Your portal to energy research, education and outreach activities at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. https://energy.wisc.edu/https://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3mwqprhb6m32wA new study from WEI affiliate Hiroshi Maeda and collaborators explores how grasses developed alternate pathways for producing starch and lignin, helping explain their success in nature and agriculture. Read more: https://energy.wisc.edu/news/molecular-bypass-gives-grass-leg30 Sep 2026 16:02 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwqprhb6m32whttps://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3mwlosx7gll2zEpisode 4 of Energy 101: Fuel Up is out now! 🌱⛽ What do people study at WEI? Chemistry, photosynthesis, cellular respiration—and how they connect to biofuels. 🎧 https://open.spotify.com/episode/5YuvV1HzWuXVqwSdwjEULm?si=1pNuLPtrTBKWENOC4C4KZw28 Sep 2026 16:02 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwlosx7gll2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3mw74igmm5p2zWEI affiliate Victor Ujor studies ways to turn whey permeate, a by-product of cheese production, into chemicals used in biofuels, biodegradable plastics, and other products. Read more: https://energy.wisc.edu/news/food-scientist-turning-dairy-waste-something-valuable23 Sep 2026 16:02 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mw74igmm5p2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3mw2froi7h72nEpisode 3 of Energy 101: Parasite is out now! 🦠 What happens to the sugars we eat — and what changes when oxygen disappears? Explore mitochondria, ATP and fermentation. 🎧 https://open.spotify.com/episode/7IJGvouetoz8GJpEuMbpYs?si=pmhRUN35RVOIj_uB8r4l5Q21 Sep 2026 19:05 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mw2froi7h72nhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3mvsezdr5dz2nRegistration is OPEN now until Nov. 15 for the the 2027 WI KidWind Challenge, a hands-on renewable energy competition! At registration, teams will pick ONE of two Regional KidWind Challenges to participate in (Oak Creek or Eau Claire). Learn more: https://energy.wisc.edu/education/2027-wi-kidwind-challenge-events18 Sep 2026 14:30 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvsezdr5dz2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3mvnj6lqhu62nJoin WEI for the 3rd Annual Wisconsin Weather Festival, a free event for all ages with weather experts, hands-on activities, and real weather equipment. Oct. 17, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. WEI Lobby Learn more: https://energy.wisc.edu/events/3rd-annual-wisconsin-weather-festival16 Sep 2026 16:01 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvnj6lqhu62nhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3mviichbci62nEpisode 2 of Energy 101 is out now! 🌱 Plant(s) Matter asks: Where do plants get their matter? Explore photosynthesis and why plants matter with Aisha Goodman and Chris Gisriel. Listen: https://open.spotify.com/episode/19zvLIUDLDAG97QcwCAAbM?si=aMvAd6YmTdOce2Q5QMyKKQ14 Sep 2026 16:02 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mviichbci62nhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3mv6gj4kjno2oJoin WEI on September 29 at 4:30 p.m. as expert energy researchers from across UW-Madison discuss how AI tools are transforming their science. Register: https://energy.wisc.edu/events/ai-energy-science-forward-energy-forum #AI #ForwardinEnergy #webinar #uwmadison #energy #engineering10 Sep 2026 16:04 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv6gj4kjno2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3muwuwojit72sEpisode 1 of Energy 101 is out now! 🎙️ Chemistry and Creatine asks: What is energy? Then dives into chemical energy, combustion, ATP and creatine. Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/16AF0oHcSJG88z6khyHpbM?si=X09qB5vnSFuRPG_xcmtMOQ07 Sep 2026 16:00 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3muwuwojit72shttps://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3mumt46ief625“Failing is a part of being a scientist. Just be patient with yourself.” Graduate student Rose Lizzo studies Zymomonas mobilis, a microbe used to make biofuel, with the goal of improving how microbes produce fuels and bioproducts. Read more: https://energy.wisc.edu/news/graduate-student-spotlight-rose-lizzo03 Sep 2026 16:01 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mumt46ief625https://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3mtyphsjhyg26The Energy 101 episode calendar is here! 🎙️ Starting Sept. 7, a new episode drops every week throughout September. Keep an eye out for Episode 1 on launch day!26 Aug 2026 16:03 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtyphsjhyg26https://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3mttoflmzbj2nSydney Bradley, a microbiology PhD student at UW–Madison, uses art, design, and outreach to make science more accessible. She has received GLBRC’s 2026 Education and Outreach Award for her contributions to science education. Read more: https://energy.wisc.edu/news/sparking-curiosity-sydney-bradley-uses-art-make-science-more-accessible24 Aug 2026 16:00 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mttoflmzbj2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3mth44nar5r2tSave the date: Energy 101, a new WEI podcast exploring the science of energy in everyday life, launches September 7.19 Aug 2026 16:01 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mth44nar5r2thttps://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3mteln2dd2n2sA new UW–Madison engineering study led by WEI affiliate Eric Kazyak shows solid-state batteries can offer safety advantages over lithium-ion batteries, but are not risk-free. Read more: https://engineering.wisc.edu/news/are-solid-state-batteries-safer-uw-madison-engineers-put-them-to-the-test/18 Aug 2026 16:01 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mteln2dd2n2shttps://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3msviutxrek2nGraduate student Changsu Kim uses molecular modeling and AI to help GLBRC researchers study solvent mixtures for isolating lignin from plant biomass. Read more: https://energy.wisc.edu/news/graduate-student-spotlight-changsu-kim12 Aug 2026 16:02 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3msviutxrek2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3msr2vemyfj2nWEI is hiring TWO student interns to start this fall! One is communications focused, and the other will be working with our Education and Outreach team. If you are passionate about the energy future of Wisconsin, apply today! Links with more information are below.10 Aug 2026 21:41 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3msr2vemyfj2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3msgg5yoy7627WEI affiliate Vatsan Raman has been named interim associate dean for research in the UW–Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Read more: https://energy.wisc.edu/news/wei-affiliate-named-interim-dean-research06 Aug 2026 16:03 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3msgg5yoy7627https://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3mrxhsru6jc2uThe Solar Bioblitz has been rescheduled due to rain. The sun never stays behind the clouds forever, though, so we’ll see you 8/22 ☀️ All registrants have been notified via email, and you can sign up for the rescheduled date now. More info: https://energy.wisc.edu/events/bioblitz-lemonweir-solar-farm31 Jul 2026 17:23 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrxhsru6jc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3mrprxwzirn2sWEI alum Derek Ho has received a 2026 Forward Award from the Wisconsin Alumni Association. Ho studies microplastics and works to make plastic pollution research more accessible through science education and community engagement. Read more: https://www.uwalumni.com/news/forward-derek-ho/?utm_source=forward_award_std&utm_medium=email&utm_content=text&utm_campaign=aa2628 Jul 2026 16:03 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrprxwzirn2shttps://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3mrfmmyg7pz25WEI co-investigator Troy Runge has been named interim dean of the UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Runge is an associate dean and professor of biological systems engineering. Read more: https://energy.wisc.edu/news/wei-investigator-runge-named-interim-dean24 Jul 2026 15:01 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrfmmyg7pz25https://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3mq2mxzhpnk2vWEI senior scientist Trey Sato has received the 2026 GLBRC Service and Impact Award! [contains quote post or other embedded content]07 Jul 2026 12:43 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq2mxzhpnk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3mpycjdcbjk2ePostdoc Samuel Chagas studies ways to change plant cell walls in sorghum and corn so sugars can be accessed more efficiently for biofuel production. Read the full spotlight: https://energy.wisc.edu/news/postdoc-spotlight-samuel-chagas06 Jul 2026 14:30 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpycjdcbjk2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3mpoch34i5y2kLace up your boots and join WEI for a morning of exploration at Mauston’s Lemonweir solar farm! You’ll head into the 18-acre 3 MW solar array to document all the species you can observe living in and around the solar array. Registration is required. https://energy.wisc.edu/events/bioblitz-lemonweir-solar-farm02 Jul 2026 15:02 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpoch34i5y2khttps://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3mph2a2jsns2qWEI investigator Shannon Stahl collaborated on a process that converts lignin from trees into chemicals used to make nylon. The work adapts petrochemical strategies to help make plant-based chemicals more cost-effective. Read more: https://energy.wisc.edu/news/scientists-use-petrochemical-process-get-more-valuable-chemicals-trees29 Jun 2026 17:47 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mph2a2jsns2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3movhb7wqdc2oHow can the woody part of plants become useful biobased products? Postdoc Sarada Sripada studies ways to break down lignin into smaller molecules that microbes can convert into valuable chemicals, including PDC for bioplastics. Read the full spotlight: https://energy.wisc.edu/news/postdoc-spotlight-sarada-sripada22 Jun 2026 17:52 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3movhb7wqdc2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3mmyw3xygxx2lMesonet, a local weather station network, is helping to ensure everyone in the state is within 20 miles of the nearest station to improve weather data accuracy. Read more: https://energy.wisc.edu/news/your-local-storm-forecast-likely-based-weather-miles-away-mesonets-can-help-bridge-gap29 May 2026 16:05 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmyw3xygxx2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3mmrrtogorn2rWEI investigator and professor of genetics Chris Todd Hittenger was awarded the Vilas Faculty Mid-Career Investigation Award. WEI affiliates Josh Coon and Brian Fox were named to Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professorships. Read more: https://energy.wisc.edu/news/three-wei-members-recognized-scholarship26 May 2026 20:00 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmrrtogorn2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3mmhjbioyni2gWisconsin Energy Investigator John Ralph, has been honored and elected to the National Academy of Sciences. Read more: https://www.glbrc.org/news/john-ralph-elected-national-academy-sciences22 May 2026 18:00 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmhjbioyni2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3mknejtspb223WEI is #HIRING an Accountant! We are looking for an organized, collaborative candidate prepared to process financial transactions and reimbursements, prepare reports, and assist with budgeting. Interested? Apply by May 9: https://jobs.wisc.edu/jobs/wisconet-data-infrastructure-developer-madison-wisconsin-united-states29 Apr 2026 15:01 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mknejtspb223https://bsky.app/profile/uwenergy.bsky.social/post/3mkku2433qp2xJoin WEI as our new Administrative Director! We are #HIRING someone to develop and administer the center's annual budget, ensure compliance with all research funds in WEI, and serve as a point of contact for new folks joining WEI. Apply by May 6: https://jobs.wisc.edu/jobs/administrative-director-madison-wisconsin-united-states28 Apr 2026 15:01 +0000at://did:plc:lhuaeajqqnus2u2fomunqq44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkku2433qp2x