Wisconsin’s binge drinking problem A troubling state issue
Dissappointment in Chicago
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Monday, March 18, 2013
Professor Profile:
Dietram Scheufele, on science and society
UW-Madison professor Dominique Brossard found that impolite online University of Wisconsin-Madison comments in response to a new story professor Dietram Scheufele owns about a technological innovation gave two three-piece, dirt-resistant nano- readers the perception the new techtechnology suits, which he wears nology would be riskier. when he gives talks on the subject in Scheufele said this can undermine Washington, D.C. and elsewhere. the efforts to present new technoloNanotechnology, which focuses on gies in an unbiased way. He added new particles less than one billionth technologies increasingly bring of a meter in size, is currently about questions society needs applied in more than 1,500 conto answer. “We’re moving into a world sumer products as well as the where our technologies develop military, such as to make lighter so quickly that we as a sociweight equipment or surveilety don’t have enough time to lance devices. Scheufele, a professor in the debate what the implications Life Sciences Communication are,” he said. Scheufele also works at a department since 2004, said SCHEUFELE National Science Foundation nanotechnology and other topics in modern science, including genet- center at Arizona State University nanotechnology and ically modified organisms and syn- studying thetic biology, “change our lives for all with the National Nanotechnology intents and purposes.” But he added Coordination Office, a branch of the those changes often do not translate White House. When thinking about what technowell into the realm of public policy. “The U.S. is one of those unique logical changes mean for policy and countries that has a weird disconnect the public, Scheufele takes inspiration very often between where the public from working with students and other is, what policy is and where the sci- staff at UW-Madison to look for interdisciplinary solutions. ence is,” he said. Scheufele researches the relation“How do we present science in ways ship between the life sciences and people can use as much information social sciences as well as how the as possible but also acknowledges the media and the public make sense of fact that ultimately we’ll never have new technology, especially in a world a full understanding of the science?” of online and social media. he said. “I think that’s going to be the In a recent study, he and tricky part.”
By Meghan Chua The Daily Cardinal
matt riley/cardinal file photo
If Langdon becomes a local historic district, the Landmark’s Commission will have jurisdiction over redevelopments to buildings in the area, such as the Acacia house.
Students push to preserve Langdon By Melissa Howison the daily cardinal
Students troubled by the prospect of Langdon Street turning into another hyper-developed corridor reminiscent of University Avenue enlisted the help of a local architecture preservationist in recent weeks and started a movement to have Greek row deemed a local historic district. The Madison city Council’s recent approval of a six-story apartment complex, which will demolish three antiquated houses in the Langdon neighbor-
hood, motivated University of WisconsinMadison sophomores Emily Erickson and Connor Nett to draft an online petition and assemble a new student organization called Our Historic Campus. “We want to educate and raise awareness of historic sites and architecture in Madison that often go overlooked, and the importance of having character of the school,” said Erickson, an Alpha Chi Omega sorority member.
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Panel discusses new online opportunities for higher education learning By Alyssa Brenner the daily cardinal
The University of Wisconsin-Madison hosted a discussion panel Friday to explore the way online courses and teaching technologies could help make higher education more accessible in the midst of rising university costs. The panel, called “MOOCs, Flex Degrees, and DIY U: The Coming Transformation of Higher Education,” included Anya Kamenetz, author of the books “Generation Debt” and “DIY U;” Ray Cross, chancellor of UW Colleges; and Kris Olds, a UW-Madison geography professor. The event follows UW-Madison’s announcement earlier this spring that it would pilot four Massive Open Online
Courses over the course of the next year. MOOCs are free non-credit online classes open to anyone and are being considered by many universities to reach to a wider audience and lower the cost of education. The panel also discussed the UW Flex Degree program, which offers college credit for experience outside the traditional classroom. Kamenetz presented figures, such as the 37 million Americans with some college education but no degree, to advocate for more open and accessible higher education options. “This is a massive untapped resource of humanity,” Kamenetz said. Kamenetz said by placing
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Fire at boathouse causes $10,000 in damages to university rowing equipment
on campus
1! 2! we want more
The Wisconsin men’s hockey team sweeps Minnesota-Duluth in the first round of the WCHA playoffs to advance to the Final FIve in St. Paul. Full story on page 7. + Photo by Shoaib Altaf
A fire at the Porter Boathouse, a University of WisconsinMadison rowing facility, caused $10,000 in damages Sunday morning, according to a city of Madison press release. Madison firefighters responded to a fire alarm around 9 a.m. and noticed smoke coming from a back room of the boathouse, according to the press release. The press release said firefighters extinguished the fire and turned off the building’s fans to prevent further damage to boats and equipment. Between 15 and 20 boats retained soot residue, according to the press release, and
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“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”