Over 80 years after Italian immigrant Enrico Fermi built the first nuclear reactor, international nuclear engineering students face significant limitations with job options in the United States. Hailing from Guadalajara, Mexico, sophomore Gerson Esquivel is an undergraduate international student in UW-Madison’s nuclear engineering program. Like many international students, he overcame the challenge of living in a new country. But in his discipline, he faces an extra hurdle: nuclear security clearances — more specifically, his inability to get one. Because he cannot get clearance, Esquivel deal ..read more

The rapid rise of women’s soccer coincides with an increase in ACL injuries, prompting a closer look at factors affecting player safety. A successful event, the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup broke records with unprecedented crowds and culminated in a historic victory for Spain. The popularity of women’s football continues to rise, reaching mainstream media in recent years. However, beneath this success lies a rapidly growing ACL epidemic. Concerns about this epidemic of ACL injuries surpass a mere byproduct of the semi-professionalism of women’s football. Women’s football faces a huge gap in inj ..read more

The UW-Madison chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB) is making a difference in the lives of people in El Pericón Chuacorral Sector II, Guatemala by creating a well water distribution system that provides up to 30,000 liters of purified water. In the heart of UW-Madison, a group of passionate individuals makes a difference in communities far beyond Wisconsin. The UW-Madison chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB) aims to build a better world by teaching engineering students international responsibility. At the forefront of their initiatives is the Guatemala Project, particularly the El ..read more

For nearly 50 years, the IEDE Student Center has evolved to improve climate and feelings of belonging for students within the College of Engineering, building a network of diverse engineers. Conversations regarding diversity in education date back centuries. While American universities began offering degrees in engineering in 1817, it took 59 years for the first woman in the United States, Elizabeth Bragg, to earn a degree in Civil Engineering. Another 32 years passed before George Biddle Kelley earned his degree in Civil Engineering, becoming the first African American to do so. Even in the l ..read more

The interweaving of art and STEM topics as shown by the UW-Madison Design Hub and Chemistry Department Is there truly a difference between STEM and STEAM? Topics involving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are often thought of as entirely separate from art. However, art is a fundamental part of the projects that occur in the UW-Madison Design Hub. Design engineer, Jesse Darley, who provides design consultations for students using the Design Hub, observes that art in the Design Hub can be found in intuitive processes of project development, rather than the traditional art of aes ..read more

UW–Madison chemistry experts scrutinize the science behind one of television’s most sensational shows Breaking Bad, a hit crime drama about a chemistry-teacher-turned-meth-cook, is widely praised for the intricate use of chemistry throughout the series. While critics argue that this chemistry is inaccurate or overexaggerated, UW–Madison chemists argue Breaking Bad leaves little room for error when it comes to scientific accuracy.  Airing from 2008-2013, Breaking Bad presents the story of Walter White, a chemistry teacher who uses his extensive academic background to develop methamphetamin ..read more

 As self-driving cars transition from futuristic concept to imminent reality, engineers face a monumental challenge, requiring a balance of innovation and caution: ensuring the safety of passengers and pedestrians where any failure could result in significant damage.  Looking to the future of transportation, autonomous vehicles may hold the potential for safer, faster journeys. But, assessing their safety isn’t a smooth ride, especially when any test failure could mean serious damage. So, how do engineers ensure the quality of these vehicles? Before they can develop critical safety s ..read more

Explore the impacts of recent advancements in artificial intelligence! Quietly simmering and developing for years, artificial intelligence (AI) entered the global stage with the release of ChatGPT in November 2022. AI permeates many facets of modern society, ranging from production to development and education. While its potential to enhance efficiency and innovation is undeniable, the widespread adoption of AI also raises significant ethical and social concerns.  AI simulates human intelligence by training on massive data sets to develop relationship models. According to Shawn Im, a PhD ..read more

After 85 years, 1410 Engineering Drive will soon be demolished and replaced by a state-of-the-art engineering building. The UW-Madison College of Engineering announced in early 2024 their decision to demolish 1410 Engineering Drive, one of the oldest buildings on the engineering campus, this autumn. Over the upcoming summer, its occupants, including engineering research labs, Computer Aided Engineering, the college’s diversity and inclusion office, and engineering student orgs, will move out of the building. Students are eager to learn about plans for the lost space of 1410 and the new buildin ..read more

Experiencing real-world engineering in my first semester at UW-Madison. The first semester at UW-Madison as a freshman engineer is challenging, not just because of the classes. No matter how comfortable you are in CHEM 103, MATH 222, or any other of the freshman-heavy “weed-out” classes, college is a major change. Adjusting to an independent life is enough to be its own 3-credit course. Within their first days at UW-Madison, new students are questioning if engineering is the right choice, experiencing imposter syndrome, worrying about first-year progression, and making four-year plans that str ..read more