UW-Madison Life Sciences Communication

We’re excited to share that there’s a new doctor in town! Isabel Villanueva has successfully defended her dissertation and earned a PhD in Science Communication.

In the fall, she will begin a new chapter at the University of Miami as an Assistant Professor. Congratulations Isabel, we wish you the best of luck on this next adventure!



Pictured with Isabel (from left to right): Professor of Political Science Katherine Cramer, LSC Professor Kaiping Chen, LSC Professor Dietram Scheufele (advisor), Research Scientist Michael Culbertson, Professor of Communication Arts Zhongdang Pan

“Through the use of AI, Kaiping and her team help people break through their silos to understand the other side.”

The Capital City Hues chose to feature LSC Professor Kaiping Chen in their most recent “Urban Treasures” column, a recurring segment which celebrates exemplary Madisonians. We must agree that Kaiping certainly fits that bill!

Read the full highlight at:

05042026UrbanTreasure - The Capital City Hues

Aishwarya Veerabahu has had a whirlwind year after an article published in Current Biology last summer gained the attention of media platforms from the New York Times to Wisconsin Public Radio and more.

Veerabahu is a a PhD student studying Botany and minoring in Life Sciences Communication. As discussed in their article, her team found that invasive golden mushrooms (pictured here) are reducing overall fungal variety in the Great Lakes region.

Having the opportunity to discuss this research has also gone hand in hand with what she has studied here in LSC.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to discuss my research with public groups,” Veerabahu said. “I’ve learned that people are passionate about protecting native fungal biodiversity, even if they’re in the process of learning what that is and why fungi are important in maintaining the landscapes we know and love!”

Read the full article at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40675152/

Photo by study co-author Dr. Michelle Jusino

The Morgridge Institute for Research for Research recently highlighted Natasha Strydhorst, a Rita Allen Foundation Civic Science Fellow and LSC Research Affiliate. Strydhorst’s work blends science, storytelling and public engagement, a niche where she thrives!

Read their full piece at:

Rising Sparks: Natasha Strydhorst, science communication - Morgridge Institute for Research Natasha Strydhorst finds in science communication a good way to marry her multiple interests — and to address “the wicked problems that science and society are facing”

Congratulations to the LSC Class of 2026 graduates from this past weekend! We are so excited for you to start your new adventure and can't wait to see what you do next. We wish you all the best, !

LSC Professor Dominique Brossard had the opportunity to give a talk on science, misinformation and AI at Capital Lakes for the PLATO - Participatory Learning & Teaching Organization Madison’s 2026 speaker series.

Thanks to PLATO for putting together such an engaging way to learn and connect with community!

Emma Longo is officially an LSC master’s graduate!

Congratulations Emma, we’re so proud of everything you have been able to accomplish 🎉

Emma is pictured here with two members of her master’s committee: LSC Associate Professor Sedona Chinn (left) and School of Journalism and Mass Communication Teaching Faculty Kajsa Dalrymple (right).

Exciting news! As of today, Associate Professor Kaiping Chen has officially joined the Editorial Board for Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) Nexus, a highly respected interdisciplinary journal. Chen will be on the Board of Reviewing Editors for the PNAS Nexus Social Sciences Division and will serve for three years.

Congratulations, Kaiping!

Learn more:

Editorial Board Hülya Bayır, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, USA

Yesterday, LSC Associate Professor Kaiping Chen, LSC PhD student Sara Ostad Rahimi, and Public Policy master’s student Jacklyn Alsbro were able to present their research on fusion technology at UW-Madison Day at the Capitol!

This annual showcase allows researchers to present their work to legislators, staffers, civil servants and more. Chen, Ostad Rahimi, and Alsbro’s full presentation, “Exploring Mental Models of Public Participation in Fusion Energy: Results from Interviews Across Stakeholders,” highlighted challenges surrounding collaboration on fusion and provided recommendations for public engagement.

Well done all!