UW-Madison College of Letters & Science

10/16/2026

In the aftermath of his historic Nobel win, Professor of Physics Francis Halzen sat down with Wisconsin Public Radio to talk about how it all happened and what it means for him an his research going forward.

Francis Halzen was awarded the Nobel Prize for his work pioneering neutrino astronomy.

10/14/2026

As part of the Nordic Folklife Project, Anna Rue, director of the Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Cultures, is bringing traditional artists and educators together to find new ways to incorporate folk arts and local culture into Wisconsin schools.

“The most important thing we can do is provide opportunities that bring people of different sectors together,” says Rue. “When those conversations ensue, they’re really powerful.”

The Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Cultures is connecting Wisconsin folk artists, educators and young people through the Sustaining Scandinavian…

10/13/2026

Mike Wagner, chair of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, was a guest on last week's "Here and Now" on Wisconsin Public Television. Wagner talked about the the dangerous effect the combination of AI and disinformation is having on elections in Wisconsin and beyond.

Michael Wagner on how artificial intelligence tools are affecting campaigns and elections.

10/08/2026

Francis Halzen became the latest UW-Madison professor to win a Nobel Prize earlier this week. He's the 23rd winner with UW-Madison ties to score one. Meet the other 22, and learn about the discoveries they have made that changed our world.

Francis Halzen, winner of the 2026 Nobel Prize in physics, joins a community of Badgers who’ve changed the world.

10/08/2026

What are you doing tonight? Time to grab your lawn chair and coat and park yourself outside to catch a glimpse of the Draconid meteor shower, which is expected to peak at 8 pm this evening Assistant Professor of Astronomy Thomas Beatty talks to Wisconsin Public Radio about the Draconids and how best to view them.

The Draconids occur annually, peaking in October. The meteors appear to be flying out of the head of the Draco the Dragon constellation — which is how they got their name. Chad Jocius, managing director of the Heide Observatory in Kenosha, said stargazers can still make their bedtimes while watchi...

10/06/2026

A couple of scenes from this morning's press conference announcing the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics awarded to Professor Francis Halzen, the principal investigator of NSF IceCube Neutrino Observatory, the world’s largest telescope.

​Halzen, whose work on neutrinos has led to several groundbreaking discoveries about our cosmos, Zoomed in to the proceedings from Italy, while several key campus and UW System administrators, including Interim L&S Dean Kristin Eschenfelder, sung his praises from Bascom Hall. photos by Althea Dotzour.

10/06/2026

Massive news from the Department of Physics: Professor Francis Halzen has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Halzen is the principal investigator of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, the world’s largest telescope based in Antarctica. From under a massive sheet of ice, IceCube uses light sensors to track neutrinos, neutral particles that have shed important light on supermassive black holes and cosmic rays, both from our own galaxy and beyond.

Halzen becomes the sixth physicist connected to UW–Madison to earn the Nobel Prize, and his is the 23rd Nobel Prize tied to UW–Madison overall. That legacy spans medicine, chemistry, economics, engineering and physics.

Halzen is the principal investigator of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, the world’s largest telescope.

10/02/2026

You guys, Fill the Hill 2026 was so much fun! Thank you to everyone who participated--and yes, that includes the birthday boy, Bucky Badger, and everyone who donated to support the College's Annual Fund. There's still one hour remaining to add one or two final flamingos to the flock. Click the link below if you'd like to make a last-minute gift. Photos by Jake Piper.

https://uwflamingos.com/campaign/ls-annual-fund/?utm_source=campus-tactics&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=link&utm_campaign=fth26&campaign=CA1034361

10/02/2026

You don’t need to run quite yet to be part of Fill the Hill 2026, but don’t dally either—the fun continues until 5 pm this afternoon. Surf on over to https://uwflamingos.com/campaign/ls-annual-fund and show your support for L&S students and programs!