The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters

The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters The Wisconsin Academy is a place for people to connect with experts and learn from each other.

Our programs are made for people who are curious about our world and proud of Wisconsin ideas.

Did you know that the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters has been around since 1870? For over 150 years, we'v...
08/29/2026

Did you know that the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters has been around since 1870? For over 150 years, we've been sharing the work of Wisconsin's scientists, artists, writers, and thinkers to enlighten, inspire, and serve people across the state.

This month, we're taking a look back through our history by sharing a few photos from the Academy archives.

Our final image features Carl Leopold reading from his father’s book, A Sand County Almanac, at the 1999 Wisconsin Academy conference “Building on Leopold’s Legacy.”

Concern for Wisconsin's environment has been a defining thread throughout the Academy's history, beginning with our nineteenth-century members' efforts to address deforestation.

In the 1990's, the Academy hosted a series of environmental programs that culminated in the wildly successful "Building on Leopold's Legacy" conference. The event inspired Wisconsinites from across the state and reinforced the Academy's role as a trusted, non-partisan convener, bringing together science, research, and diverse perspectives to inform public policy and inspire citizen action.

"In a rural community in southwestern Wisconsin, kids gather for after-school activities and to do homework using high-s...
08/25/2026

"In a rural community in southwestern Wisconsin, kids gather for after-school activities and to do homework using high-speed Wi-Fi. In a suburban library with windows overlooking a community garden, a mother pushes a stroller with one hand, carrying free seed packets from a seed library in her other hand. A block from the state’s capitol building, a man in his 60s hunches over a public computer terminal navigating Medicare paperwork as a librarian offers experienced assistance at his side."

Libraries are much more than just books. They create a third space where community members can connect with one another.

Read the full story on our website and discover how Wisconsin's libraries continue to strengthen the civic life of our state.

https://www.wisconsinacademy.org/magazine/summer-2026/spotlight/card-catalogs-community-hubsinstagram

Images courtesy of the Madison Public Library Foundation.

This summer, make time for a visit to our James Watrous Gallery!Experience In Motion by Wence Martinez and ROOTED by Rob...
08/23/2026

This summer, make time for a visit to our James Watrous Gallery!

Experience In Motion by Wence Martinez and ROOTED by Roberto Torres Mata. These two must-see exhibitions celebrate tradition and cultural identity through vibrant textiles, handmade paper, wood, and natural materials.

On view: July 31 - October 11 at the James Watrous Gallery, Overture Center (3rd Floor)

Our gallery is always free and open to everyone. We hope to see you there!

08/22/2026

In this Finding Home interview, we speak with Senator Kelda Roys of Senate District 26.

For Roys, home in Wisconsin is found in its landscapes. The state’s rolling hills, prairies, and forests remind her that she is home, and their beauty has shaped the way she approaches public service.

She believes it is essential to preserve Wisconsin’s natural resources for future generations and to protect access to outdoor recreation, from state parks and bike trails to lakes and rivers. “It isn’t just for us,” she says. “There were generations of people before us that stewarded this land, preserved it, and took care of it. For those of us who are here now, we owe that to the next generation.”

Watch the full interview on our website and explore the other Finding Home interviews here.

https://www.wisconsinacademy.org/profiles

Did you know that the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters has been around since 1870? For over 150 years, we'v...
08/21/2026

Did you know that the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters has been around since 1870? For over 150 years, we've been sharing the work of Wisconsin's scientists, artists, writers, and thinkers to enlighten, inspire, and serve people across the state,

This month, we're taking a look back through our history by sharing a few photos from the Academy archives.

Today's photo captures pioneering bacteriologist Elizabeth McCoy in 1955. McCoy was first published in the Academy's journal, Transactions in 1938, and later served as its editor from 1972 to 1978. She was also the Academy's Vice President for Science from 1972 to 1973 before serving as Academy president in 1976.

We are incredibly grateful for McCoy's dedication to the Academy. Her generous donations, alongside a bequest from biochemist Harry Steenbock, made it possible for the Academy to purchase its first building and hire a small staff in 1973, laying the foundation for the Academy we know today.

Check back next week for another Wisconsin Academy throwback!

Wisconsin's public universities are proving that when researchers work across disciplines, they can spark discoveries th...
08/19/2026

Wisconsin's public universities are proving that when researchers work across disciplines, they can spark discoveries that improve lives far beyond campus.

In our most recent issue of Wisconsin People & Ideas, meet three Wisconsin innovators recognized by WiSys as Innovators of the Year. From transforming personal challenges into solutions that help others heal to making groundbreaking science more accessible, this is a Wisconsin story you won't want to miss.

Read the full article here.

https://www.wisconsinacademy.org/magazine/summer-2026/feature/innovation-wisconsin

We have been filming interviews with the newly inducted Wisconsin Academy Fellows through Green Clock and we can't wait ...
08/17/2026

We have been filming interviews with the newly inducted Wisconsin Academy Fellows through Green Clock and we can't wait to share their stories with you!

These conversations will be played at our 2026 Fellows Induction Gala this October as we honor and celebrate this special class of influential thinkers and problem-solvers. You can also read about the new inductees in the latest issue of Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine:

https://www.wisconsinacademy.org/magazine/summer-2026/happenings/bright-minds-and-creative-voices

08/17/2026

In today’s Finding Home story, we speak with Representative Jeffrey Mursau of Wisconsin’s 36th Assembly District.

Mursau views conservation as a bipartisan issue, believing that regardless of political differences, Wisconsinites value healthy forests, clean water, and the outdoor traditions that define our state.

He also believes that Wisconsin has much to learn from its Tribal Nations, particularly their long-standing ethic of reciprocity with the land. One example that he shares is the sustainable management of fishing that ensures that fish populations remain abundant for future generations.

Watch the full interview on our website and explore the other Finding Home interviews here: https://www.wisconsinacademy.org/profiles

This past Sunday was a beautiful afternoon celebrating the Teejop Community Art Project with Ho-Chunk and Madison leader...
08/14/2026

This past Sunday was a beautiful afternoon celebrating the Teejop Community Art Project with Ho-Chunk and Madison leaders, artists, and community members.

Wisconsin Academy Executive Director Erika Monroe-Kane was proud to join Fellows Mrill Ingram, Curt Meine, and Melanie Tallmadge Sainz in celebration of this important work.

The Teejop Community Art Project promotes learning and awareness of the over 14,000 year human story of Teejop (Four Lakes), bringing site-specific public art to places important to Hoocąk (Ho-Chunk) people and exploring the past and present relationship of Hoocąk people to Teejop.

Join us on August 20th from 5:30 - 8:30 pm at the MYArts Building (1055 E. Mifflin Street, Madison, WI) for Tradition Be...
08/14/2026

Join us on August 20th from 5:30 - 8:30 pm at the MYArts Building (1055 E. Mifflin Street, Madison, WI) for Tradition Bearers, Live!

The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters is a proud sponsor of this vibrant event, which will bring traditional and folk artists from across the state together for an unforgettable evening of art, storytelling, dance, and conversation.

Featuring artists from Wisconsin Humanities' statewide Wisconsin By the People initiative, this event will celebrate the creativity, traditions, and personal histories that help define Wisconsin's communities.

This evening is free and open for all to attend, but registration is required. To learn more and register, visit wisconsinhumanities.org/programs/traditionbearers/

Wisconsin Humanities

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