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About WISCIENCE

It Takes a Community to Raise a Scientist

Since 1989, WISCIENCE (the Wisconsin Institute for Science Education and Community Engagement) has collaborated with educators at all levels to create model programs, courses, events, projects, resources, forums for dialogue, and other solutions that help broaden participation in science and make science education and mentoring more effective for more people—at UW-Madison, in K-12 schools, and beyond. We provide a temporary or permanent home for effective solutions that have no other means of support, so our constellation of programming continually evolves in response to community-identified needs (details below).

Read more about our history.

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Adult Role Models in Science (ARMS)

The Adult Role Models in Science (ARMS) program is a university/community collaboration to bring more engaging science to young people in the Madison area. The ARMS program offers courses and trainings to help adults (from college students to after-school program staff) become effective scientific role models who can help children think like scientists and build confidence around science learning. Role models are matched and connected with children through after-school science clubs, family science events, the Madison Middle School Science Symposium, volunteering in classrooms, and other means. A central component of the program is the Service with Youth in STEM course.

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BioCommons

The BioCommons offers a gathering space on the lower level of Steenbock Library, programming and print resources, and a collection of online resources at biology.wisc.edu. It's designed help make it easier for undergraduates to navigate and find their place in the bio-landscape at UW-Madison.

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BioHouse Residential Learning Community

BioHouse is a residential learning community for students interested in the biological sciences. BioHouse residents live on the same floor of a campus dormitory, and they work, play, study, and explore opportunities in biology together.

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Book Groups

Book Groups are semester‐long weekly discussion groups that use a book as a common starting point for discussion.

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Consulting for UW-Madison Faculty/Staff

Institute staff members offer one‐on‐one consulting for UW‐Madison educators in the sciences.

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Integrated Biological Sciences Summer Research Program

This ten-week hands-on research program is designed to give undergraduates—especially those who might not otherwise have it—a chance to experience the richness of bioscience research at a premier research university. There is no cost to participants, and housing costs are covered. Underrepresented minority, low-income, and first-generation college students are strongly encouraged to apply, as are students from small liberal arts institutions without broad research facilities.

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Integrated Mentoring Program and Core Training

Many WISCIENCE programs and courses for undergraduates make use of peer leaders, and the IMPACT program prepares them for these positions. Single-day training retreats and a semester-long course provide multiple options to suit student availability.

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PEOPLE Science

The science curriculum for PEOPLE’s summer residential programs for high school students was developed by WISCIENCE.

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Scientific Teaching Fellows Program

This two-semester program helps graduate students and postdocs develop innovative and effective teaching methods in biology. Fellows develop instructional materials for a first-year biology course and teach the course as a team. There are no course prerequisites, but some teaching/TA experience is recommended.

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STEM Bootcamp

STEM Immersion is a non-credit educational program designed just for incoming students interested in the sciences. Participants come to campus a few days before the official start of semester to learn more about campus and college life, find out about STEM opportunities on campus, connect with faculty, sharpen key skills for academic success, and form a community with other STEM-interested students who can provide a support network from the very beginning.

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Engage Children in Science

Engage children in ways that can be transformational—you could inspire someone to be a scientist! Learn about the process of learning, the needs and learning styles of children, how to teach the process of science, and how to evaluate informal (non-classroom) learning experiences. Then practice what you learn by helping lead an after- school science club, reflecting on your learning and sharing with your peers along the way.

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Entering Research Course Series

Maximize your undergraduate research experience in STEM by taking this series of one-credit seminars alongside. Learn how to cultivate a productive mentor/mentee relationship, design your experience to meet your goals, and gain understanding of the larger world of research and scientific exchange.

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Exploring Biology

Exploring Biology is a two-credit lecture/discussion course for first-year students interested in the biosciences. Get an overview of major concepts in college-level biology, learn about options at UW-Madison, connect biology to real life issues, and open your eyes to the variety of work that biologists do in the world. Explore majors, careers, beyond-the-classroom experiences like research and public service, and find your place in the bigger landscape.

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Exploring Discipline-Based Leadership

Leading as a scientist has unique issues and challenges, so invest in the training you need to excel with peers in your field. This one-credit seminar for peer leaders in science is part of the IMPACT Peer Leaders program. Build practical peer leadership and mentoring skills, and join a community of peers who can provide support and additional insight as you evaluate and reflect on your personal experiences. Challenge and learn from each other as you explore leadership!

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Exploring Service in Science Course

You can start making a difference in the world right now and apply the knowledge you’re gaining in your other classes! This one-credit seminar lets you explore science outreach in areas like education, health, and the environment.

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Research Mentor Training Seminar

The Research Mentor Training seminar, offered in collaboration with the Delta program, gives you space to reflect and reinvigorate and provides concrete tools to support a successful mentor/mentee relationship. The course is designed for graduate students, postdocs, and senior undergraduates who are mentoring an undergraduate, and it's meant to be taken alongside as you mentor, so you get just-in-time support and can try out what you're learning.

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Scientific Teaching For TAs

Designed for newer TAs with assistantships in bioscience courses, this course provides essential information about active learning, diversity, and assessment, as well as creating a community of colleagues. Meant to be taken concurrently with a TA assignment.

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Secrets of Science Course

A two-credit seminar for first-year students to explore the processes of science and become informed consumers of science in the media.

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Ways of Knowing Biology Course

The Exploring Research course, formally Ways of Knowing Biology course for first‐year students focused on exposing students to biological sciences research at UW‐Madison and consisted of faculty presentations about research, mini‐field trips to labs (research explorations) and graduate student shadowing experiences.

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iPod Key to Woody Plants of Wisconsin Forests

This free app for the iPhone provides a highly portable and easy-to-use tool for identifying Wisconsin trees, shrubs and vines.

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University Educators Resource Center

Located in Room 118 at 445 Henry Mall, the resource center offers a non-lending collection of books & other materials.

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Academic Technology Initiatives

WISCIENCE has been a regular collaborator and initiator in projects to create new learning technology tools and help science educators at UW–Madison take advantage of them.

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Biology First-Year Interest Groups (BIGs)

In 2000-2001, WISCIENCE (then known as the Center for Biology Education), in collaboration with the College of Letters & Sciences, held an interdisciplinary seminar for faculty from Chemistry, Math, Physics, Statistics, and the biological sciences. The dialogue led to the collaborative development of biology first‐year interest groups (BIGs), which linked a case‐based topical biology seminar to chemistry and calculus courses.

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Interdisciplinary Conversations/SyMBiosis (2000-2011)

WISCIENCE initiated a series of facilitated cross-disciplinary conversations at UW-Madison to promote learning and integration of foundational math and science for biological sciences students.

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Paradise Lost

In May of 2006, 20 artists, 7 scientists and 6 educators met to learn about climate change and the potential role of art in increasing public awareness of science.

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Thailand Science Education Collaboration

From 2002-2012, WISCIENCE was involved in a Chancellor‐supported UW–Madison initiative to improve K‐16 science education in Thailand.

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Water for Everyone

Water for Everyone was a statewide partnership providing training, expert information and a database of scientific resources and educational materials to help leaders and trainers within organizations that monitor Wisconsin's rivers and streams.

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Wisconsin Biology Experience project

Cross-campus meetings and working groups to compile information about beyond-the-classroom opportunities in the biological sciences so undergraduates could more easily connect with them.

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Digital Media Center (DMC)

The creation of the Digital Media Center (DMC) in 1996 was a collaboration between WISCIENCE (then known as the Institute for Biology Education), the Biotechnology Center, and the Division of Infor

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