Madison Reporter

Glassblower Tim Drier creates glass models of deep-sea creatures for UW–Madison. Aquatic invertebrates are often difficult to study when they are living, and some cannot even survive outside their deep-ocean habitats.

That is why, 127 years ago, University of Wisconsin biology professor Edward Birge purchased glass models of sea creatures ranging from jellyfish to sea cucumbers from famous German glassblowers Leopold and Rudolph Blaschka for use in teaching biology. This year, Laura Monahan arranged for UW–Madison to hire expert glassblower Tim Drier to create similar deep-sea invertebrate models, as the old ones were too delicate and artistically valuable to handle.

“The new models will be used for teaching undergraduate and graduate students,” says Monahan, associate director at the UW Zoological Museum. “In addition, they will be used in both artistic and scientific exhibitions.”

The glass-blowing project was one of 20 projects funded by a 175th-anniversary grant given to faculty, staff, and students to support activities that recognize and celebrate UW’s 175th anniversary and the Wisconsin Idea. The grants were mostly for $1,000 or less.

What they have in common is they all tie the University of Wisconsin’s past into its present and future. Approved by Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin and the 175th Anniversary Steering Committee, the projects include events, initiatives, research projects, curriculum academic efforts, artistic works, and community outreach.

“The wide variety of projects reflects the legacy of innovation across the UW–Madison campus, from biology to astronomy to international studies,” says Charles Hoslet, recently retired vice chancellor for university relations who chaired the 175th Anniversary Steering Committee. “The projects honored our past successes and demonstrated how they set the stage for our current and future achievements.”

Here are a few of the projects:

Digitizing AOS photos

AOS’s photo collection shows the evolution of its equipment and tools. On the left, Reid Bryson and Charles Stearns of AOS (then meteorology) in 1960 gather micrometeorological data from the first research buoy on Lake Mendota. Right shows what the buoy looks like today with much smaller equipment.

The Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences is using its grant to digitize its collection of print photographs dating back to its founding in 1948, creating an online repository of AOS history.

“We envision a powerful education and outreach tool that allows students, alumni, and the public to explore the department’s evolution – one with 76 years (and counting!) of history,” says Scott Dyke, communications specialist for AOS.

AOS was an early pioneer and remains a leader in studying climate and weather producing innovative science locally and globally significant.

The photos illustrate how technology in field research has grown dramatically since the 1950s capturing historical moments such as constructing landmark AOSS building in 1960s Dyke says showcasing prominent faculty researchers advancing department field

“Some photos capture early implementation technologies helping trace progression tools instruments methodologies” Dyke says pair photos show progression equipment data-collecting buoy Lake Mendota

Collecting botanical specimens

Wisconsin State Herbarium UW–Madison used grant hold 175th-anniversary botanical foray Marinette County summer 2023 long weekend more than citizen scientists students faculty staff across UW System collected more than scientific plant specimens over winter sorted identified put database eventually mounted labeled added permanent collection State Herbarium

Participants work collecting specimens noting where found species when More than citizen scientists students faculty staff across UW System collected more than scientific plant specimens Marinette County during foray Specimens stored sorted identified put database eventually mounted labeled added permanent collection State Herbarium

Herbarium digitizing million specimens entering each specimen label photograph geographical coordinates where found database shared freely online herbarium.wisc.edu Already more than plant specimens Wisconsin digitized but work revealed geographic gaps including Marinette County which old growth forests important natural areas This foray targeted gap Specimens allow future scientists see effects climate change late early century botany professor Ken Cameron director herbarium For instance unable locate endangered fairyslipper orchid spotted area few years earlier possibly one Wisconsin’s first casualties climate change Cameron says “I like say not collecting preserve past but collecting future” he says “How scientists years today use these specimens we can only imagine Will future scientists interested elements preserved leaf tissues density plant hairs specimens DNA soil microbes adhering plant roots Only time tell”

Fortunate early botanists began documenting Wisconsin flora mid-1800s continued since Cameron says “So much state once pristine habitats lost degraded through time but herbarium helps preserve lost”

Creating glass models deep-sea creatures Monahan says models created Drier accurate artistically spectacular They include sea pig Scotoplanes sp sea angel Clione sp ping pong tree sponge Chondrocladia concrescens brittle star Ophiothrix fragilis They also tie into UW history as Birge purchased models replace some lost Science Hall fire Birge would go serve UW president original models purchased Blaschkas sold thousands intricate scientifically accurate glass teaching models universities museums around world “New models exemplify tradition scientific glassblowing complement existing Blaschka collection will used teaching exhibition today future” Monahan