Madison Reporter

From major research milestones to gold medals to the rite of passage known as SOAR (Student Orientation, Advising and Registration), the past few months were filled with a mix of work and play—it’s what Badgers do best. Before the hustle and bustle of another academic year begins, let’s take a look back at a few standout moments from this summer.

Research continued unabated as faculty and staff across the university pursued their work after classes ended in May. Notable findings included advancements in no-melt ice cream, insights into colder-than-usual sulfurous exoplanets, and revelations about tropical glaciers' role in understanding global climate warming.

In more science news, UW–Madison physicists and engineers generated plasma for the first time in their fusion energy device, WHAM. Elliot Claveau, honorary fellow in the Department of Physics and experimental scientist at Realta Fusion, celebrated this achievement from the control room at the Wisconsin HTS Axisymmetric Mirror Project (WHAM) experiment being conducted at the Wisconsin Plasma Physics Laboratory in Stoughton. This milestone was part of a public-private partnership between UW–Madison and Realta Fusion Inc.

Students, staff, and volunteers engaged with nature through activities such as the annual prescribed burn and planting of native seeds at Biocore Prairie in UW–Madison’s Lakeshore Nature Preserve. The entomology department hosted Cicadapalooza in Lake Geneva to educate the public about periodical cicadas and other local insects. Field research continued at Trout Lake Research Station near Boulder Junction.

Morgan Weissner, a graduate student in entomology who studies integrated pest management for sustainable control methods against pests like the Colorado potato beetle, volunteered as an insect ambassador during these events.

Nearly 20 Badgers competed in the 2024 Summer Olympics held in Paris. Alumni Rose Lavelle won gold with U.S. women’s soccer; Alev Kelter earned bronze with U.S. women’s rugby; Lauren Carlini and Dana Rettke secured silver with U.S. women’s indoor volleyball.

Back on campus, new students participated in tours, class registrations, and social gatherings during SOAR. The City of Madison introduced new 60-foot articulated electric buses to its fleet alongside a new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route aimed at improving metro area transportation without affecting campus bus routes.

UW–Madison received several accolades over the summer: Forbes named it a “new Ivy,” Princeton Review recognized it as a “Best Value College,” and it celebrated receiving $49 million for Phase 2 funding of the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub consortium.

The University also marked its 175th anniversary on July 26 with various events across campus and statewide celebrating its impact on Wisconsin communities.

Jay Burmeister had an opportunity to meet Bucky Badger during one such event held in Appleton.