What a great celebration of Biocore’s 50th Anniversary!
On May 14 & 15, 2018, we gathered to celebrate the innovative spirit of Biocore; our community of students, alumni, faculty, administrators, and friends; and our strong commitment to excellence in biology education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. See the Biocore 50th News Story>>
View anniversary messages on the Message Board
1. Biocore Prairie—Welcome and Walking Tour
May 14, 2018 at 3–5 p.m. at the Biocore Prairie
Description of event- What a lovely early spring day to visit the prairie. The ground was just greening up following a prescribed burn. The walking tour included exhibits of bird banding with Biocore Prairie Bird Observatory leader Jackie Sandberg, bat monitoring team, Biocore Prairie phenology project, Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve purple martin project and bluebird trail, and the Lakeshore Nature Preserve management team. It was so exciting to greet alumni and long time friends — some going back to the very first Biocore class of 1967, long before the Biocore Prairie began! Thanks to Mat Rodriguez for musical entertainment and for the enthusiastic root beer float drinkers. Many thanks to all for coming out and for your best wishes.
2. Biocore Program—Open House and Showcase
May 15, 2018 at 3–5 p.m.
3rd Floor, Noland Hall, 250 N. Mills St.
Description of event- How delightful it was to welcome back old friends to reconnect with Biocore. The timeline poster was a reminder of where we started and how Biocore has grown and changed over five decades, while continuing to innovate inside and outside the classroom. There were interactive exhibits on “glowing” worms and shmooing yeast; demos featuring elements of Biocore’s curriculum scaffold for science communication, research, and team-based learning outcomes; investigation stations with the Biocore Outreach Ambassadors; posters from Peer Mentors and Peer Advisors. We appreciated visits and words of congratuations from Vice Provost Steve Cramer, Dean Kate VandenBosch, Associate Dean Gloria Mari-Beffa and enjoyed student research presentations. Outside, the Biocore Outreach Ambassadors entertained us with an impressive Coke fountain–reaching as high as the third floor of Noland Hall~ Thanks so much for joining us!
2. Biocore Faculty Dinner
May 15, 2018 at The University Club
Description of event- It was a beautiful evening with many friends and familiar faces. Biocore faculty past and present, many who have spent the majority of their career teaching in Biocore, gathered for an evening of reflection and shared dedication to excellence in undergraduate education. As a special treat, we were joined by alumni–one representative from each decade: 1967- First class- Robert Majeska, PhD Prof BioMed Engineering, CCNY; 1970s- Paul Sondel- MD/PhD, Prof Pediatric Oncology UW Madison; 1980s- Mike Merline- PhD, Biology teacher Madison West High School; 1990s- Amy Prunuske PhD, Associate Prof Medical College of Wisconsin; 2000s- Danny Parrell, PhD candidate, Microbiology Michigan State University; 2010s- Alder Levin, BS candidate, L&S Biochemistry and History and musical entertainment by Anna Kaldjian, BS candidate L&S Microbiology and German. We appreciated the kind words of congratulations from Dean Karl Scholz; the many shared stories about the broad reach and impact of Biocore. Thank you so much for this special evening!