Unleash your curiosity at the 12th annual Wisconsin Science Festival

The Wisconsin Science Pageant is making a comeback, with a full week of actions throughout Wisconsin between Oct. 10 and 16, together with a biophilia-themed corn maze and citizen-science “BioBlitz” alternatives. For the primary time, the family-friendly occasion will provide quite a lot of in-person and digital methods to take part.

Many of the pageant’s 300 occasions are free, together with hands-on actions, talks with scientists and authors, movies, performances, nature hikes, take-home science kits and rather more.

This yr, each Superintendent Jill Underly of the Wisconsin Division of Public Instruction and Governor Tony Evers have issued proclamations that formally declare Oct. 10 by way of 16 as Wisconsin Science Week to commend the significance of Wisconsin residents participating with science in all elements of their lives.

“The pageant creates a novel gathering of occasions that remember science, artwork and know-how throughout our whole state, highlighting the huge quantity of experience and curiosity we may be happy with as Wisconsinites,” says Sam Mulrooney, incoming director of the 2023 pageant.

Annually, the Wisconsin Science Pageant highlights a selected side of the world round us. This yr’s focus is a nod to the Worldwide 12 months of Glass.

“Glass is one thing that all of us use, in methods which might be each odd and shocking,” says Laura Heisler, director of outreach on the Morgridge Institute for Analysis and co-founder and outgoing director of the Wisconsin Science Pageant. “From Platteville to Sussex, Marshfield to Madison, we’re holding quite a lot of occasions across the state that spotlight the significance of glass in science, business, artwork, medication and extra.”

The occasion “Kiss My Glass” will kick off the pageant in Madison on the Excessive Midday Saloon on Oct. 11. An occasion for the 21-and-over crowd, it is going to characteristic the ever-popular Large Concepts for Busy Individuals occasion, thematic drinks, Hip Hop Science and Nerd Nite.

A particular version of the Crossroads of Concepts sequence on the night of Oct. 13 will showcase an in-person and digital presentation with Radiolab co-host Latif Nasser, the College of Wisconsin’s fall Science Journalist in Residence, and govt editor, Soren Wheeler.

The pageant carries by way of the weekend with the signature Wisconsin Science Pageant expo on Saturday Oct. 15, on the Discovery Constructing at 330 N. Orchard Avenue in Madison.

A number of occasions will even be held in partnership with the Wisconsin Ebook Pageant, together with a dialog with “The Martian” writer Andy Weir about his newest work, “Hail Mary.”

In Sheboygan, the pageant options science tales all through the week, a STEM Fest for fourth and fifth graders and a twist on a museum tour on the John Michael Kohler Arts Middle targeted on the methods galleries use glass to current and defend artwork.

Chippewa Valley will host quite a lot of occasions by way of the efforts of the Eau Claire-Dunn-Pepin Medical Society, together with the Science of Pasta Making; outer house might be a theme on the Inexperienced Bay Youngsters’s Museum; the Atlas Science Middle and Appleton Constructing for Youngsters will energy a STEM-filled weekend; and the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass in Neenah is exploring the artwork of marbling on pumpkins. Libraries and venues throughout Door County will characteristic actions all through the week.

Annually, the pageant hosts a number of hallmark occasions. For instance, again for its fifth yr, Science on the Sq. will characteristic out of doors STEAM-themed actions (STEAM stands for science, know-how, engineering, arts and arithmetic) as a part of a particular version of the favored Madison Evening Market, with vendor tents alongside State Avenue and displays, talks and menu or product specials at indoor places—all of which interact native companies.

“The fantastic thing about the pageant is seeing this community blossom and develop annually to create newfound group connections or bolster current relationships all through Wisconsin,” says Mulrooney, who can also be a program supervisor for WARF (the Wisconsin Alumni Analysis Basis) and WARF’s Discovery Connections workforce. “Libraries hook up with close by corporations, pub house owners interact with native scientists and campus organizations take nature hikes with group teams.”

One other common returning exercise is Science in a Bag, which debuted ultimately yr’s all-virtual pageant. Greater than 2,000 free STEM kits might be distributed to collaborating libraries throughout the state for youth in grades Okay by way of 12.

Examine the Wisconsin Science Pageant web site for the complete pageant schedule, together with particulars in regards to the sandhill crane watch in central Wisconsin and actions throughout Milwaukee.