Research Roundup: News Around Campus
Pathbreaking cystic fibrosis research initiated in Wisconsin 40 years ago changed the course of diagnosis and treatment of children around the world
The Department of Pediatrics recently published commemorating the 40th anniversary of a widely important clinical trial studying early diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. It’s a example of the Wisconsin Idea and how research can positively change lives.
Aquatic invasive species are more widespread in Wisconsin than previously thought
A report on more than 40 years of research on Wisconsin lakes is highlighting some of the lessons scientists have learned about aquatic invasive species, including that far more ecosystems are playing host to non-native species than previously thought.
However, the researchers note, those species aren’t necessarily detrimental to their new habitat and, in some cases, the negative “impacts of invasive species control may be greater than the impacts of the invasive species” themselves.
U.S. scholars learn “New Ways of Imaging” research data in summer institute on campus
Funded by a National Science Foundation grant, the participants in the second annual Quantitative Ethnography Summer Institute came to the UW–Madison campus to train in quantitative ethnography (QE), a method first developed by UW–Madison School of Education Professor David Williamson Shaffer in 2017 and now through Shaffer’s Epistemic Analysis (EA) Lab, housed in the Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER) in the School of Education. Lab support also will continue for the next 12 months through webinars and one-on-one help as fellows pursue QE-related papers, projects, teaching, and grant proposals at their home institution.
Transgender students more likely to seek support at school than cisgender peers, UW–Madison study finds
Transgender students are more likely to seek support from school staff and less likely to seek support from their parents when compared to their cisgender peers, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and New York University.
The study, published recently in JAMA Pediatrics, found among students who felt depressed or anxious, transgender students were 74% less likely than their cisgender peers to seek help from parents than adults in schools. It also found transgender students were 25% less likely than cisgender students to seek support from friends compared to adults in schools, and 48% less likely to seek support from siblings compared to adults in schools.
Can Chicago’s skyline predict the weather? Argonne scientists investigate urban canyons (news story featuring research by Space Science Engineering Center/UW)
Argonne scientists are studying Chicago’s “urban canyons” — areas with closely packed tall buildings — to better understand and predict the city’s unique weather patterns.
Researchers collected weather data from downtown Chicago, focusing on how the skyline influences temperature, wind, and atmospheric turbulence.
The project aims to improve weather predictions and address urban heat challenges, particularly in underserved communities, by using this data to influence climate models and urban planning.
Space Science Engineering Center researchers were deployed in Chicago for two days in July to collect data during the “Urban Canyon” field campaign: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmb2i4mYEUE.
City Science — SPARC supports Community Research on Climate and Urban Science
The Community Research on Climate and Urban Science (CROCUS) campaign is an Urban Integrated Field Laboratory funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and led by Argonne National Laboratory. CROCUS has partnered with community organizations and academic institutions like University of Wisconsin-Madison Space Science and Engineering Center to address the needs of people living in urban areas, specifically focusing on climate justice.