UW-Madison College of Letters & Science

Proud moment for L&S! Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman has named our Dean, Dr. Eric M. Wilcots, Interim Chancellor of UW-Madison, effective May 17. Wilcots is a visionary leader who has spent his entire UW career inspiring faculty, staff and students. UW-Madison is in great hands.

Portrait of Governor Mitch Daniels with a background of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus and text: "Governor Mitch Daniels Feb. 16".

We're grateful for this year's Spring Spotlight sponsors: Ted and Mary Kellner, the Kohl Initiative, @uwmadisonls.bsky.social, Paul Offner Lecture Series, Center for Research on the Wisconsin Economy, Center for the Study of Liberal Democracy, and Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.

Meet UW-Madison’s Mark Eriksson “The innovative research conducted by Prof. Eriksson and his research team is significantly advancing the field of quantum computing. He is incredibly knowledgeable and great at explaining his research. It’s fun to work with a scientist who recognizes the importance of technology transfer in moving these discoveries forward.”

Meet Mark Eriksson, professor of @uwmadphysics.bsky.social‬ @uwmadisonls.bsky.social‬, whose research group focuses on semiconductor quantum dot qubits, quantum computing and information, quantum measurement and more.

Ice cover and other fun facts about Lake Mendota The lake takes a snooze.

Like Lake Mendota, our Limnology courses are getting ready to snooze for winter. While in hibernation, you can read all about our majestic resource!
isthmus.com/news/ice-cov...

A great time had by all at last night's pre-Winter Commencement bash at Union South. Congratulations to all the L&S graduates walking at the Kohl Center today!

Robert McDermott's research group develops technologies to enable scaling to quantum processors involving thousands or millions of qubits. #WARF100 @uwchancellor.bsky.social @uwmadphysics.bsky.social @uwmadisonls.bsky.social https://www.warf.org/commercialize/uw-madison-inventor-profiles/mcdermott/

Cary Forest directs the Wisconsin Plasma Physics Laboratory (WiPPL), which operates several multi-investigator plasma physics devices. #WARF100 @uwchancellor.bsky.social @uwmadphysics.bsky.social @uwmadisonls.bsky.social https://www.warf.org/commercialize/uw-madison-inventor-profiles/forest/

Science Brought to Life: UW–Madison to Launch New Department of… Combining the forces of the current integrative biology and botany departments, the University’s Department of Biology within the College of Letters &…

Huge news: The College s combining the talents of the Departments of Integrative Biology and Botany to create a new Department of Biology, officially launching in Summer 2026.
ls.wisc.edu/news/science...

She's an L&S student!

Happy Halloween from your friends at the College of Letters & Science!

A Celebration of Tenure A new cohort of L&S professors achieves a major career milestone.

A new cohort of L&S faculty members received tenure in 2025, and the College celebrated their milestone achievement in a ceremony held Tuesday evening at the Hamel Music Center.
ls.wisc.edu/news/a-celeb...

Shannon Stahl explores a number of topics in the field of catalysis. #WARF100 @uwchancellor.bsky.social @uwmadisonchem.bsky.social https://www.warf.org/commercialize/uw-madison-inventor-profiles/stahl/

Update Your Priors: How Bayesian Philosophy Is Taking Over Bayesian philosophy is everywhere, from sports gambling and medicine to economics and AI.

Have you followed a win probability tracker on ESPN recently? If so, you've engaged in an example of Bayesian philosophy.
Michael Titelbaum studies Bayesianism and now sees it everywhere in our modern culture--in medicine, sports, economics and AI.
ls.wisc.edu/news/update-...

Science Fiction, Gardens and Other Ideas to Save the Planet Meet one of the College of Letters & Science’s new Dean’s Ambassadors, Devin Guthrie.

Meet Devin Guthrie, one of our current Dean's Ambassadors. This senior majoring in environmental sciences and environmental studies has some seriously diverse interests and big plans for his future as an urban ecologist. ls.wisc.edu/news/science...

UW-Madison professor who contributed to Bad Bunny’s album calls Super Bowl halftime choice a ‘victory’ The UW-Madison professor collaborated with Bad Bunny again during his last stint of shows in Puerto Rico.

Associate Professor of History Jorell Meléndez-Badillo, who contributed YouTube visualizers to Bad Bunny's latest album, weighs in on his selection as the Super Bowl LX halftime performer.

madison.com/news/local/e...

It's still a year away from its official opening, but Irving and Dorothy Levy Hall, our future hub for the humanities, is rounding into shape quite nicely.

Backed by a grant from the Mellon Foundation, Professors Jorell Melendez-Badillo and Aurora Santiago Ortiz are launching the Midwest's first center for Puerto Rican studies. www.jsonline.com/story/news/e...

Kyoung-Shin Choi develops new electrodes, catalysts and processes for electrochemical and photoelectrochemical applications critical to creating a sustainable future. #WARF100 @uwchancellor.bsky.social @uwmadisonls.bsky.social https://www.warf.org/commercialize/uw-madison-inventor-profiles/choi/

Fill the Hill 2025 is rocking, er, flocking! There's still plenty of time today for you to get involved, donate to the College's Annual Fund, and support our talented students. Learn more about how your gifts make an important impact by visiting uwflamingos.com/campaign/ls-...

Answering the Tough AI Questions A new interdisciplinary L&S research center will grapple with the human consequences of artificial intelligence.

The new interdisciplinary Center for Humanistic Inquiry into AI and Uncertainty is a huge deal. Backed by a sizable grant from the @nehgov.bsky.social a dozen researchers from across the College will be tackling important questions about the human consequences of AI.
ls.wisc.edu/news/answeri...

Fishing is impacting fishery populations more than climate change, new study finds MADISON, Wis. -- It's no secret that Wisconsinites love fishing. But who knew the effects of local anglers on our fisheries were outpacing that of climate change?

According to a new study by researchers in the Center for Limnology, recreational fishing is impacting the decline of Wisconsin's fish populations more than warming water temperatures.
www.channel3000.com/news/fishing...

Two UW–Madison professors named MacArthur Fellows Atmospheric scientist Ángel F. Adames Corraliza and nuclear security specialist Sébastien Philippe, professors at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, have been awarded 2025 MacArthur Fellowships.

Congratulations to Ángel F. Adames Corraliza, the Ned P. Smith Distinguished Chair of Climatology in @uwmad-aos.bsky.social for being awarded a 2025 MacArthur Foundation Fellowship--also known as "Genius Grants."
Fellows receive an $800,000 stipend with no conditions.
news.wisc.edu/two-uw-madis...

Your Fill the Hill Questions, Answered The flamingos are back! That’s right — Fill the Hill, UW–Madison’s annual fall FUN-raiser, is swooping in this October to cover Bascom Hill in a cheerful…

In just two days, Fill the Hill 2025 kicks off. Here's a brief refresher on why this annual event is so critical to L&S students, and how you can add your very own flamingo to Bascom Hill. ls.wisc.edu/news/your-fi...

Answering the Tough AI Questions A new interdisciplinary L&S research center will grapple with the human consequences of artificial intelligence.

The new @uwmadisonls.bsky.social Center for Humanistic Inquiry into AI and Uncertainty will encourage research collaboration, reflecting efforts like @uwmadison.bsky.social RISE-AI. ls.wisc.edu/news/answeri...

Building on the Legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright Alumnus Dan Erdman funds a named professorship in the Department of Art History.

L&S alumnus Dan Erdman is endowing the first-ever Frank Lloyd Wright Professorship in Modern American Architecture in the Department of Art History.
Professor Anna Andzejewski will hold the post. ls.wisc.edu/news/buildin...

The Department of Art History celebrates its 100th Anniversary next week, with a slate of events that begins on Wednesday, September 24. Mark your calendars and visit arthistory.wisc.edu/.../official... for information on the full slate of lectures, panels and events.

The Builder As she heads into retirement, Sue Zaeske reflects on a career expanding the scope of the College of Letters & Science.

After a three-decade career at @uwmadison.bsky.social, Sue Zaeske retired earlier this year. She reflects on the impact she had on the College of Letters & Science, from founding the advancement office, shepherding the new Levy Hall and guiding thousands of students.
ls.wisc.edu/news/the-bui...

Wisconsin researcher’s project cut short in NIH diversity purge • Wisconsin Examiner Trump administration attacks on diversity programs led NIH to cancel awards aimed at diversifying the research workforce.

An important first-hand look at the impacts of federal funding cuts to scientific research. @uwmadisonchem.bsky.social

wisconsinexaminer.com/2025/09/16/w...

Congratulations to Assistant Professor João Guassi Moreira who was awarded a 2025 Brain & Behavior Research Foundation Young Investigator Grant! Stay current with his work at cdnlab.psych.wisc.edu/CDNlab/

Congratulations to Professor of Integrative Biology Anthony Ives, who received the Steenbock Professorship in the Biological Sciences.

research.wisc.edu/uncategorize...