Save power, make power: UW chemist confronts ambitious agenda with a brash laugh

Nov. 25, 2014 | by David Tenenbaum Trisha Andrew wants to save billions of watt hours by revolutionizing, well, just about every electronic device in existence. She suggests this be done by controlling the spin on electrons, and then shutting down devices if the proper spin is absent.

One year on, first UW–Madison Green Fund still in flux

by Scott Hennelly Across the country, “Green Funds” have become a way for universities to support student-led projects aimed at making campuses more sustainable. The Associated Students of Madison Sustainability Committee approved the first UW–Madison Green Fund in November 2013. But a year later, the $80,000 allocated from student segregated fees – fees students pay …

Scientists get to the heart of fool’s gold as a solar material

Nov. 18, 2014 | by David Tenenbaum As the installation of photovoltaic solar cells continues to accelerate, scientists are looking for inexpensive materials beyond the traditional silicon that can efficiently convert sunlight into electricity. Nov. 18, 2014 | by David Tenenbaum As the installation of photovoltaic solar cells continues to accelerate, scientists are looking for inexpensive materials …

Crops play a major role in annual CO2 increase

Scientists get to the heart of fool’s gold as a solar material

Got the next big research idea?

The Office of Sustainability is seeking to support researchers wanting to submit sustainability-related topic ideas for a forthcoming 2016 National Science Foundation (NSF) Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) solicitation. The NSF is looking for candidate topics related to emerging interdisciplinary fields not currently supported by NSF programs but with the potential to produce …

Social media for social good: Researchers estimate air pollution from online posts

November 17, 2014 | by: Jennifer Smith University of Wisconsin–Madison computer science researchers have developed a method for using social media posts to estimate air pollution levels with significant accuracy. November 17, 2014 | by: Jennifer Smith University of Wisconsin–Madison computer science researchers have developed a method for using social media posts to estimate air …

Learn to conduct a trash audit at DIY Science

What can you learn from trash? A lot! At this DIY event, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m., you’ll have a chance to roll up your sleeves, don some gloves and slice open a bag to see what you can learn from a trash audit.  What can you learn from trash? A lot! At this DIY …

Social media for social good: Researchers estimate air pollution from online posts

Climate Quest Finale set for January 30

November 18, 2014 | by Jill Sakai The remaining teams in the Climate Quest competition will compete for the final prize on January 30, 2015, during a public event at UW–Madison’s Fluno Center. Since advancing to the finals at the Climate Quest Concept Pitch event in September, the teams have been developing their ideas into …