Since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has served as a powerful reminder of the ways in which science affects our daily lives. But with the success of effective vaccines (including boosters, adapted to current strains) and a high level of population immunity, this year saw a shift in the science stories that grabbed our attention.
The research communications team at the University of Wisconsin-Madison 'oohed' and 'ahhed' along with the rest of the world as the first photos emerged of the black hole at the center of the Milky Way and as the Webb Telescope unfurled its massive sun-shield and shared back stunning images of galaxies billions of light-years away.
But the team, which this year lost one member (farewell, Eric Hamilton) but added two more (welcome, Elise Mahon and Will Cushman), also gleefully uncovered our own science stories on campus that wowed and inspired us. We were simply too excited by the incredible, innovative and meaningful work carried out by UW faculty, staff and students daily not to help but share it.
Here - from Will and Elise (that's pronounced "Uh-LIS-uh"), Chris Barncard and Kelly Tyrrell (and a bonus pick from the university's new internal communications editor, Caitlin Henning) - are some of the stories from around campus that stood out most in 2022.
