07/29/2026
A group of our students spent a week at UW–Madison as part of an incredible summer science camp built for students from rural and under-represented school districts across Wisconsin.
And they didn't just watch science… they did it. Over five days at the Discovery Building, working alongside Morgridge Institute staff and UW researchers, our students:
-Added new DNA to bacteria in a hands-on synthetic biology lab
-Used real biotech tools to detect whether the soy and corn in food products were genetically modified
-Viewed actual viruses on an electron microscope — and explored 3D protein models in virtual reality
-Studied beating heart cells and engineered immune cells growing in a dish
-Explored epigenetics, parasites, immune-cell metabolism, and even AI-powered image analysis
-Cracked optics puzzles to "Escape the Lab!"
Just as valuable were the quieter moments: lunchtime "Teen Science Cafés" where students could sit down with working scientists and PhD students and ask them about their research, their day-to-day, and how they found their own path into science. They stayed in UW's Dejope Residence Hall, paired up with students from other districts, shared meals, walked the campus each morning, and wrapped the week with a Science Showcase presenting what they'd learned. They also had a session with UW–Madison Admissions and Financial Aid on how college can actually be within reach.
The best part? It was completely free for our families, made possible by a generous donor who came from a similar background and wanted to open this door for the next generation of Wisconsin students.
