Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.7.2, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site.

# Wisconsin Engineer Magazine

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://wisconsinengineer.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [TOP 19 VIDEO GAME INVENTIONS](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2026/05/23/top-19-video-game-inventions/) - I asked the internet, retro game enthusiasts, and indie game developers the question: What were the largest technical advancements in the history of video games? Cathode-ray tube amusement device, 1947 Earliest concept of an electronic game, prompting users to direct “artillery shells” in the form of electron beams. OXO, 1952 A game of tic-tac-toe developed
- [Extra: EXPO!](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2026/05/23/extra-expo/) - By: EEC and KHK Expo Preparations of Electrical and Enviromental Student Orgs ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING CLUB: THE FLOW OF DANE COUNTY Step into this miniature of Dane County, where we show how clean water keeps everything moving! In this hands-on exhibit, you’ll follow water as it travels from homes to lakes, through pipes, drains, and treatment
- [The Inner Works of Expo Revealed!](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2026/05/23/the-inner-works-of-expo-revealed/) - By: Kevin Park UW-Madison’s Engineering EXPO is one of the biggest ways our school gives back to the community. It allows UW-Madison students to express their creativity in building STEM projects to show the world. Every year, all the different engineering student orgs come together to build STEM projects and invite middle schoolers to get
- [History Of The Atom](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2026/05/23/history-of-the-atom/) - By; Paige Davis From ancient philosophy to modern quantum mechanics: the atom’s evolution Everything that has ever existed is made up of atoms. Atoms are known as the building blocks of the universe. From the smallest grain of sand to the largest planet, every object is made up of countless atoms interacting. They are tiny
- [Film Cameras - How Do They Work?](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2026/05/23/film-cameras-how-do-they-work/) - By: Written by Alec Shabowsky Photographers are using film cameras to slow down their photography With digital cameras integrated into our phones, cars, and everyday life, snapping a photo has never been easier. Some, however, have chosen to move a few decades into the past, shooting with film cameras to get a more personal photography
- [BadgerBots](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2026/05/23/badgerbots/) - By: Carmella Whittaker Madison’s Youth Robotics Shines at Expo Engineering Expo is an amazing celebration of UW-Madison’s student organizations, university research groups, and companies for the entire community to see, exceptionally geared to introduce STEM to the younger generation. After years of academic and industry experience, a Badger doesn’t forget where they found their spark
- [Beyond the Beat: How Wearable Sensors are Reshaping Research and Health](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2026/02/25/beyond-the-beat-how-wearable-sensors-are-reshaping-research-and-health/) - By: Alec Schabowsky How Wearable Sensors are Reshaping Research and Health It all started with a step, a hop, then a skip and a jump, and finally a beat. This, however, is not dance class; it’s the world of wearable technology! Since their inception as step-trackers in the 1960s, wearable devices have expanded to track
- [Just One More: We Should Cut the Library Budget Again](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2026/05/23/just-one-more-we-should-cut-the-library-budget-again/) - By: Kevin Park Recently, UW-Madison has reverted College Library’s closing time from 6 pm back to the original 9 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. They have also reopened Memorial Library to 8 pm from the current 6 pm. These series of decisions are deplorable and should be kiboshed, as they are unrepresentative of UW-Madison’s ideals.
- [Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2026/02/25/laboratory-for-optical-and-computational-instrumentation/) - By: Connor Welch The UW-Madison Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation (LOCI) is a computational imaging instrumentation development group based in the Center for Quantitative Cell Imaging (CQCI) in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research. Their mission is to “observe and study cells in a more natural environment to get a more accurate
- [Catching a Ride: Articulated Buses and City Planning](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2026/02/11/catching-a-ride-articulated-buses-and-city-planning/) - By: Matthew Schmieding Metro Transit’s most recent project brings Madison a brand-new way to ride Madison’s Metro Transit coordinates an extensive network of buses, covering two dozen routes. Preceded by electric streetcars, modern buses have since run the streets for over a century. Metro Transit first studied the implementation of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in
- [Levy Engineering Center Preview](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2026/02/25/levy-engineering-center-preview/) - By: Leo Mazzocco The Levy Engineering Center will soon impose its presence on the engineering campus. What can future Badgers expect? As classes start up this fall, the dusty construction zone outside Engineering Hall has beeped and clattered to make its presence known to all engineering students. This gaping chasm invites all who see it
- [Dean Ranjan, Tear Down This Wall!](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2026/02/25/dean-ranjan-tear-down-this-wall/) - If you’ve walked into Engineering Hall lately, you’ve likely seen “the Wall”. Along the eastern side of the building, already strained by the construction nearby, a dirt shortcut once carried entire classes of engineers to their lectures, discussions, and labs. Then, one late-September morning, it happened. The shortcut was suddenly sealed off by an unsightly
- [Revisiting the Final Beatles Song - Now and Then ](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2025/09/30/revisiting-the-final-beatles-song-now-and-then/) - By: Dominic Greco The final Beatles song, Now and Then, was awarded the Grammy for the Best Rock Performance in February 2025. What is its place within the Beatles canon and the zeitgeist of popular music? In 1994, the three remaining Beatles reunited to produce Anthology, a documentary about the band, which was promoted by
- [Letter from the EIC](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2025/09/30/letter-from-the-eic/) - By: Isabelle Egizio To the readers of the Wisconsin Engineer Magazine – When I first joined the Wisconsin Engineer Magazine in Fall 2021, the future of the magazine was uncertain. Like many other student organizations, it was still reeling from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this challenge, I have seen the magazine and
- [Rocketing Toward Success](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2025/09/30/rocketing-toward-success/) - By: Alexander Kiner How students of the Wisconsin Space Program work together across time and space to shoot for the stars With a second-place prize in Payload Design at last year’s Spaceport Cup, the Wisconsin Space Program quickly made a name for themselves on the international student rocketry stage. Composed entirely of undergraduate students advised
- [Jiu-Jitsu Club: Student Org Spotlight](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2025/09/30/jiu-jitsu-club-student-org-spotlight/) - By: Shaunak Raikar For engineering students at UW-Madison, Jiu-Jitsu is more than just a sport. It’s a test of strategy, discipline, and resilience, while also helping develop life skills. For engineering students at UW-Madison, critical thinking is second nature. Students develop this skill through rigorous education which requires dedication, discipline, and adaptability. Some of these
- [The Precarious Future of Renewable Energy](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2025/09/30/the-precarious-future-of-renewable-energy/) - By: Leo Mazzocco The Trump administration is pushing for a shift back to fossil fuels. What do the experts predict this means for the U.S.? This January, Donald Trump became the 47th President of the United States of America. Almost immediately, he released a wave of executive orders to enact his vision of the ideal
- [Don’t Forget Virgil Abloh: Wisconsin’s Trailblazer](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2025/01/22/dont-forget-virgil-abloh-wisconsins-trailblazer/) - The College of Engineering’s most decorated alum…a fashion designer? Before his passing in 2021, Virgil Abloh achieved global fame and recognition from around the world. Abloh founded the world-renowned clothing brand Off-White, which he headed as CEO. He was the first African American artist director at luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton, and he worked as
- [Turning off the Tap: Commemorating the Engineering Fountain](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2025/01/15/turning-off-the-tap-commemorating-the-engineering-fountain/) - The Máquina fountain has been a popular topic among Wisconsin Engineer writers, but its recent demolition closes an important chapter for the College of Engineering. “That’s supposed to be a fountain?” “Does it actually work?” “I heard that if you turn it on, Agricultural Hall will fall down.” These rumors, exchanged amongst UW–Madison’s student population,
- [Piezoelectric Materials Inspired by Nature](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2025/01/22/piezoelectric-materials-inspired-by-nature/) - Materials Science and Engineering Professor Xudong Wang is improving the electrical efficiency and biocompatibility of batteries and implantable electrostimulation devices for tissue repair. When light hits the nacre of an oyster’s inner shell, variations in thickness create shimmering interference patterns, resulting in the lustrous glow of mother-of-pearl. Nacre is composed of thin, microscopic layers of
- [Vision Zero](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2025/01/22/vision-zero/) - Madison is committed to eliminating serious injuries and fatalities due to traffic accidents. In 1975, Oslo, Norway had 41 fatalities due to traffic accidents. Forty-four years later, the city lost zero pedestrians and cyclists and had only one total fatality due to traffic accidents. How did Oslo fall from 41 deaths to one? The answer
- [AI Tackles College Football, but Should It?](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2025/01/22/ai-tackles-college-football-but-should-it/) - As the ubiquity of AI seems increasingly certain, we must ask ourselves if it’s being implemented in the right way. This summer marked the return of the NCAA Football Video Game series with the release of College Football 25, or CFB25. Within weeks, the video game exploded in popularity, quickly becoming the highest selling video
- [Predicting Soft Material Behaviors with Sound](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2025/01/22/predicting-soft-material-behaviors-with-sound/) - Mechanical Engineering Associate Professors Corinne Henak and Melih Eritan developed a portable device patented by WARF that tests the failure threshold of soft materials, helps design medical devices, and diagnoses tissue damage. Sound moves through the air as undulating waves of pressure, which sensory receptors on the tiny stereocilia hairs in our ear convert into
- [The Hidden Layers of UW-Madison’s Geology Museum](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2025/01/22/the-hidden-layers-of-uw-madisons-geology-museum/) - The UW-Madison Geology Museum celebrated its 175th anniversary over the last few months with many new exhibits - but how does it create its famous displays? Attracting tens of thousands of visitors each year, the Geology Museum at UW-Madison is a campus icon. Featuring lustrous crystals, Cretaceous dinosaur fossils, and a Dane County meteorite, the
- [Putting the Spotlight on the Mass Spectrometer](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2025/01/22/putting-the-spotlight-on-the-mass-spectrometer/) - Mass spectrometers are one of the most essential tools in geology. It’s time for their story to be told. It’s traveled to other planets, helped build atomic bombs, and made some of the most important discoveries in geology, but unless you’re a specialist, you probably have no idea what a mass spectrometer is. These machines
- [Shaping STEM Cells: UW-Madison’s Bioinspired Materials Lab ](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2025/01/22/shaping-stem-cells-uw-madisons-bioinspired-materials-lab/) - UW-Madison’s legacy in stem cell research continues - molding cell behavior through material, ex-vitro modeling made in-vitro Just over 26 years ago, developmental biologist James Thomson of UW-Madison isolated human embryonic stem cells for the first time, ushering in a new age of medical research, controversy, and possibilities. Less than a year after his breakthrough,
- [ AI Research at UW-Madison](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2025/04/02/ai-research-at-uw-madison/) - By: Shivani Choudhary Pulling the Curtain on AI Safety Artificial intelligence (AI) jumped to the forefront of the public consciousness in late 2022, with the rising ubiquity of large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT. As AI continues to integrate itself into our lives at home, school, and work, concerns about the safety of these
- [Women of the CoE](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2025/04/02/women-of-the-coe/) - By: Sarah Gerovac While women have been allowed to attend UW-Madison since 1875, the first female engineering student did not graduate until 1922. This milestone propelled a slow stream of progress for women in the College of Engineering. Over a century later, the college is home to many inspiring, driven individuals who have worked hard
- [UW-Madison: The Next Fifty Years](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2025/04/02/uw-madison-the-next-fifty-years/) - By: Samarah Hiba Explore how the University of Wisconsin-Madison is creating its future with green architectural projects and a commitment to sustainability. UW-Madison’s “not-so-secret” master plan—because who doesn’t love a good surprise that everyone already knows about—involves building shiny, new, state-of-the-art architecture and giving outdated buildings the boot, all with sustainability as a key driver.
- [Neurocarto: Thinking About Thinking About Maps](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2025/04/02/neurocarto-thinking-about-thinking-about-maps/) - By: Carmella Whittaker New UW-Madison research group connects psychology to cartography Close your eyes and picture the last map you used. While it might be tempting to envision your last geography class, maps are everywhere, unnoticed. From navigation apps to building floor plans, we all use maps in everyday life without much thought. Now, imagine
- [Targeting shapeshifting proteins for drug development](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2025/04/02/targeting-shapeshifting-proteins-for-drug-development/) - By: Kristy Wendt New Madison-based biotech platform company Immuto Scientific demystifies protein structure for dynamic “undruggable” proteins. Proteins constantly shapeshift in living beings, wiggling and transforming their three-dimensional shape to adapt to the body’s ever-changing flow of chemical and environmental cues. This flexibility is essential for the day-to-day functions of proteins that recognize and bind
- [ From Food to Firetrucks: Finding Secret Sustainability Throughout Madison](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2025/04/03/from-food-to-firetrucks-finding-secret-sustainability-throughout-madison/) - By: Matthew Schmieding Uncovering hidden sustainability engineering in and around UW-Madison Sustainability in Madison starts one foot underground on an acre of land in Eagle Heights. Here, the UW-Madison Dining Farm in the Eagle Heights Community Garden serves as a testing ground for sustainable engineering projects. One such project is an agrivoltaics senior design project,
- [ The Spooky Sceneries of Memorial Library ](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2025/04/03/the-spooky-sceneries-of-memorial-library/) - By: Asma Kazi Explore the wonders of this historical library and how its haunting atmosphere remains a favorite spot for students. From the classical late-19th-century Beaux-Arts style of the Wisconsin Historical Society to the cutting-edge 21st century design of Engineering Hall’s lobby, UW-Madison has no shortage of eye-catching study areas. So why do many students
- [Seeing Madison with Fresh Eyes](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2024/10/04/seeing-madison-with-fresh-eyes/) - What makes Madison stand out from the rest of the world? Taking a step away from the city can give students a fresh perspective to answer this question. Like any city, Madison has its own unique culture. Understanding it empowers you to know how the city differs from the rest of the world and understand
- [Our History of Predicting the Future](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2024/10/04/our-history-of-predicting-the-future/) - Throughout the 128-year history of the magazine, its writers have attempted to predict what the future will look like. Now that the future’s here, is it everything they dreamed of? First and foremost, let’s get one thing out of the way: No, humans haven’t developed nuclear fusion power yet. Despite predictions made by WEM writers
- [Life on Mars? The Search Continues!](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2024/10/03/life-on-mars-the-search-continues/) - 25 years after the magazine featured a story about life on Mars, we’re still searching — but recent science sheds light on what we could find. Aliens have been the darling of human imagination since ancient times. From Christiaan Huygens’ hemp-growing sailors and musicians to Marvel’s trees and racoons, visions of alien life over the
- [Blast From the Past: Revisiting “A Hot Trail”](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/08/04/blast-from-the-past-revisiting-a-hot-trail/) - Tasked with investigating the intentions of rival engineers, UW-Madison civil engineering alumnus John Lane (J. L.) Van Ornum set off on a clandestine reconnaissance mission for the chief engineer of a Virginia railroad, posing as a bird hunter. He describes his escapade in a roman à clef titled “A Hot Trail” for the very first
- [Research, not Reactors: The challenges facing international nuclear engineers](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2024/05/01/research-not-reactors-the-challenges-facing-international-nuclear-engineers/) - Over 80 years after Italian immigrant Enrico Fermi built the first nuclear reactor, international nuclear engineering students face significant limitations with job options in the United States. Hailing from Guadalajara, Mexico, sophomore Gerson Esquivel is an undergraduate international student in UW-Madison’s nuclear engineering program. Like many international students, he overcame the challenge of living in
- [What's in a Name?](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/06/18/whats-in-a-name/) - UW-Madison holds a rich history and has been home to many influential figures since its founding. Many of these figures have been memorialized on campus, allowing their legacies to still be appreciated today. In the May 1974 issue of Wisconsin Engineer, then student Judy Endejan writes of an important new fixture soon to be built
- [Engineering Inclusion: The Historic Impact of the IEDE Student Center](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2024/05/01/engineering-inclusion-the-historic-impact-of-the-iede-student-center/) - For nearly 50 years, the IEDE Student Center has evolved to improve climate and feelings of belonging for students within the College of Engineering, building a network of diverse engineers. Conversations regarding diversity in education date back centuries. While American universities began offering degrees in engineering in 1817, it took 59 years for the first
- [Progress STEMming from Art](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2024/05/01/progress-stemming-from-art/) - The interweaving of art and STEM topics as shown by the UW-Madison Design Hub and Chemistry Department Is there truly a difference between STEM and STEAM? Topics involving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are often thought of as entirely separate from art. However, art is a fundamental part of the projects that occur in the
- [Saying Goodbye to 1410 Engineering Drive](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2024/05/01/saying-goodbye-to-1410-engineering-drive/) - After 85 years, 1410 Engineering Drive will soon be demolished and replaced by a state-of-the-art engineering building. The UW-Madison College of Engineering announced in early 2024 their decision to demolish 1410 Engineering Drive, one of the oldest buildings on the engineering campus, this autumn. Over the upcoming summer, its occupants, including engineering research labs, Computer
- [Apple Vision Pro: More Vision Than Reality](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2024/05/01/apple-vision-pro-more-vision-than-reality/) - Apple’s bid to bring spatial computing into everyone’s daily life may be out of step with today's technology. February 2024 marked the release of the Apple Vision Pro, Apple’s push for virtual reality to be a part of everyone's daily life. However, professionals remain skeptical that this will be the product to crack the mainstream.
- [InterEGR 170: Behind the Scenes](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2024/05/01/interegr-170-behind-the-scenes/) - Madison's unique introductory course: How it came to be, how it will change In a world of evolving technology and shifting priorities, engineers must be adaptable. However, the same should also apply to engineering education. While UW-Madison teaches its students to adjust and overcome the challenges they face, the curriculum itself is similarly changing. The
- [Tackling the Issue: The Escalating Trend of ACL Tears in Women's Football](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2024/05/01/tackling-the-issue-the-escalating-trend-of-acl-tears-in-womens-football/) - The rapid rise of women's soccer coincides with an increase in ACL injuries, prompting a closer look at factors affecting player safety. A successful event, the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup broke records with unprecedented crowds and culminated in a historic victory for Spain. The popularity of women’s football continues to rise, reaching mainstream media
- [Breaking Bad: A Chemical Analysis](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2024/05/01/breaking-bad-a-chemical-analysis/) - UW–Madison chemistry experts scrutinize the science behind one of television’s most sensational shows Breaking Bad, a hit crime drama about a chemistry-teacher-turned-meth-cook, is widely praised for the intricate use of chemistry throughout the series. While critics argue that this chemistry is inaccurate or overexaggerated, UW–Madison chemists argue Breaking Bad leaves little room for error when
- [Navigating the Challenges of Autonomous Vehicle Testing](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2024/05/01/navigating-the-challenges-of-autonomous-vehicle-testing/) - As self-driving cars transition from futuristic concept to imminent reality, engineers face a monumental challenge, requiring a balance of innovation and caution: ensuring the safety of passengers and pedestrians where any failure could result in significant damage. Looking to the future of transportation, autonomous vehicles may hold the potential for safer, faster journeys. But, assessing
- [A More Connected Madison - WiHST’S Vision for High-Speed Rail in the United States](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/12/14/a-more-connected-madison-wihsts-vision-for-high-speed-rail-in-the-united-states/) - Live in Madison, work in Chicago, and get dinner in Minneapolis – the possibilities of high-speed rail in the Midwest are endless. As winter break approaches, the stress of finals might finally dissipate for UW-Madison students. But as thousands of students plan to travel home for the holidays, the burdens of the semester are replaced
- [Badger Solar Racing: To the Sun](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/12/09/badger-solar-racing-to-the-sun/) - After facing the cancellation of their first competition, Badger Solar Racing, an engineering student organization, recently competed for the first time, now excited to compete in many more. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the lifestyle of all college students, canceling, postponing, and restructuring events and activities critical to the college experience. Many events never returned in
- [Oppenheimer and the Future of Energy](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/12/14/oppenheimer-and-the-future-of-energy/) - With the pop culture outbreak this summer surrounding Oppenheimer, more attention has been brought to research in nuclear engineering, specifically in UW-Madison’s Department of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics. The release of Oppenheimer this past summer drove a pop culture frenzy. But more importantly, it increased conversations about nuclear engineering in the daily lives of
- [A Peek at Recent Enrollment Trends in Engineering and the Humanities ](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/12/14/a-peek-at-recent-enrollment-trends-in-engineering-and-the-humanities/) - Machines or Mercurial Philosophers: Why Students Choose to Study the Former College enrollment trends ebb and flow with various societal, economic, and cultural changes. Within the landscape of higher education, two distinct areas often experience significant fluctuations in enrollment: humanities and engineering. While humanities programs explore the breadth of human expression and thought, engineering and
- [C-Motive’s New Electric Avenue](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/12/14/c-motives-new-electric-avenue/) - Electric motors have relied on the same fundamental technology for nearly two centuries until two UW-Madison Electrical Engineering graduate students returned to one of Benjamin Franklin’s early designs. In 2009, Dan Ludois was a UW-Madison Electrical and Computer Engineering graduate student. In the laboratory of Giri Venkataramanan, he spent his Friday afternoons attending seminars held
- [ECB Resurfaces after a Flood… Again](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/12/14/ecb-resurfaces-after-a-flood-again/) - The curse of the Engineering Centers Building strikes again! After two fires and two floods over the lifetime of the building, how will the community of the College of Engineering recover from yet another disaster? History repeats itself. That’s the saying. While usually applied to large-scale societal events – war, epidemics, famine, natural disasters –
- [Revolutionizing the Run: How the Use of Carbon-Fiber Plates in Long Distance Running Shoes is Making Runners Faster ](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/12/14/revolutionizing-the-run-how-the-use-of-carbon-fiber-plates-in-long-distance-running-shoes-is-making-runners-faster/) - First included in running shoes in 2017, carbon-fiber plates greatly increase running efficiency. Most professional runners now use this technology because of the advantage it provides. Alex Marrione, a long-distance runner for the Wisconsin Track Club, purchased a new pair of Nike running shoes for training during his senior year of high school. These shoes,
- [Creating Greener Asphalt](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2019/11/03/creating-greener-asphalt/) - Recycled asphalt provides a platform for a sustainable future within civil infrastructure. The demand for an improved quality of civil infrastructure, particularly concerning cross-country roads and parkways, is encouraging global research of novel engineering solutions for a sustainable paving material. The sheer quantity of asphalt production required to maintain optimal road conditions invites an environmental
- [Getting to the Heart of Predicting Cardiac Failure](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2019/11/03/getting-to-the-heart-of-predicting-cardiac-failure/) - Dr. Witzenburg designs models of the heart that predict how the heart will grow and change in response to cardiac heart diseases such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) to improve medical decision-making for clinicians. When it comes to cardiac surgery, clinicians are under pressure to make timely and logical clinical decisions. Without any formal
- [Producing Plastics from Plants](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2019/11/03/producing-plastics-from-plants/) - A UW-Madison group hopes to transform the plastics industry by developing a plant-based plastic. What started in the 1970s as a hunt for a “critter” that could clean areas contaminated by hydrocarbons has turned into a research project that could forever change the plastics industry. UW-Madison’s Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC), funded by the
- [Flamingo: The Future of Microscopy](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2019/11/03/flamingo-the-future-of-microscopy/) - By creating affordable, portable, and reproducible microscopy technology, Jan Huisken and his team are looking to change the way we see science — literally. The reproducibility of experiments is an integral component of science. Without it, science is reduced to a field of ‘he said, she said’ and lacks the ability to foster human achievement and progress.
- [A Leap in Quantum Science at UW](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2019/11/03/a-leap-in-quantum-science-at-uw/) - Recently, UW-Madison has invested more than six million dollars in quantum science. According to professor Shimon Kolkowitz, this field has a very promising future, and this investment can help UW-Madison stay at the forefront of quantum research. The application of quantum physics in different fields is becoming increasingly popular. From tech companies, such as IBM
- [Take Back Your Travel Time](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2019/11/03/take-back-your-travel-time/) - While many people waste tons of time in traffic, new research is focused on using automated vehicles to maximize our happiness and safety in our daily commute. Automation is a hot trend in technology, especially within the vehicle industry. One of the main purposes of an automated vehicle is to maximize people’s usage of previously
- [Neural Connections Across Campus](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2019/11/03/neural-connections-across-campus/) - UW-Madison professor Aviad Hai is developing tiny electronic sensors to study brain activity using MRI. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner can be used to take detailed anatomical snapshots of the brain noninvasively — without harming the brain. It can even detect changes in the flow of blood related to brain activation using what is commonly referred
- [Sustainability, STARS, and “Saving the World”](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2020/12/16/sustainability-stars-and-saving-the-world/) - The recently established office of sustainability takes a system approach to studying sustainability in a holistic and transdisciplinary way. When students return to campus each year, their main priorities often include attending sporting events, catching up with friends, and preparing for another semester of classes. Meanwhile, the Office of Sustainability is working behind the scenes
- [Why the Engineer Fountain ACTUALLY Doesn’t Work](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2020/12/17/why-the-engineer-fountain-actually-doesnt-work/) - Faulty jets? Leaky pipes? Not enough water in Madison? Find out the real reason why the Descendant's fountain doesn't work. Why, on a campus full of engineers, is there a fountain that does not spray water? I sat down (virtually) with Dean Ian Robertson to find out. The Descendant’s Fountain, or Máquina (Spanish for machine)
- [Introducing the Emerging Leaders in Engineering Program](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2020/12/17/introducing-the-emerging-leaders-in-engineering-program/) - Our experiences outside the classroom can be just as vital as the professors’ lectures inside. A number of cardinal life lessons and soft skills cannot be easily “taught” but are instead instilled through experiences. Participating in the Emerging Leaders in Engineering (ELE) program is one way for students at UW-Madison to develop these leadership skills
- [Assessing & Ensuring Construction Readiness](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2020/12/21/assessing-ensuring-construction-readiness/) - The construction industry is a competitive field with constant pressure to complete projects on schedule and within budget. Due to this, projects are often launched without adequate assessment of the readiness of the project. This leads to low productivity, delays, and even projects coming to a halt while decisions and changes are made. UW Madison’s
- [Science Beyond the Lab](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2020/12/21/science-beyond-the-lab/) - In the fast paced, ever changing world of science, effective communication could not be more important. Bridging the gap between the research in the lab and the diverse audience of the general public has its challenges, as has been highlighted in the past year with the Covid-19 pandemic. As we move forward, more work is
- [Engineers Without Borders: The Wisconsin Idea in Action](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2020/12/27/engineers-without-borders-the-wisconsin-idea-in-action/) - For over a century, the Wisconsin Idea has been the guiding philosophy of faculty, students, and alumni of UW-Madison. One of the earliest university presidents once said, “I shall never be content until the beneficent influence of the university reaches every family in the state.” Today, that sentiment still holds true, reaching communities worldwide through
- [Supporting Patients with Complex Health Needs Using Human Factors Engineering](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/11/02/supporting-patients-with-complex-health-needs-using-human-factors-engineering/) - An investigation into human factors engineering as applied by the Werner Lab in their work to design systems to support specialized healthcare users. A teenager suffered from brain damage and died two weeks after she received an organ transplant because the organs from her donor were incompatible with her blood type. An investigation into the
- [Letter from the Editor](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/11/02/letter-from-the-editor-2/) - This year has challenged all of us for reasons that seem to multiply every day. Between the COVID-19 pandemic and calls for social justice around the country, it seems that everyday life has been in a state of limbo since March. When rumors first spread that UW-Madison would transition to online after Spring Break, I
- [The Untold Story of Freshmen in a Pandemic](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2021/05/07/the-untold-story-of-freshmen-in-a-pandemic/) - This year’s freshman class began their college experience unlike their predecessors. First year mechanical engineering student, Vahagn Yengibaryan, was unable to live in Madison during the fall semester. Instead, Yengibaryan took classes from his native country of Armenia, in a time zone ten hours ahead of Madison. Katie Hickman, a political science student from Germany,
- [NIH and the Racial Disparities in Academia](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2021/06/26/nih-and-the-racial-disparities-in-academia/) - In the field of research, the most innovative and groundbreaking ideas from scientists of diverse backgrounds are trumped by the harmful grievances of their white counterparts. In academic medicine in the U.S., Black scientists are inexcusably underrepresented by about 6-fold. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the largest research institute in America. While they
- [This Podcast Will Kill You: A Review](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2021/06/26/this-podcast-will-kill-you-a-review/) - With the recent global events, there has never been a better time to educate yourself on disease science. This subject can be overwhelming for people without any background knowledge. For many, the COVID-19 pandemic has been an introduction to the scientific process; showcasing how much information there is to know and how much there still
- [Faculty Spotlight: New Assistant Professors in CEE](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/11/01/faculty-spotlight-new-assistant-professors-in-cee/) - Three new assistant professors in the civil and environmental engineering department are focusing their energy and resources on studying a range of sustainable materials and processes. They serve as role models for young women in engineering and inspire their students to engage in their classes. Within the last several years, three new assistant professors have
- [COVID-19: What We Know and What We Don’t](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/11/01/covid-19-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont/) - Scientists have learned a lot about COVID-19 in the last few months but understanding its full impact on the human body will require several more years of research. “The new normal.” Over the last year, Americans have been forced to grapple with a number of new realities: wearing masks, going to school online, and getting
- [Letter from the Editor](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/11/01/letter-from-the-editor/) - Being involved in the Wisconsin Engineer Magazine has been pivotal to my undergraduate experience. Growing up, I was an introverted child with an inquisitive mind and an endless imagination. The cultural differences I experienced when moving from Kampala, Uganda to Woodbury, Minnesota made me even more introspective. Hence, the best form of expressing my thoughts
- [How to Retain Women in Engineering: A conversation with three female CoE professors](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/11/01/how-to-retain-women-in-engineering-a-conversation-with-three-female-coe-professors/) - Why are only 18 percent of UW-Madison CoE faculty women? Professors Krishnaswamy, Murphy, and Pan talk about how we can improve this number in the future. According to the American Society for Engineering Education’s Engineering and Engineering Technology by the Numbers 2019 report, females make up only 18.1 percent of the total tenure/tenure-track faculty in
- [Taking Engineering Around the Globe: The Certificate in International Engineering](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2022/11/30/taking-engineering-around-the-globe-the-certificate-in-international-engineering/) - When you think “engineer,” what’s the first thing you think of? Perhaps problem-solver, creative thinker, and decent at math are all things that come to mind. But what about worldly? In an economy that is globalizing rapidly, many would argue that the fourth quality is now just as important as the first three. But how do you get a
- [Interferometry - The Future of Understanding the Universe… Through Magic?](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2022/11/30/interferometry-the-future-of-understanding-the-universe-through-magic/) - When the idea of a professional astronomer comes to mind, perhaps the first thing one pictures is a person sitting in a rural area in the middle of the night, squinting through a telescope, hoping to find some new star, planet, or asteroid. While this is certainly the case for the occasional astronomer or student
- [Speeding up CRISPR’s Path from Benchtop to Bedside](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2022/11/30/speeding-up-crisprs-path-from-benchtop-to-bedside/) - In the last decade, headlines surrounding the therapeutic potential of CRISPR have been dazzling the public. This revolutionary gene-editing technique has ignited the hopes of healthcare professionals and patients alike in tackling genetic diseases. However, the question remains: who will benefit from CRISPR and how soon? The Somatic Cell Genome Editing (SCGE) Consortium sponsored by
- [Catalysis for Tomorrow](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2022/11/30/catalysis-for-tomorrow/) - Catalysis, the process of accelerating the rate of chemical reactions, has been a focal point of scientific research for many decades. In the 21st century, catalysis continues to contribute to the manufacturing of 90% of the products we encounter daily, from modified foods, to gas for your car, to the majority of manufactured consumer products.
- [ENG 101 – Intro to Survival Skills](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2022/11/30/eng-101-intro-to-survival-skills/) - Welcome to the College of Engineering! With UW-Madison returning to in-person classes this semester, thousands of college students just like you will once again swarm the campus – many for the very first time! Whether you are a first-year, second-year, or third-year freshman, this semester will not be without its obstacles. Between navigating the engineering
- [Grid-Forming Inverters: A Critical Asset for the Power Grid](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2022/11/30/grid-forming-inverters-a-critical-asset-for-the-power-grid/) - The power grid is a network connection responsible for providing power from big power stations to homes. Within the grid, power generation and load must be balanced to maintain reliable grid operation on time scales of milliseconds to seconds. As we are adding more renewable energy sources, power generation becomes variable due to uncontrollable natural
- [Limitless Data in a Limitless Future](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2022/11/30/limitless-data-in-a-limitless-future/) - The root of all innovation, the pinnacle of all great advancements, the motivation for everything to come, may lie in the hands of the 21st century’s most crucial resource: data. Advances in computing and communication technology, along with the growth that has occurred in the field of data science and artificial intelligence, have put society
- [Engineered Intention: UW-Madison’s First Woman Engineer Pursued Her Degree on Principle](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/09/08/engineered-intention-uw-madisons-first-woman-engineer-pursued-her-degree-on-principle/) - Emily Hahn recalls in her memoir No Hurry to Get Home the act of rebellion that made a place for all women in the College of Engineering at UW-Madison. Though nearly fifty years had passed since women received full coeducational status at UW-Madison in 1875, an unspoken ceiling remained over the College of Engineering until
- [People of College of Engineering](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/09/13/people-of-college-of-engineering/) - A look into the everyday lives of engineering students at UW-Madison. Engineering Hall is a bustling environment filled with all kinds of students—some studying with friends, some killing time before their next class, others stressfully cramming for exams. Overall, these students have one thing in common: striving for academic success. Students from all over the
- [New Eye Imaging Technique Offers Glimpse Into the Future of Disease Research](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/09/13/new-eye-imaging-technique-offers-glimpse-into-the-future-of-disease-research/) - A UW-Madison professor developed a way to more easily distinguish between different substances. Now, she’s been given a $480,135 grant by the National Eye Institute to study how her technique can be used in the detection of eye diseases. Have you ever started with an idea that at first seemed inconsequential, but over time it
- [Written Across the Stars](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/09/13/written-across-the-stars/) - Explore Christopher Nolan’s reimagined galaxy through the lens of time Released in 2014, Christopher Nolan’s movie Interstellar was nominated for various Academy and BAFTA awards for the categories of Best Score, Best Cinematography, and Best Visual Effects. Though falling short of achieving the esteemed Best Picture nomination at the Oscars, this film portrays a thrilling
- [Engineering Summer Program: Growing a Diverse Community of Engineers Starting in High School](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/09/13/engineering-summer-program-growing-a-diverse-community-of-engineers-starting-in-high-school/) - The Engineering Summer Program invites high school students to spend their summers in the UW-Madison College of Engineering with the focus of building a community of students with common goals and interests. It is 5:30 a.m. on July 28, 2018, as 28 bleary-eyed teenagers huddle on the cold stone benches at the very tip of
- [Engineering Communities at UniverCity](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/09/14/engineering-communities-at-univercity/) - UniverCity Alliance, a program that allows communities across Wisconsin to connect with faculty and students from a wide range of disciplines at UW-Madison, exemplifies the increasing importance of bridging the gap between social issues and engineering. When people think about engineering, often the first things that come to mind are exceedingly technical: building things made
- [The TEAM Lab Resurfaces after Flood](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/09/14/the-team-lab-resurfaces-after-flood/) - Find out how the TEAM Lab went from a massive flood to fully functional in the past two years. On February 4th, 2020, a water main break occurred on Henry Mall. This water flowed into the underground steam tunnels that emptied to the lowest point on the Engineering Campus. That lowest point was the location
- [Baja SAE: Building Connections and Cars with Automotive Engineering](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/04/20/baja-sae-building-connections-and-cars-with-automotive-engineering/) - Most engineering students at UW-Madison have some grasp of the importance of extracurriculars, especially when it comes to finding real-world experience that will prove beneficial in the job market. In fact, there are over 50 engineering-specific organizations scattered around campus, vying for their next new member. However, while there are several clubs that focus on
- [FLIGHT CBE-424](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/09/28/flight-cbe-424/) - A glimpse into the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering’s five-week summer lab program in Oviedo, Spain—an opportunity to see the world and complete the capstone course in the most exciting way possible! For most students, the idea of taking a summer class can be daunting. However, it’s a reality for all students majoring in
- [The Challenges of Women in STEM and How to Confront Them: A Propelling Women in Power Podcast Review](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/09/28/the-challenges-of-women-in-stem-and-how-to-confront-them-a-propelling-women-in-power-podcast-review/) - This podcast by two undergraduate UW-Madison students highlights the experiences of women professionals in STEM and discusses how to overcome the obstacles of a field riddled with sexism. As society progresses, women’s impact in science and technology has become more prevalent and accepted. Although there has been progress, the progression of women in STEM has
- [Formula SAE: The Spirit of Teamwork and Success](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/11/01/formula-sae-the-spirit-of-teamwork-and-success/) - No engineer can complete their best work alone. See how this idea is exemplified in the College of Engineering’s largest student organization. What good is an engine, a wheel, a transmission, and a set of brakes, sitting all alone in a workshop? They have no greater purpose without the whole host of parts that make
- [The Natural Language of Nature](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/11/01/the-natural-language-of-nature/) - An exploration of how linguistic practices impact scientific discovery. Natural language is the inescapable medium in which we learn and relate information. It infuses our daily tasks: we narrate while searching for keys, think and talk on our feet during meetings, and read to ourselves while glancing at an article. Yet, linguistics is often overlooked
- [The Road to Unraveling the Secrets of the Universe starts with … -1/12](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/06/18/the-road-to-unraveling-the-secrets-of-the-universe-starts-with-1-12/) - One of the most important values in all of physics is -1/12, and the number comes about only by staring infinity in the face and accepting it as nothing more than a convenient mathematical idea. If you were to add all the natural numbers - every positive integer from one to infinity - what would
- [Potatoes and Insects and Telescopes – Oh My! Applying Engineering to UW-Madison’s Research](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/06/18/potatoes-and-insects-and-telescopes-oh-my-applying-engineering-to-uw-madisons-research/) - From building telescopes to constructing models to predict the phenotypes of potatoes, science research at UW-Madison relies on a diverse range of engineering expertise. With a yearly budget of $1.4 billion, UW-Madison, one of the world’s foremost research universities, ranked 8th in the nation when it comes to yearly spending on research, according to a
- [Design for Rehabilitation: From Clinic to Classroom ](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/06/18/design-for-rehabilitation-from-clinic-to-classroom/) - Dr. Christopher Luzzio, neurologist and associate professor of mechanical engineering, brings challenges from the clinic into the classroom in BME 601: Design for Rehabilitation. Many engineering courses teach students how to design, but few classes show students how to put their designs into practice and improve the lives of others. Taught by Dr. Christopher Luzzio,
- [Drive to Survive: Fact or Fiction?](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/06/18/drive-to-survive-fact-or-fiction/) - The newest season of Netflix’s acclaimed docuseries Drive to Survive tells a story of drama and rivalries between the twenty drivers and ten teams in Formula One, but does it accurately portray the hidden world of this competitive sport? The first season of Drive to Survive debuted on Netflix in 2019, and now that the
- [Becoming an Engineer Across the Pond](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/06/18/becoming-an-engineer-across-the-pond/) - Choosing to study abroad, especially for UW-Madison engineering students who are already pursuing challenging degrees, can be a difficult choice to make. Now that I’ve taken the leap, here’s why I think that you should, too. Studying abroad had been an idea floating in the back of my mind for much of my career as
- [An Investment in the Future: The Legacy of the Washburn Observatory](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/12/14/an-investment-in-the-future-the-legacy-of-the-washburn-observatory/) - 143 years after being built, the Washburn observatory continues to offer a view of the cosmos to the public. See how dedicated engineering and innovative techniques contributed to the extraordinary lifetime of this UW-Madison icon. Outlasting its namesake, former governor C. C. Washburn, by over half a century and remaining scientifically relevant for decades after
- [Open-Source, Linux, and UW-Madison: A Story of History and Increasing Relevance](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2023/12/14/open-source-linux-and-uw-madison-a-story-of-history-and-increasing-relevance/) - Niche and confined to technical discourse, Linux and open-source technologies shoulder the responsibility of maintaining life in the modern digital age. On a global scale, from governments to multinational corporations, world leaders invest in the immense power of one technology. This exceedingly powerful tool is known as open-source. Open-source computing makes Linux, an operating system
- [Trailblazing: The many legacies of Wisconsin Engineer’s first woman editor](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2024/02/02/trailblazing-the-many-legacies-of-wisconsin-engineers-first-woman-editor/) - Written by Mike A. Shapiro Our magazine’s first woman editor was also one of the first women to graduate UW–Madison with an engineering degree. When June Hartnell began editing Wisconsin Engineer in August 1944, she had a co-editor, a boyfriend with a red and white single-seat airplane, and the top GPA in the electrical engineering
- [From Ideas to Industry](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/18/from-ideas-to-industry/) - By Emily MorzewskiIndustrialism was the driving force behind the economy in the United States at the turn of the 20th century. Now at the start of the 21st century, the growing industry is that of startups. Industrialism has become ideas and startups are at the core. Built on the idea that startups are our future
- [Metrics on Markets](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/18/metrics-on-markets/) - By Madison KnoblochNot everyone has the luxury of hearing a Wisconsin cheese curd squeak as their teeth sink in. Or letting the aroma of huge loaves of spicy cheese bread invade their senses. For almost four years now, Alfonso Morales, associate professor in the department of urban and regional planning at UW-Madison (and former street
- [A Foundry Feature](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/18/a-foundry-feature/) - By Nathan FriarSince the dawn of the Bronze Age over 5000 years ago, humans have been extracting metal from the earth and manipulating it to fit our needs. From tools and weapons to engine blocks and coins, it is almost impossible to look around and not observe some sort of metal creation today. Unfortunately, you
- [Quest for ANTibiotics](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/18/quest-for-antibiotics/) - By Stacy MontgomeryAs antibacterial-resistant disease prevalence and seriousness increase, are scientists desperately searching for new antibiotics. Traditionally, researchers look into bacteria-rich soil for the antibiotics; however, continuing with this strategy has yielded little novelty. In the Currie Lab at UW-Madison, researchers like graduate student Heidi Horn have focused on a different, unique niche to find
- [Professor Profile: Steven Zwickel](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/18/professor-profile-steven-zwickel/) - By Brandon GrillThe Wisconsin Engineer Magazine has been in publication for 119 years and throughout its lifespan has been run and written entirely by UW-Madison students. The past 20 years, however, have been especially pivotal in the history of the magazine. The age of mass communication through the Internet has changed the entire field of
- [Quantum Computing](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/quantum-computing/) - By Morgan AdkinsComputers have become an integral part of our society today. From the daily routine of the workplace to the technology behind the car, everywhere we go and everything we do seems to involve a computer. And, as our dependency on technology continues to expand, our need for more innovation only grows. While our
- [The Perks of Being a Spaceflower](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/the-perks-of-being-a-spaceflower/) - By Madison KnoblockIn the scientific community, the plant Arabidopsis thaliana, related to the mustard greens family, is the lab rat of all plants. Because of its relatively small genome, it was the first plant to have its genome sequenced and since then has become a vital tool in research of the molecular biology of plants.
- [Star Wars: The Force Awakens](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/star-wars-the-force-awakens/) - By Eric FlemingIn 1977, the world fell in love with a robot for the first time. That year, the first Star Wars movie smashed box office records and introduced a host of characters that became pop culture icons, including the lovable droid, R2-D2. With the creation of R2-D2 and his companion, C-3P0, Star Wars creator
- [Artificial, Yet Natural: Robotics and AI](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/artificial-yet-natural-robotics-and-ai/) - By Stephen EickTake a brief moment and picture the world prior to the Industrial Revolution. Few people yearn for times without our modern amenities, our technology. We safely conclude that the world ultimately benefits from the development of innovative tools, especially electronic tools. However, this exact moment in history holds the most rapid development humanity
- [Fitness Tracking Redefined](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/fitness-tracking-redefined/) - By Matt StoutOver the past few decades, people have become increasingly interested in tracking physical activity. Whether it is for health reasons, or merely to look and feel good, people have been seeking a more accurate way to track their physiological progress than a measly pedometer. They want to learn how to improve their day-to-day
- [Remodeling the Electric Power Grid](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/remodeling-the-electric-power-grid/) - By Siddarth RameshOver the last two decades, the electric power grid has made a lot of advances in electric energy technology than the public may realize. This rapidly evolving power grid is now experiencing significant shifts towards a market-oriented distribution of electric power geared towards the consumer. By collecting real-time data about consumer power use,
- [The Human Exoskeleton](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/the-human-exoskeleton/) - By Anastasia MontgomeryNearly 20 percent of United States citizens have a disability, according to the United States Census Bureau. With such a large amount of people with conditions that may hinder their ability to participate in daily tasks, there is a great demand for technology to help make their lives easier. The technical term for
- [From Ideas to Apps](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/from-ideas-to-apps/) - By Ben ZastrowWhat do Snapchat, Eatstreet, and Zuntik all have in common? They all are apps that began as college startups, each one the dream of students who saw an opportunity to provide something new and exciting — and didn’t waste any time seizing their chance. The frantic, ever-changing culture of the startup world has permeated much
- [Taking Care of Business](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/taking-care-of-business/) - By Yingchong LiuEngineers learn a lot about science and math to solve grand challenges; however, their work does not always stop there. Engineers may also be required to talk and think in business languages. Thus, a lack of business skills sets may slow their career development. In order to broaden their career potential, pursuing an
- [Paris Climate Change Conference 2015](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/paris-climate-change-conference-2015/) - By Stephen SchwartzMore than 70 percent of Americans now believe climate change is real and caused by human activity; however, this wasn’t always the case. While the first discussions of human-induced climate change date back to the turn of the 20th century, it wasn’t until the 1970s when modern scientists began outlining the potential consequences
- [The UW-Madison Heating Plants: Staving Off Wisconsin Winters](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/the-uw-madison-heating-plants-staving-off-wisconsin-winters/) - By Brandon GrillUnlike in residential neighborhoods where every house or apartment building has its own heater, a large campus like UW-Madison can afford to go big with its heating needs to keep students and faculty warm during Wisconsin’s long winters. Instead of having boilers in every building, two major heating plants supply adequate heat for
- [H2Ohh No!](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/h2ohh-no/) - By Katherine UnderwoodThe average urban American uses around 157 gallons of water per day. This statistic accounts for all indoor residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional water one person is responsible for in one day. Professor Ned Paschke, a civil engineer and program director in the UW-Madison department of engineering professional development (EPD), generated this number
- [Stress: It’s All in Your Head](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/stress-its-all-in-your-head/) - By Emily MorzewskiStress. Something that affects everyone no matter who they are or what they do. What is stress? Why do people feel stressed? How does stress affect people differently?Stress affects the brain, which is a very complex system that does amazing things. Let’s take a closer look as to what stress is, and how
- [Student Organization Spotlight: Human-Powered Vehicles Club](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/student-organization-spotlight-human-powered-vehicles-club/) - By Edwin NeumannImagine a sleek, carbon fiber-encapsulated vehicle whizzing down a track with a top speed around 80 miles per hour. Rather than being powered by fuel, this aerodynamic vehicle is entirely human-powered and operated, its design allowing for maximum efficiency in converting the rider’s muscle power into kinetic energy. This is the end product
- [Concussions: A Difficult Diagnosis](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/18/concussions-a-difficult-diagnosis/) - By Alex ChayAs a sports fan, not much is scarier than seeing a fan favorite lying on the turf, motionless, from the effects of a concussion. Not only are the causes of concussions especially gruesome, but the long-term effects can also be equally as terrifying. Numerous ex-football players have filed lawsuits against the NFL for hiding
- [Badgerloop: The Future of Transportation](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/18/badgerloop-the-future-of-transportation/) - By Nathan FriarIf you were to ask somebody to name a typical form of motorized transportation, the range of answers are somewhat limited. Over the last 100 years, the machines that we as humans use to power ourselves from place to place has remained pretty standard. Automobiles, boats, trains, and more recently, planes have made up
- [Paper Tech](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/18/paper-tech/) - By Anastasia MontgomeryToday, technology is so important to our existence that it is as if our smartphones were a unique organ. However, the metaphor breaks down once you look at how much e-waste (the informal name for any discarded electronic or electrical devices or their parts) we produce while compulsively upgrading the technologies we acquire.
- [California’s Drought](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/18/californias-drought/) - By Madison KnoblochSince 2011, a large area of high pressure over the pacific coast next to California, appropriately named the “Ridiculously Resilient Ridge,” or RRR, has been diverting storm systems further north. High pressure ridges are not uncommon, however, the stability of this one specifically is unmatched in the record books. This ridge was later
- [Gridcoin and BOINC: ‘Crowdsourcing’ Scientific Discovery](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/18/gridcoin-and-boinc-crowdsourcing-scientific-discovery/) - By Brandon GrillScientific advancement relies on numerous resources, many of which are hard to come by. Skilled faculty, equipment funding, and adequate research assistants are all needed in order to take a proposal and turn it into a discovery. Often overlooked, but increasing in demand, is the need for computational power. Whether in astronomy, physics,
- [Advice from a Freshman Engineer](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/18/advice-from-a-freshman-engineer/) - By Krishna PatelIt is back to square one for the one-time seniors of high school, now finding themselves amongst a pack of wolves called college freshmen. As an engineer, much of the college adaptation process sounds very scary; the workload is greater, classes are farther from each other, and you are away from loved ones.
- [Flush Forward](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/18/flush-forward/) - By Kelsey BrightThe world is overflowing with waste. The trash we throw in our garbage cans piles up in landfills, taking up space that could otherwise be used for more productive purposes. But what about the waste we’re flushing down our toilets and rinsing down our sinks? Wastewater is treated and reused, but the solids
- [Moving Spacecraft with Microwaves](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/18/moving-spacecraft-with-microwaves/) - By Stephen EickDesigning methods of launching an object beyond the gripping claws of Earth’s gravity is one of the most challenging problems an engineer can expect to tackle. Even more challenging is creating new methods of propulsion that push physics beyond its edge while opening new doors for the future of humanity. Right now, a
- [Your Next Flight is On-Track](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/18/your-next-flight-is-on-track/) - By Chris HankoWhile the United States consistently showcases their impressive engineering and advanced technology on the global stage, there seems to be a large void of progression in one of the most substantial fields: high-speed rail transportation. Sure we have cars, taxis, buses and airplanes, but it seems we are missing a key ingredient that
- [Grainger Foundation Commitment Funding Undergraduate Innovation](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/18/grainger-foundation-commitment-funding-undergraduate-innovation/) - By Gabriela BetancourtThe silence and relative calm of Engineering Mall were broken by the sounds of marching band music and palpable excitement during the early afternoon on September 17th as students and faculty awaited the “special announcement” that the College of Engineering had stated would be shared with the public that day. The crowd applauded
- [Preparing for Engineering](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/preparing-for-engineering/) - By Emily MorzewskiAcross the United States, students are underexposed to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, but Project Lead the Way is trying to fix that. Project Lead the Way is a nationwide organization consisting of six different programs, starting with grade school students and moving through high school. Within these programs, a series
- [Vision 2017](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/vision-2017/) - By Madison KnoblochWalking through the upper levels of Engineering Hall, the classrooms are still full of rickety desks with names carved in the wood. The hallways are lined with pale sea-foam green doorframes and with greenish-blue terrazzo flooring to complete the ensemble. You almost feel like you forgot to shine your shoes or wear your
- [Fact or Impulsive Assumption? The Planet Nine Hypothesis](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/fact-or-impulsive-assumption-the-planet-nine-hypothesis/) - By Chris HankoOne quality that the human race possesses that contributes so much to our technological progress is our constant desire to learn and to be curious about nearly everything. This innate curiosity has once again revealed something spectacular. On January 20th, 2016, an article was published in The Astronomical Journal about the mysterious existence
- [Where Should I Study Today?](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/where-should-i-study-today/) - By Hanwook Chung“When midterm season starts, it’s almost like a war!” says one of the engineering students who failed to find study spaces on engineering campus.As the home turf of more than 8,000 engineering students, the engineering campus could be one of the toughest places to found a good study spot when midterm season comes
- [Epic and its Takeover](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/epic-and-its-takeover/) - By Krishna PatelAs UW-Madison students begin to search for post-graduation job opportunities, many turn to the expanding medical software company, Epic, which is conveniently located here in Madison. Epic, the third-largest employer in Dane County, has placed great emphasis on recruiting graduates from UW-Madison. Not only does this growing company have the software to make
- [Nuclear Fusion: Not Just Science Fiction](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/nuclear-fusion-not-just-science-fiction/) - By Stephen EickEnergy is everything. Without energy, Earth would be a frozen hunk of rock meandering through space. Without energy, society would cease to exist as we know it today. Humans use water, the oil in the earth, the wind, the sun, and many other methods to generate this energy. Some methods harm our world
- [Laser-Aided Machining: The Future of Manufacturing](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/laser-aided-machining-the-future-of-manufacturing/) - By Chris HankoThere is definitely no shortage of groundbreaking research being done at UW-Madison, and the next breakthrough could happen in the heart of Mechanical Engineering. In Associate Professor Frank Pfefforkorn’s Laser-Assisted Multi-Scale Manufacturing Lab, major research is being done in the fields of materials science, manufacturing, welding and many others to ultimately grow laser-aided
- [A Closer Look at Optics](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/a-closer-look-at-optics/) - By Alex ChayOn campus, professors are doing many different types of research. Some of these topics are consistent with what one thinks of when hearing the word “research”: mixing chemicals in test tubes or observing bacteria cells under a microscope. On the other hand, some professors are delving into topics that may baffle a casual
- [One Thing “Lead” to Another: An Origin Story](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/one-thing-lead-to-another-an-origin-story/) - By Mark BodnarDuring childhood, just about everyone received an unfortunate nickname or two that they are quite glad to have left firmly in the past; and fortunately, time does have a certain knack for erasing things from memory. Today most people know Illinois as the Prairie State and Wisconsin as the Badger State. But Illinois
- [The Twenty Percent](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/the-twenty-percent/) - By Anastasia MontgomeryWalking into an engineering class on the first day of a semester, I find it amusing to do a quick survey of my class, and without fail I find that only about 1 in 5 people are female. Depending on the class, that proportion can be much worse, as is the case in
- [Voting: There’s Not an App for That](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/voting-theres-not-an-app-for-that/) - By Eric FlemingToday, most people expect to be able to do anything and everything on their smartphone. Apple’s famous 2009 refrain “There’s an app for that” has quickly transformed from a selling point into an expectation. Almost every conceivable task has been moved to the internet, and subsequently to the mobile phone. People use smartphones
- [HIV: The Master of Mutation](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/hiv-the-master-of-mutation/) - By Edwin NeumannViruses have been around for eons — possibly close to 3.5 billion years, according to many scientists. Some viral proteins even predate the divergence of life into the three domains: bacteria, archaea (ancient bacteria), and eukarya (plant, animal, and fungus cells). These ubiquitous microbes, which are not classified under any of the domains, have stood
- [Moore No More: A Paradigm Shift in Computer Architecture](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/moore-no-more-a-paradigm-shift-in-computer-architecture/) - By Stephen EickComputers drive the world, it seems, and with the rise of applications like self-driving vehicles, this is true more so than ever before. The intricacies involved in their development are vast and numerous. A modern computer processor can have more transistors (the basic building blocks of computer chips) than the number of blades of
- [The Idea That Inspired a Nation](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/the-idea-that-inspired-a-nation/) - By Morgan AdkinsWhen you say Wisconsin, you’ve said it all: Home of Titletown and Cheese Days, America’s Dairyland, Land of the Bratwurst, and leading exporter of cranberries, sweet corn and more. Wisconsin is known for a lot of things, but perhaps its greatest claim to fame is the Wisconsin Idea. Providing a vision for the University
- [Astronomical Advances](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/astronomical-advances/) - By Chris HankoAstronomy is a place where curious minds thrive, and are often rewarded with amazing, seemingly improbable discoveries. While we have come so far in terms of knowledge and technology, there is still so much for us to learn about our surroundings and even our very existence. In this article, I will guide you
- [Physical Instruments in a Digital Age of Music](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/physical-instruments-in-a-digital-age-of-music/) - By Brandon GrillMusic has changed drastically throughout the decades, perhaps more in the past century than in any other time in history. While genres and styles have been in constant development and evolution prior to the widespread use of electricity, the instruments being used by composers and performers were largely the same ones that had been
- [The Path of Human Evolution](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/the-path-of-human-evolution/) - By Ben ZastrowFrom ancient history to the distant future, from The Flintstones to Star Wars, we have always been a species fascinated with both how we got here and where we will be years from today. It is a topic with a constantly expanding base of knowledge, which covers a wide variety of disciplines including
- [Making a Magazine, Preserving History](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/making-a-magazine-preserving-history/) - By Emily MorzewskiFor 120 years, the Wisconsin Engineer Magazine has been a magazine with a mission to document engineering topics that are relevant to the students and alumni of UW-Madison. The Magazine published its first issue in June 1896 with the purpose of establishing a journal to share the knowledge and experiences of the students
- [From Start to Finish Line: Evolution of the Internal Combustion Engine](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/from-start-to-finish-line-evolution-of-the-internal-combustion-engine/) - By Nick MoultonCars have always been an icon in American culture. An aura of freedom and independence is associated with automobile ownership. Track races like the Indy 500 have highlighted the confidence and courage of champion drivers. The internal combustion engine is an invention that has distinctly changed everything from a worldwide perspective. All of a
- [Tackling Sustainability Issues](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/tackling-sustainability-issues/) - By Matt StoutAs issues around climate change have intensified, the City of Madison has grown particularly interested in increasing its sustainability, especially in the 21st century. In 2004, the mayor proclaimed a city-wide emphasis on solar energy. Since then, Epic Systems, a local healthcare software company, has created two major solar fields with a combined total
- [The Wisconsin Badgers, Then and Now](https://wisconsinengineer.com/2016/10/19/the-wisconsin-badgers-then-and-now/) - By Stephen SchwartzAs a founding member of the Big Ten Conference, the Wisconsin Badgers athletic teams have a long and rich history dating back more than century. Proudly donning the iconic cardinal and white throughout the years, both men and women student athletes competing in a variety of different sports have historically earned national recognition

## Pages

- [Home](https://wisconsinengineer.com/) - The Wisconsin Engineer is published by and for students at UW-Madison. Read our latest issue - now available online and at various locations around campus!
- [](https://wisconsinengineer.com/10990-2/)
- [Expo 2026](https://wisconsinengineer.com/expo-2026/)
- [Meet Our Team](https://wisconsinengineer.com/meet-our-staff/) - Matthew Ye Co-Editor in Chief Carmella Whittaker Co-editor in chief I’m Carmella, a sophmore in Biomedical Engineering on the pre-health track. I joined WEM in my first semester at UW-Madison, and I am very excited to be one of the Writing Heads this semester! I’ve really enjoyed getting to know so many multi-talented students and
- [Connect](https://wisconsinengineer.com/contact/) - Editors in Chief: Laila Smith and Carmella Whittaker Office:M1066 Engineering Centers Building1550 Engineering DriveMadison, WI 53705
- [Spring 2025](https://wisconsinengineer.com/spring-2025/)
- [Spring 2022](https://wisconsinengineer.com/spring-2022/)
- [Spring 2023](https://wisconsinengineer.com/spring-2023/)
- [Winter 2024](https://wisconsinengineer.com/winter-2024/)
- [Fall 2023](https://wisconsinengineer.com/fall-2023/)
- [Please come back later!](https://wisconsinengineer.com/please-come-back-later/) - Our website is currently down for maintenance, please come back later!
- [Spring 2024](https://wisconsinengineer.com/spring-2024/)
- [Stay Updated](https://wisconsinengineer.com/connect/) - Upcoming Events Subscribe to our calendar using this iCal link: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/wiscengrmagazine%40gmail.com/public/basic.ics Subscribe to our calendar
- [Fall 2022](https://wisconsinengineer.com/fall-2022/)
- [Public Relations](https://wisconsinengineer.com/public-relations/) - The public relations department does many different things for the magazine. This includes coordinating social events and team building activities. Coordinating these events helps develop personal communication and planning skills. Another aspect of public relations is running social media, including Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. This teaches the skills needed to run and produce successful
- [Privacy Policy](https://wisconsinengineer.com/privacy-policy/) - Who we areSuggested text: Our website address is: https://wisconsinengineer.com.CommentsSuggested text: When visitors leave comments on the site we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection.An anonymized string created from your email address (also called a hash) may be provided
- [Read](https://wisconsinengineer.com/articles/)
- [Fall 2021](https://wisconsinengineer.com/fall-2021/)
- [Summer 2024](https://wisconsinengineer.com/summer-2024/)
- [Web](https://wisconsinengineer.com/web/) - The Web department handles everything to do with the Wisconsin Engineer Magazine website, where our team posts past and present articles, information about what the club is about, where you can pick up an issue of our latest magazine, and much more. In this department, you will learn the skills to build a beautiful navigable
- [Writing](https://wisconsinengineer.com/writing/) - The writing department allows students to discuss engineering and STEM topics through a medium that isn't commonly associated with engineers! It provides an exciting way to share your knowledge and opinions with the community about the things that are important and interesting to you. I joined the writing department because I wanted to continue developing
- [Join our Team](https://wisconsinengineer.com/join-the-wisconsin-engineer-magazine/) - Are you a student at the University of Wisconsin - Madison? Do you find yourself looking for an outlet for your creativity between your classes? Are you looking for a student org devoted to helping you develop your skills as a communicator? Are you interested in growing your skills in writing, photography, graphic design, public
- [Graphic Design](https://wisconsinengineer.com/graphic-design/) - The Graphic Design Department of the Wisconsin Engineer Magazine is an outlet for any student to utilize and express their creative side. Designers are assigned 1-2 stories for every issue in which they get to collaborate with the writers and photographers to get an overall sense of what each story will look like. From their
- [Photo Contest](https://wisconsinengineer.com/photo-contest/) - The Wisconsin Engineer Magazine hosts an annual photo contest every fall! See below for submission information and past winners! Submissions are now open! Please submit your photos here. Photo Contest Rules Official-Wisconsin-Engineering-Magazine-Photo-Contest-RulesDownload Past Photo Contest Winners 2023 Winners 2022 Winners 2021 Winners
- [About](https://wisconsinengineer.com/about/) - Our mission is... To create an award-winning, informative, professional, and entertaining student-run magazine and website focused on engineering, science, and technology topics for the UW-Madison community and beyond. The Wisconsin Engineer was first published in June of 1896. It was one of the original five magazines to join Engineering College Magazines Associated (ECMA). The magazine
- [Subscribe](https://wisconsinengineer.com/subscribe/) - The Wisconsin Engineer Magazine staff publishes print issues twice-yearly, once at the conclusion of the Spring semester and once at conclusion of the Fall semester. Annual subscriptions for the Wisconsin Engineer are $20. Distribution lists are compiled at the time of publication, and therefore your subscription must be active at the time of publication (beginning
- [Archive](https://wisconsinengineer.com/archive/) - Find our digital archive at this link: https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/7P3DBZ6M5SIJV8I, courtesy of the UW-Madison Libraries.
- [Photography](https://wisconsinengineer.com/photography/) - The photography department is a vital part of the magazine, as it provides the visual elements that complement the written content. Our members are responsible for capturing, editing, and selecting the best images that suit the theme and tone of each issue. We work closely with the writers, editors, and designers to ensure that the
- [Spring 2021](https://wisconsinengineer.com/spring-2021/)
- [Fall 2024](https://wisconsinengineer.com/fall-2024/)

## My Templates

- [Default Kit](https://wisconsinengineer.com/?elementor_library=default-kit)

## Posts

- [Attribution](https://wisconsinengineer.com/attribution/) - This site has been created with the help of many different people and companies.This site was built on a powerful, Inspirations based web builder called BoldGrid. It is running on WordPress, the most popular content management software online today. Web hosting support is provided by DreamHost. Additional functionality provided by: WP Canvas - Gallery

## Categories

- [article](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/article/)
- [Fall 2021](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/issue-fall-2021/)
- [Spring 2021](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/issue-spring-2021/)
- [Fall 2020](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/issue-fall-2020/)
- [Fall 2019](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/issue-fall-2019/)
- [Fall 2016](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/issue-fall-2016/)
- [Spring 2022](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/issue-spring-2022/)
- [Fall 2022](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/issue-fall-2022/)
- [Spring 2023](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/issue-spring-2023/)
- [Fall 2023](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/fall-2023/)
- [Spring 2024](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/issue-spring-2024/)
- [Featured](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/featured/)
- [Summer 2024](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/summer-2024/)
- [Fall 2024](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/fall-2024/)
- [Winter 2024](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/winter-2024/)
- [Authors](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/authors/) - List of authors/writers
- [Asma Kazi](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/authors/asma-kazi/)
- [Matthew Schmieding](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/authors/matthew-schmieding/)
- [Kristy Wendt](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/authors/kristy-wendt/)
- [Carmella Whittaker](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/authors/carmella-whittaker/)
- [Samarah Hiba](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/authors/samarah-hiba/)
- [Sarah Gerovac](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/authors/sarah-gerovac/)
- [Shivani Choudhary](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/authors/shivani-choudhary/)
- [Alexander Kiner](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/authors/alexander-kiner/)
- [Leo Mazzocco](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/authors/leo-mazzocco/)
- [Connor Welch](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/authors/connor-welch/)
- [Laila Smith](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/authors/laila-smith/)
- [Jose Ramirez](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/authors/jose-ramirez/)
- [Spring 2025](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/spring-2025/)
- [Summer 2025](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/summer-2025/)
- [Expo 2026](https://wisconsinengineer.com/category/expo-2026/)