstudentsfortheworkforce,it’saboutpreparingthemtoleaditbysolvingthe bigproblemsoftodayandtomorrow.Whetherit’smaking artificialintelligencemoreaccessible,protectingdata fromhackers,designinguser-friendlytechorunraveling themysteriesofbigdata,CDISisattheforefront.

Byfosteringstrongconnectionswithindustrypartners, CDISensuresthatitscurriculumremainsrelevantand

Aswecontinuetopushtheboundariesofwhat’spossible, thecontinuedgrowthandsupportofprogramslike thoseatCDISarecrucial.Byinvestinginprogramsthat empowerstudentstothinkcritically,innovateboldly andcollaborateeffectively,weareshapingthefutureof technology,businessandthestateofWisconsin.

ABOUTTHEAUTHOR

TOMERICKSON isthefoundingdirectorof theSchoolofComputer,Data&Information Sciences(CDIS)andtheexecutiveassociate deanofstrategyandinnovationforCDIS. InadditiontoservingonUW–Madison’slate ChancellorEmeritaRebeccaBlank’sadvisorycouncil,Ericksonco-chairedaworking grouponthefutureofcomputingattheuniversityin2018.Heco-authoredthegroup’s report“WisconsinintheInformationAge.” ThisledtotheformationofCDISin2019.

MakingEducationandTrainingAfterHighSchoolaReality

Earningacredential,certificate,ordegreehasthepowertotransformlives.Itcanleadtofinancialstability, afulfillingcareer,andastrongercommunity.Weworktoelevateopportunitiessolearnersfromlow-income backgroundscanexperiencethattransformation.

Throughour nationaleducationphilanthropy,wefundsystemicchangetoensure learnersfromlow-incomebackgroundshaveapathtoupwardmobilityavailabletothem.

Asa studentandemployeesuccesssolutionsprovider,wesupportcollegesandemployers inpromotingacademicachievement,long-termfinancialwellness,andstudentloan repaymentsuccess.

Inourroleasan educationimpactinvestor,weinvestineducation-focusedcompanies thatcreateanddevelopinnovationstoimprovelearneroutcomes.

Asa federalstudentloanguarantor,wehelpborrowersavoiddefaultingontheirstudent loanorgettheirstudentloanbackingoodstandingifthey’vealreadydefaulted.

Learnmoreat ascendiumeducation.org

U NCOVERING WISCONSIN’SBLACKHISTORY

Asanundergraduatestudent,IhadtheopportunitytoserveasaNationalHistoryDayIntern andaNationalCoca-ColaMuseumFellowattheMinnesotaHistoricalSociety. Thearchivebecamemyfavoriteplace.

Iwasintriguedbythestoriesthatwereembeddedinold letters,diaries,photos,legislative,businessandinsurance records,churchnewsletters,andthemyriadofobjects thatwerestoredandcataloged.Inthemarginsofthevast collectionsthatfocusedonthepowerfulandmajority populations,therewerefragmentsofthelivesofmarginalizedpeoples.IknewIwantedtotelltheirstories.

MyresearchfocusesontheexperiencesofBlacknorthernersandMidwesternersonfarms,andinsmalltowns andcitiesinBritishandFrenchNorthAmericainthe17th, 18thand19thcenturies.SlaveholdingintheNortheastwas legislatedandregulatedwhileslaveholdingintheMidwest wassparse,irregularandreliedoncommunityconsent. Thesocial,politicalandeconomicreachoftheinstitution ofslaveryintheNortheastwasthefocusofmyfirstbook— DarkWork:TheBusinessofSlaveryinRhodeIsland. ContestationsoverraceandcitizenshipintheMidwestare thefocusofmycurrentbook— BlackontheMidwestern Frontier:ContestedFreedominWisconsin,1787—1868. The1787constitutionalbanonslaveholdingintheNorthwestTerritorieswasregularlyviolatedandby1820,there weremorethan1,000peopleheldinbondageintheterritoriesandfreeBlackmenwerebarredorrestrictedfrom votinginallNorthwestTerritoriesstates.Raceandrights havealwaysbeencontestedintheMidwest,andcurrent racialdisparitiesarerootedintheseoften-unacknowledgedhistories.

Mycurrentresearchwasinspiredbystudents.WhenIbeganteachingintheFallof2010,Itoldmystudentsthathistorywaspersonalandinherentlypolitical.Relyingheavily onhistorianGerdaLerner,Itoldthemthathistorymatters becauseitisanessentialpartofwhatmakesushuman. Historyexplainsourplaceintheworldandthehistorieswe

knowandclaimshapeourunderstandingofthosearound us.StudentsnotedthatIhadnospecificmaterialon Wisconsin,andIsoughttoaddressthatomission.

AseriesofshorthistoricalessaysaboutBlackWisconsiniteswrittenbyreferencelibrariansattheWisconsin HistoricalSocietybecamethefoundationofaseriesof lecturesthatIincorporatedintomyIntroductiontoAfrican AmericanHistorycourse.Theyalsoinspiredthe questions thatbecamemycurrentresearchproject:Whatwerethe experiencesofBlackpeopleintheearlyMidwestandhow didtheyshapetheregion?Morespecifically,howdidthe limitedpracticeofrace-basedslavery,themigrationand settlementoffreeBlackpeopleanddebatesoverabolition andBlackrightsshaperacerelationsintheMidwest?Investigatingthesequestionsisexhilaratingbuttediousand time-consuming,becausethearchiveswerebuilttocollect therecordsofthecolonists—theEuropeanswhoclaimed NorthAmericaandcarvedoutthegeographicregionswe nowtakeforgranted.Althougharchivalevidenceabout BlackMidwesternersbeforetheAmericanCivilWaris oftenfrustratinglybriefandfragmentary,theirstoriesare essentialtounderstandingthecreationandformationof theAmericanMidwest.

Recoveringthehistoriesofmen,womenandchildrenwho resistedtheirbondageandstrovetobuildliveswithinthe stricturesofrace-basedslaveryandstate-sponsored racialdiscriminationisasdifficultasitisrewarding.Some daysinthearchiveyieldnothingbutbriefreferencesto thelivesofBlackAmericanswhowereforcedtolabor, otherdaysIrediscoverayoungwoman’ssuccessfulfreedomsuitorarivetingpetitionwrittenbyfreeBlackmen whoweredemandingaplaceintheterritorialgovernment.TellingthestoriesoffreeBlackAmericanslikeNew

EnslavedAfricanAmericanpeoplewereheldatfortsbymilitaryofficersthroughout theNorthwestTerritories.Duringtheterritorialperiod(1836-1848),therewere atleast17men,womenandchildrenheldinbondageatFortCrawford. (Photo:WisconsinHistoricalSociety)

York-bornTitusSutphenandtheVirginia-bornShepard brotherswhotraveledhundredsofmilesandbecame significantlandownersisbeautifullycomplicated—they wereinsearchofliberty,buttheywerealsopartofthe Americancolonizationprojectthatdispossessednative land.IlluminatingthestoriesofBlackWisconsiniteslike EzekielGillespiewhodemandedfullcitizenshipandthe righttovoteremindsusthatantiblacknessandBlack politicalassertionarepartofMidwesternhistory. BlackpeoplecametotheMidwestbyforce,coercion, falsepromisesorinsearchoffreedomandliberty.Their presenceinthisplacewaspartofthedisruptionand displacementofIndigenouspeople.Thesestoriesare essentialtounderstandingtheeconomic,socialand politicaldevelopmentofthestateofWisconsinandthe Midwestatlarge.Thefunctionofhistoryisnotprideor shame,itisaseriousandmeasuredinquiryintothespaces andplaceswecallhome.Historyallowsustounderstand whyourworldlooksthewayitdoes.Historicalresearch isamirrorandlessonaboutthehumancondition—our triumphs,shortcomings,andmostimportantlyour capacitytochangeandempathize.

ABOUTTHEAUTHOR

CHRISTYCLARK-PUJARA isthe chairandaprofessorintheDepartment ofAfricanAmericanStudies.Sheisalso anaffiliateintheDepartmentofHistory.Clark-PujaraearnedaB.A.fromthe UniversityofSt.ThomasandaPh.D.in AmericanHistoryfromtheUniversity ofIowa.

THESECOND QUANTUMCOMPUTINGREVOLUTION

InlaboratoriesatUW–Madison,studentsregularlytrap singleelectronsinsidesiliconchips.Theyknowwherethe electronsare.Theyknowwhentheymove.Andtheycan monitorthatmotioninrealtimeonacomputerscreen. Tome,thosesentencesaretrulyremarkable.

Themotivationofthosestudentsisevenmore exciting: tobuildtechnologythatwillhelp fulfillthepromiseofthesecond quantumrevolution.

Thefirstquantumrevolutionisnowalegendarytalein scienceandtechnology.About100yearsagoscientists figuredouttherules—collectivelyknownasquantum mechanics—thatgovernthemotionandbehaviorof atomsandelectrons.Buildingonthatinitialunderstanding,societyhastransformeditselfthroughinventions quantummechanicsenabled:integratedcircuits,lasers, allofourmobilephonesandcomputers.

Thoseadvancescollectivelyarenowknownasthe first quantumrevolution.Thefirst,becauseitnowseemspossiblethata second quantumrevolutionisonthehorizon. Remarkably,someofthesamematerialsthatpowerour current,classicalelectronicscanbeusedtomakequantum bits,betterknownasqubits.Thechipsintoday’ssmartphonesandcomputersaremadeoftinyswitches:transistorsbuiltfromsilicon.Thosetransistorshaveanelectrode thatcanturnaflowofelectriccurrentonandoff.

AtUW–Madison,studentsleveragethesamecleanroom technologyusedtomakesilicontransistorstomake siliconqubits.Whenmadeinsilicon,thosequbitshave differences:insteadofoneelectrodecontrollinga currentofelectrons,theyhavemanyelectrodesthat holdoneelectron,orsometimesasmallhandful, inonelocation.

Qubitsaredifferentinotherways,too.Classicalbitsare binary:theytakeoneoftwovalues,zerooron e.Qubits canalsotakethosevaluesofzeroorone,yettheycan havemanyvaluesinbetween.Thosein-betweenvalues areknownasasuperposition,andtheyrepresentthe probabilitythatthequbit,whenmeasured,willbefound tobeeitherzeroorone.

Thepromiseofquantumcomputingliesincompounding thosepossibilities.Itispossibletocontrol—tomakea changeto—asecondqubitbasedonthestateofthefirst qubit.Ifinsodoingthefirstqubithadtodecideitsvalue, thiswouldbelittlemorethanwhatisalreadypresentina classicalcomputer.Instead,qubitnumberonecanremain inasuperpositionofzeroandone,withtheactiononthe secondqubitdependingonwhichitis.

Howcanstudentstakeactiononasecondqubit,dependingonthefirstqubit,withoutknowingwhetherthefirst qubitisazerooraone?Theymustmakethetwoqubits interactwitheachother.Inthatsituation,thestudents canperformasingleactiononqubittwo,causingaresult thatwilldependonwhetherthefirstqubitisazeroor one.Amazingly,thatchoicecanbedeterminedlater.

Theresult,whendoneproperly,isahighlyinterdependent setofvaluesforthedifferentqubits,knownasan entangledstate.Thisabilitytogenerateentanglement betweenqubitsiswhatenablesaquantumcomputer—all ofwhichsofararemuchsmallerthanclassicalcomputers —torunprototypealgorithmsandsoftware.

Muchlikeclassicalcomputers,itislikelythatquantum computersandtechnologywillhavemanyparts:quantum memory,quantumprocessing,quantumnetworkingand quantumsensing.SemiconductorslikethoseIstudyare butoneofmanytechnologiesthatarelikelytocontribute. Willthesecondquantumrevolutionreallycometo pass?Ifweknewforabsolutecertainty,itwouldnotbe research.Butitcertainlyispossiblethatwe—orourchildrenandgrandchildren—maylookbackinanother100 yearsandsaythattheseweretheearlydaysofnewways togatherinformation,toprocesswhatthatinformation means,andtocommunicateittooneanother.

ABOUTTHEAUTHOR

MARKERIKSSON isthechairofUW–Madison’sDepartmentofPhysicsandthe JohnBardeenProfessorofPhysics.Hehas beenworkinginquantumphysicssince2001, tacklingtheunderlyingtechnologythatcoul d propelquantumcomputing.Hisresearch interestsincludequantumcomputing, qubitsinsilicon,experimentalstudiesof nanostructuresandthermaltransportin nanoscalesystems.

THEVALU E OFUNCOMFORTABLECONVERSATION S

StudentsandpedestrianswalkingalongBascomHillbetweenclassperiods.(Photo:BryceRichter/UW–Madison)

Forstarters,IwarnthemthatFirstAmendmenthistoryis litteredwithhorriblepeople.Overthecoming15weeks, wewillconfronttheantisemiticnewspaperpublisherat thecenterofourprotectionsfrompriorrestraintonthe pressandtheKuKluxKlanmemberwhosecasegivesus broadlibertytospeakandprotest.Wewillwrestle, Itellthem,withtheharmswroughtbysomeexpression, includingthegroupthatprotestsatsoldiers’funerals, claimingtheirdeathswereGod’sretributionforU.S. acceptanceofhomosexuality.

It’scriticalthatmystudentsknowgoinginthatwhat istocomewillchallengetheminwaystheymaynot haveencounteredbefore—waysthatmaymakethem profoundlyuncomfortable.

AndthenIfollowthiswithanequallycriticalnote: Myclassisaspaceofmutualrespectandinclusion. Ifatanytimeourcontentorconversationsposeabarrier totheirlearningorwell-being,Iwanttoknowaboutit, andIwanttohelpthemthroughanydifficulties.

Collegeisaplacefordevelopingcourageinengaging withideasandpeoplewemightfinddisagreeableor downrightnoxious.Atthesametime,it’salsoaplaceto findacommunityofsupportthathelpsusgrowinour confidence,capabilitiesandcitizenship.

WhenIsurveythecurrentlandscapeofpunditry surroundingfreeexpressiononuniversitycampuses, IencounteraworldIdonotrecognize.Yes,we’vehad headline-grabbingcasesofshoutingdownspeakersor blowbacktocompletelyappropriatecoursecontent. Theseareproblematic,tobesure.Butinmyexperience,

they’reoutliers.Thedaytodayofcampuslifeisfarmore richwithstudentsforgingtheirownideasandopinions throughencounteringavarietyofvoices.

WhatIfindmostvexingaboutthisreductiveframingof freespeechoncampusisthatpunditsoftenpaintfree expressioninabsolutistterms,asthoughitistheonly principleoflibertyuniversitiesshouldemphasize.Wecertainlycannothavelibertyifwedonothavethefreedom toexpressourselves.Butwealsocannothavethatliberty ifwedonothavefundamentalrespectforhumanrights anddignity.Ourstudentsneedtofeelthatprinciplealive oncampus,aswell.

ThetheoryoftheFirstAmendmentmostdominanttoday isknownasthe“marketplaceofideas.”Theideaissimple. Justaswehavecompetitioninthemarketfor,say,runningshoes,wehavecompetitioninthemarketforideas. WeeachgettojudgeNikeversusAdidasonprice,quality andthelike.Andwesimilarlygettojudgeoneideaversus anotheronourowncriteria.Fromthiscompetitionamong ideas,thetheorygoes,thetruthwillemerge. Whilesimpleinnature,theideaiscomplexinreality. Themarketplaceofideasisrifewithpowerdifferentials andwithourhumanfrailties.Weneedlookonlyatthegap betweenwhatsciencetellsusaboutclimatechangeand popularbeliefsaboutittod emonstratethestruggletruth ishavinginthisallegedmarketplace.

SinceIfirstbeganasanundergraduateontheUW–Madisoncampusinthe1980s,studentshavebeenfed aframingfromboththepoliticalleftandright.They’re giventheimpressionthattheycanhaverobustfree

expressiononcampusoraninclusivecampus—butnot both.Thisisafalsebinary.

Itisabsolutelypossibletosimultaneouslyfosteraclimate wherepeoplefeelbothafreedomtospeakandasenseof belonging.Itrequiresdedicationtoboththevalueoffree expressionandtheresponsi bilitytorespectourshared humandignity.Thisdoesnotmeanwecensorthespeech weoppose.Itmeansweparticipatefullyinthemarketplaceofideasandbravelycounterthatwhichweoppose. ThatisthenoteonwhichIcloseeverysemester.Iremind mystudentsthattheyhaveexpressionrightsvirtuallyunparalleledinhumanhistoryandwiththoserightscomes theresponsibilitytobuildthekindofcommunitywhere peoplefeeltheybelongregardlessofanyofthethings thatmakeusdifferentfromoneanother.

Speechcanharm.Studentsunfortunatelywitnessthat harmontheirowncampuses.Asfaculty,it’sourduty— andourprivilege—tohelpthembuildthecourageand carethatcanmaketheirownexpressionreparative.

ABOUTTHEAUTHOR

KATHLEENBARTZENCULVER isthe director,professorandJamesE.Burgess ChairinJournalismEthicsintheSchool ofJournalismandMassCommunication. AproudCollegeofLetters&Science alumherself,Culverfocusesherresearch, teachingandserviceonrightsandresponsibilitiesincommunicationscontexts.

TOWNHALL

Asapoliticalsciencemajor,Iconsidereditimportantto beaninformedvoter,especiallysincethiswasmyfirst timevotinginapresidentialelection.Civictechnologies playedahugeroleinfacilitatingpoliticaldiscussions thatelectioncycle,bringingthecrowdsfromeverypart ofthecountrytoadigitaltownhall.Throughplatforms likeFacebook,YouTubeandTwitterIwasamazedat howgroupsofpeopleacrossthenationcametogether toengageinmeaningfulpoliticaldiscussion.Itwas duringthistimethatIdevelopedapassionforbuilding andunderstandinghowpeople—“thecrowd”—could engageinmeaningfulactionfacilitatedbywell-designed digitaltechnologies.

Sincethen,technologyhasgrownatafranticpace.Large languagemodelscannowsynthesizeinformationat anunprecedentedscaleandautonomousvehiclescan navigatewithouthumanintervention.Thishascauseda dramaticshiftinhowpeoplecollaborate,communicate andrelatetooneanother.Weknowthatmanyofthechallengeswefacetodayinvolvecomputers,butoftenwe forgetaboutthesocial—orthesocio-technical—dynamics.Thisinspiredmetoexplorehowthedevelopmentof technologycanbeaugmentedandenhancedtosupport insightsfromadiversecrowd.

Propelledbymyinterestincivictechnologyasanundergraduatestudent,myresearchatUW–Madisonis focusedonwaysofincorporatingdiverseperspectivesin thedesignanddeploymentofcivictechnologies.Oneof myrecentprojectsaimstodeveloptoolsthatamplifythe voiceofminoritizedgroupsinpolicy.Thisworkstartedin 2021,anditinvolvesfacultyandstudentsacrossmultiple

THEDIGITAL

The2008U.S.presidentialelectionwasinfullswingatthestartofmyjunioryearofcollege.

departmentsincludingLifeSciencesCommunication,the InformationSchool,Statistics,ComputerSciences,EducationLeadershipandPolicyAnalysis,andtheEnergyAnalysisandPolicyprogram.Theprojectbringstogethercommunity-basedorganizations(CBOs)inWisconsinandlocal governmenttolearnabouttheenvironmentalchallenges facedbythesegroups.InOctober2022,weorganized twocommunityeventsinMadisonwhere100community memberssharedtheirviewsandexperiencesabouttopics liketreecoverageintheircommunity,airqualityconcerns andurbanheat.InApril2023,welaunchedawebsitewhere wereceivedresponsesfrom300communitymembers answeringquestionsaboutthesetopics.

Conveyingthedatawecollectedwithintegrityispivotal inthisresearch.Itensuresthatthelivedexperiencesof minoritizedgroupsarepreservedandhonored.Wepaid carefulattentionthatthevoicesrepresentedinourdata werecomprehensiveanddiverse,themethodsweemployedportrayedthecommunity’sdatainamannerthat remainstruetotheirrealityandleveragednarrativesto effectivelyadvocateforcommunityneedstolocalgovernmentofficialsandpolicymakers.Thisledustoaparticipatorydesign,whichincludedinterviewswithCBOs andtheirconstituents.Thesetaughtusthatrepresenting theirdataaccuratelywasacriticalareaofconcern.We alsolearnedthatthestoriesaboutthenegativeimpacts ofclimatechangearecriticaltotheiradvocacyeffortsof localgovernmentstakeholderswhentheyarecommunicatingfundingneedstopolicymakers.

TheseinsightshaveledtotheKnowledgeMap(KM),a platformtoreportcommunityattitudesandexperienc-

eswithclimatechange.Userscanviewsummarydata bygeographies(censusblockorcongressionaldistrict). Weincorporatedmachinelearningtosummarizewritten narrativesaboutpeople’sexperienceswithissueslikeair qualityintheircommuni ty.Userscanalsolearnaboutthe representationofadifferentgroup’svoicesinthedata. Whenagroup’sinsightsareunderrepresented,KMsuggestsstrategiesandCBOswhocouldassistinoutreach. Atthecoreofmyresearchisinvestigatinghowbest todesigncivictechnologies thatfacilitatemeaningful action.Thisgoalinvolvesresearchthatincorporatesthe social,culturalandhistoricalcontextsintothedesignand deploymentofsystems.Community-basedparticipatory research,likethisproject,ensuresthateveryonehasa voiceinhowsystemsaredevelopedanddeployedandhow theyarerepresentedindata.TheKnowledgeMapandthe communitydatathatwillbehousedwithinensuresthatth e policiesfocusedonmitigatingclimatechangeareresponsivetoandrepresentativeofthediverseneeds,valuesand goalsofpeopleinMadisonandDaneCounty.

ABOUTTHEAUTHOR

COREYJACKSON isanassistantprofessor intheInformationSchoolattheUniversity ofWisconsin–Madison.Jackson’steaching focusisonthedesignanddeploymentof digitaltechnologies.

Illustration:GettyImages

DEPARTMENTOFPSYCHOLOGY

THELOGISTICS OFLEARNINGLANGUAGE

Majoringinpsychologyrunsinthefamilyfor HowardOwens,asophomoreatUW–Madison. Followinginthefootstepsofbothhis parents,hecametocampuswithaplan. HisworkintheDepartmentofPsychology caughttheattentionofrecruitersforthe LettersandScienceSummerofExcellencein Research(LASER)program.Heappliedandwas accepted,whichledtohimworkingintheInfant LearningLabwherehestudieshowtoddlers learnlanguage.

Whydidyouchoosetostudypsychology?

Bothofmyparentshaveadegreeinpsychology.Iwas drawntothefield,becauseIreallyenjoythetopicsbehindpeople’sbehaviors,thedevelopmentaspects,and learningabouthowourbrainsareinfluencedbyenvironmentalfactors.

AndwhydidyoupickUW–Madison?

WhenIwasapplying,Iwaslookingatthetoppsychology programsinthecountry,andUWhasatop-10program. Thatwasoneofthemainreasons,butalsotherewereall theseopportunitiestodoresearchasanundergraduate student.

What’syourresearchabout?

I’vebeenstudyingstatisticallearning,whichistheability thatallowsushumanstomakepredictionsbasedon previousthingsfromourenvironment,andthisishowwe learnlanguage.Asatoddler,youhavetheabilitytopick upinformationfromyourenvironment,andindoingthat you’relearninglanguagepatterns.

Howdoyouresearchthelearning oflanguagepatterns?

Wehavetoddlersfromages22to26monthsoldsitin aboothandtheywatchavideo.Whatthesevideosare testing—andwhatthisprojectistryingtoanswer—isthis question:Cantoddlersmakepredictionsbasedon

statisticalstructuresorwordsequences?Inorderto testthis,wehadtomakecreativevideotrials.These videotrialswouldhavetwoblankscreens,andthenan imagewouldappear,andthisimagewouldbepairedwith anon-familiarnounandthenbefollowedbyafamiliar noun.We’retryingtoseeiftoddlerspickupthatthe non-familiarnounequalsthefamiliarnoun.Todetermine this,weuseeyetracking,becausethesetoddlers are atapointwherethey’restartingtoproducelanguage, butthey’renotefficientenoughtotellusexactlywhat they’reproducing.So,wetracktheireyestoseeifthey’re pickingupthenouns.Whatwe’veseensofar,intheolder toddlers,isthattheyaredoingit.

Whatisthehypothesisforthestudy?

Thehopeisthatthetoddlersareabletodothistask, andtheyareabletomakepredictionsbasedonword sequences.Pastliteraturehassupportedthisinthefield, butwe’retryingtogomoreindepth.

Howcouldthefindingsfrom thisresearchhelppeople?

OnethingwiththeLASERprogramisthatweareconstantlythinkingaboutTheWisconsinIdea—thatwhatwe learnintheclassroom,shouldn’tjuststayintheclassroombutgobeyondtohelppeopleinsociety.Andwe’re tryingtousetheresearchandapplyitsothatpeoplein societyorotherprogramscanlearnhowtomakelanguagelearningmoreefficient.

ABOUTTHERESEARCHER

HOWARDOWENS isasophomoremajoringinpsychologyatUW–Madison.During histimeintheLettersandScienceSummerofExcellenceinResearch(LASER) program,hestarteddoingresearchatthe InfantLearningLab,studyinghowtoddlerslearnlanguage.Aftertheprogram ended,hewasinvitedbacktocontinuehis workasaresearchassistant.

HowardOwensdidresearchintheInfantLearningLabaspartoftheLettersandScienceSummerofExcellenceinResearch(LASER)program.

MAKINGSENSE OFMINDLESSSCROLLING

GráinneMcDonaghsharedherresearchatthePediatricAcademicSocieties2022ConferenceinDenver.

GráinneMcDonaghisafourth-yearundergraduatestudent, butshe’salreadyworkedonahalf-dozenresearchprojectsatUW–Madison.

In2020,shestartedasanUndergraduateResearchScholar(URS)andhassinceworkedherwayupintheprogramtobecomeafellowwho mentorspeersontheirresearchpursuits.HerresearchaspartoftheSocialMedia&AdolescentHealthResearchTeam(SMAHRT)tackles trendsonTikTokandconversationsaroundsocialmediaanddepression.

Yougottochooseyourfirstresearchproject.How didyoudecidewhattostudy?

ItwasOctoberof2020,andatthattime,Ihadbeen spendingalotoftimescrollingonline.Iendedupchoosing tolookatbodypositivitycontentonTikTokinrelationto theCOVID-19pandemic.So,itwasreallytakingthismundanething—somethingthatIsawinmyeverydaylife—and makingaresearchprojectoutofitandtryingtounderstandwhythisbecamesoprevalentduringthepandemic.

Whatwasthestudyabout?

Ihypothesizedthatbodypositivitycontentwasincreasing duringtheCOVID-19pandemicandthatengagementwith thecontentwasalsoincreasing.Itendedupbeingtrue. Withinthethreemonthsthatweconductedthisstudy,it increasedbyabout4.4billionviews.Itwasalsointeresting toseewhetherornotthebodypositivitycontentmentionedCOVID-19anddirectlycalleditoutbyname.When theydidmentionCOVID-19,wenoticedincreasedinteractionwiththecontent.Wewereconsideringthewaythatit’s reflectiveofwhat’sgoingonintheoutsideworld—people’sbodieschangingduringatimeofsocialisolation.

Whyisitimportanttoresearchtrends onsocialmedia?

Socialmediastudiesingeneral,andunderstandingbetter howsocialmediaaffectsindividuals’mentalhealth,issuch animportantthingthatisemerging.Sometimesit’seasy

toforget,whenwe’rescrollingdaily,thatsocialmediareally isn’tthatold.Alotofthesestudiesthatarebeingconductedarenoblestudies—they’rethefirstoftheirkind.We’re stillhavingtoworkoutthosekinks.ButIthinkthatthe broaderimplicationfortheentireworldisbetterunderstandingtheimpactthatthemediawe’reconsuminghas onus.Also,it’sademonstrationofwhatweareconsuming. Seeinghowmanyviewsin creasedissomethingthatwecan lookbackoninresearchstudiesandrememberwhatwas happeningatthattimeintheworld.

Whatresearchhaveyoubeenworking onmorerecently?

Wedidasecondaryanalysisthatcamefromalarger study,whichwasaboutunderstandingnewsarticles aboutteens,socialmediaanddepression.Wechoseto exploregenderalittlebitfurther.Thisonewastalking aboutsocialmediaanddepressionbecausethattopic wascomingupsooften—itseemedtobeafear-mongeringusage—andweweretryingtounderstand.We tookajournalisticapproach,andwewerelookingatnews articlesthatwerebeingsharedatnationalandlocallevels toseethewaysinwhichauthorsandjournalistswerewritingaboutsocialmediaanddepressionandseeinghowit mayhaveabroaderimplicationforthewaythatpeople areunderstandingsocialmedia.

Whatdidyoulearn?

Wewereseeingthisrelationbetweensocialmediaand depressionwithfemales.Butthatledtomorequestions. Andpartofthathasbeenasking,whoaretheyincluding fortheirsamplewhenthey’redoingthisresearch?Sometimeswe’veseenthatalotoftheliteraturereviewsonly includedyoungwomen,andsointhatcase,ifwehada fullerpicture,maybewewouldn’thavecometothatidea. Howhasdoingthiskindofresearchchangedhow youthinkaboutsocialmedia?

Ithinktoreallyunderstandwhatwe’reconsuming,we havetolookwithmoreofacriticallensandconsiderthe sourceandlookatthingsmoredeeply.That’sanideathat isinstilledwithusatUW–Madison:Don’ttakeeverything forwhatmeetstheeye,butinsteadreallythinkabout thingsandsynthesizethem.

ABOUTTHERESEARCHER

GRÁINNEMCDONAGH isaseniorundergraduatestudentpursuingamajorinHealth PromotionandHealthEquityaswellas earningacertificateinGender&Women’s Studies.DuringhertimeasanUndergraduateResearchScholar(URS),sheworkedas anundergraduateresearchandpromotions internfortheSocialMedia&Adolescent HealthResearchTeam.Shehaspresented herfindingsatfiveconferencesandsymposiumsnationallyandinternationally.

FINDINGA BETTERWAY

TOPRODUCEPLASTICS

AssoonasAhmiaWilliams-WalshcametocampusfromMenasha,shehit thegroundrunninglookingforresearchopportunities.Now,asajunior majoringinchemistry,biochemistryandsociology, she’sinvolvedina significantsustainabilityeffortbytheDepartmentofChemistry’s HermansResearchGrouptofindpracticalwaystodecreasethe amountofcarbonemissionsittakestoproduceplastics.

WhydidyouchooseUW–Madison?

Youreallycan’tbeattheresearchprogramshere. Oneofthethingsthatwasimportantformewastofeel confidentIwouldfindgoodundergraduateresearch opportunities.Iwasabletofindthatherebeginningmy freshmanyear.

What’syourresearchabout?

Wefocusonthepolypropylenereactions,thesynthesis ofplasticsandpolymersinindustry,whichcreatesalot ofcarbonandpollutestheenvironment.Thewaythat wearetryingtonegatethatisbycreatingacatalystthat wouldlowertheamountofenergyneededandlessenthe pollutants.

Whatdoesittaketocreateacatalyst withthiskindofcapability?

Wedoitinareallyfunway—it’scalledimpregnation—it meansthatwehaveanaluminabaseoranelementbase andweaddotherelementstoitandthenmixitupuntilit looksgood.Andthenweputthatintheoventoheatup andgetthewateroffit,becauseifthere’swater,itwon’t reactaswell.Afterthat,wedoafewtestsonthesynthesizedcatalyst.ThisiswhereIstepin.IdosomeX-ray diffraction,whichisananalyticaltechniquewhereyouput thecatalystinthisreallybigmachineanditshootsX-rays atit,andtheanglesthatitdiffractsatwilltellyouhowthe catalystisloaded.Ispecificallylookforanymigrationof elements—changesorthingsthatwedon’twanttosee. I’mlookingtomakesurethateverythinglooksnormal.

Thereactorusedtotestthesynthesizedcatalystathigh temperaturesanddesignedchemicalenvironments. X-raydiffractionmachine

Afterthat,Igoanddootheranalyticaltechniquestotest andmakesurethatthecatalystscanholdupinthereactor. Andthenafterthat,Iassistinrunningthereactor,andwe putitunderconditionsthatindustrywoulduseandmake surethatitwillcreatewhatwewanttocreateandthatitis loweringtheenergythresholdandthatitisn’tgivingoffas muchormoreCO2thanwhatindustrywoulddo.

What’sthegoalforthisresearc hproject?

We’retestingreallystablecatalyststoseewhatelements wecanaddtolessentheimpactontheenvironmentin theproductionofplasticproducts.

Ifthisresearchisfullyrealized, whatwouldtheimpactbe?

Industrycaresaboutonething,andthat’sthebottom line.Werecognizethatinordertohelptheenvironment weneedtoworkwiththat,otherwisewecan’tmakebig changes.Byimplementingacatalystintoindustryand lesseningtheamountofenergythat’sneededforthese reallybigreactions,notonlyarewegoingtobeableto pushlessenergyintothereaction—andthat’sinandof itselfmoresustainable—butthere’slessCO2emissions.

Howhasbeingabletodoresearchoncampus affectedyourcollegeexperience?

Idon’tthinkI’veeverdonesomethingthat’shelpedme gainasmuchconfidenceasresearch.Beingabletogo intothelab,putonmylabcoatandmygoggles,bethere, doactualscienceandhaveitworkouthastobeoneof themostamazingfeelingsI’veeverfeltinmyentirelife.

ABOUTTHERESEARCHER

AHMIAWILLIAMS-WALSH isathirdyearchemistry,biochemistryandsociology majorhopingtocontinuehereducationin medicineafterreceivingherdegree.Sheis anundergraduateresearcherintheHermans ResearchGroupfocusingonheterogeneous catalysisandsustainability.Outsideof schoolworkandresearch,sheisalsoanL&S Dean’sAmbassador,peermentor,medicalprogramassistantforMendotaMental HealthInstituteandaMercileJ.Leescholar.

AhmiaWilliams-WalshinthelabdoingdataanalysisoftheXRD machinespectraX-raydiffractionmachine.

Wisconsinisbrimmingwithpotentialbecauseofinnovatorsandentrepreneurs,justlikeyou.Takeyourvisionfromconceptto commercializationwiththefundingresources,networksofsupport,andspecializedprogramsofferedthroughWisconsinEconomic DevelopmentCorporation’sEntrepreneurshipandInnovationDivision.Let’schangetheworld,together.

Scantofuelyoursuccess