“Human Skin Microbiome: Finding Friends Amongst Foes,” is the name of Segre’s newest contribution to the series. The skin microbiome consists of the bacteria, fungi and viruses that inhabit our skin, according to Segre.

The skin microbiome–similar to the gut microbiome–has many roles in human health, such as injury and disease prevention. For instance, studying the microbiome of skin can help clinicians study dermatologic diseases such as eczema, according to Segre.

Genomic sequencing is a technique that allows scientists to put nucleotides – the chemical building blocks of DNA – in order to identify different microbes or genetic diseases, Segre said. Sequencing has opened doors to observe biology in a new way, according to Segre. 

To study human skin microbiomes, sequencing is used to put together different organisms living in skins and tissues. In a type of sequencing called “shotgun metagenomics,” researchers take an entire sample of the skin where disease manifested and look at the microbe composition, Segre said. In the instance of eczema developing at an elbow crease, scientists can use a skin sample and analyze its microbes by putting together the metagenome, according to Segre. 

“Humans are topographic,” Segre said. “There are more similarities between the elbow of two people than the elbow crease and armpit [of one person].” 

Using sequencing methods, Segre then detailed one of her research projects examining microbe growth in nursing homes. Nursing homes are a crucial part of the healthcare system, but they do not have the same high level of contamination control as hospitals, making them important for scientists to study, according to Segre. 

With sequencing, researchers found a multi-drug resistant fungi, Candida auris, on the skin microbe of residents. Not only is Candida auris resistant to antifungals, but it also persists in the deep skin of the tissue, making it a serious health crisis if found, Segre said. 

In addition to Candida auris, other microbes associated with infection such as E.coli were also found on the skin microbes of residents. Sequencing showed E.coli in the different skin microbiomes were identical to each other, according to Segre. This phenomenon is another aspect of the skin microbiome: people living together, such as roommates, may have the same microbiome, Segre said. 

Another microbe found in both the skin and gut of the nursing home residents was Klebeseilla pneumonia, which can cause pneumonia, according to Segre. The research team found that the skin microbiome of residents was the same before and after bathing, showing the microbes reappear despite bathing, Segre said.. 

“Skin is a reservoir for antibiotic resistance,” Segre said. “[We] want ways to prevent colonization.” 

Using sequencing to put together metagenomes of microbes on human skin, scientists can find multi-drug resistant microbes, according to Segre. Studying the skin microbiome will not only allow us to better understand disease pathology, but also how to prevent transmission–especially in healthcare settings, Segre said. 

The University of Wisconsin offers several resources through segregated fees paid in students’ tuition, such as career services, advising, University Health Services mental health services and more, according to UW segregated fees.

Career services at University of Wisconsin are extensive and opportunistic, with many career tools and resources available, according to Assistant Director for Career Services Technology, Ilsa May. 

Tools like Big Interview, Big Resume, Handshake, Artificial Intelligence Career Toolkit, resources surrounding the usage of LinkedIn and Badger Bridge, which connects students and alumni, are free for all degree-seeking students, according to UW Career Services.

“I would say that careers.wisc.edu is a great starting point for any students who are asking themselves, ‘What are some of the resources out there and how do I connect to a Career Services office that’s relevant to my interests or my major?’” May said.

Career Services annually host a variety of events and career/internship fairs that allow students to network with professionals, attend career and professional development workshops, connect with alumni, learn about potential employers and more, according to Career Fairs & Events.

The Career Exploration Center is another great resource for students who are undecided or unsure about career projection to navigate where they might fit into the professional world, according to Career Services.

“There’s the Career Services Offices, whether they’re the school and college based ones [in specific programs] or like the Career Exploration Center, which meets with all students who are maybe not entirely sure what they want to major in or how their major relates to careers,” May said. “The Career Exploration Center serves all students.”

Other offices open to all students include the Center for Pre-Health Advising, Center for Pre-Law Advising, the Language Institute and International Internships, according to Career Services.

University Health Services offers no-cost, confidential mental health services to all University of Wisconsin students. This includes individual counseling, group counseling and psychiatric services available by appointment, according to UHS Mental Health Services.

UHS also partners with Uwill to expand access to free, flexible online counseling and endorses other on-campus services including Let’s Talk Consultations, according to UHS Mental Health Services. 

“For me, it [making an appointment] kind of seemed way scarier than it actually was. It was very easy to set up an appointment online,” UW freshman Ava Nichols said. “Everyone was super welcoming and supportive. So, if you’re thinking about it, I would suggest going for it.”

Nachreiner said he oversees daily police activity, monitors emergency responses and coordinates patrol shifts for the Monona PD.  

Schonenberger has been charged with unsafe lane deviation, reckless driving and operating after revocation, according to the Monona PD. The charges come after Schonenberger caused a rollover crash westbound off of the U.S. Route 12, according to Monona PD. 

This accident was caught on dashboard camera, and is just one of over 400 accidents that occur on the beltline each year, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. 

The beltline is one of Wisconsin’s most congested roads and stretches 20 miles from Middleton to Cottage Grove, according to the WDT. 

“148,000 drivers drive through the beltline on a daily basis,” Nachreiner said. “That is a lot of vehicles during peak hours.”  

The WDT introduced the flex lane to the beltline in 2023 in hopes to reduce traffic buildup during peak hours, according to their website. 

The flex lane allows drivers to utilize the left-hand shoulder as a seventh additional lane during rush hours, according to WDT.  

“It’s hard for law enforcement if an officer is out [on the beltline] making traffic stop after traffic stop because it backs up the beltline even more and causes more accidents to occur,” Nachreiner said. 

Despite the addition of the flex lane to the beltline, accidents keep occurring at a much higher rate than other similar urban highways in Wisconsin, according to the WDT.

For officers patrolling the beltline, they can see upwards of 60 traffic violations a day, according to the WDT. 

The beltline experienced another major crash Sept. 2 involving four cars, leaving a 65-year-old seriously injured and causing the eastbound lane to be closed for seven hours, according to Monona PD.  

“We plan on doing extra patrols and setting up stricter speeding enforcement on the beltline,” Nachreiner said. 

The second crash sent four people to the hospital, all with no life-threatening injuries, according to the Monona PD 

“The amount of lanes combined with the amount of traffic means people aren’t keeping a safe distance [from each other,]” Nachreiner said. “People are not paying attention, they are getting on their phone and not being reliant on safe driving.” 

The celebration began Sunday with the Sunburst Festival at Union South, which offered free food samples from its restaurants, a silent disco, several indoor and outdoor games, live music and more for students to check out, according to the Wisconsin Union.

Thousands of new students gathered at Camp Randall Stadium Monday to take part in the annual “W” Project, during which the crowd formed a giant Wisconsin “W” on the field and were taught some of UW’s gameday traditions like “Jump Around” and “Varsity,” according to OSTFE.

Interim Chancellor Dean Wilcots addressed incoming badgers during the New Student Convocation as a part of Wisconsin Welcome at the Kohl Center Tuesday before the first day of classes, according to OSTFE.

Dahlia DeSua, an incoming freshman at UW, had mixed feelings about Wisconsin Welcome thus far, she said.

“It has been really exciting to be here and see all the new students and the energy,” DeSua said. “I just wish it wasn’t as hot.”

DeSua said it felt unfair that some students had not moved into their dorms before some of the orientation events like the “W” Project happened.

Regular dorm move-in took place from Aug. 29 until Aug. 31, according to University Housing, meaning students who were assigned a later move-in may have missed out on the opportunity to attend the Sunburst Festival and the “W” Project.

“[The W Project] did get me excited for the football games, just because you’re in the stands and everything, and they start teaching you the chants and the band you get to see play,” DeSua said. “I definitely did like that, it’s exciting to imagine that is going to be the environment I’m in in just a couple of weeks.”

Wisconsin Welcome will also feature the Bakke Block Party and the Multicultural Orientation and Reception: Cultural Showcase on Friday, according to OSTFE.

The Fall Student Organization Fair on Sept. 9 and 10 will give students the opportunity to peruse and connect with UW’s various Registered Student Organizations tabling at the Kohl Center from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Wisconsin Welcome has been a tradition at UW since 1913, evolving from “Varsity Welcome” to “Orientation Week” in the 1930s, according to On Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Welcome officially extends through Sept. 20, according to OSTFE. Other events can be found on the Wisconsin Welcome app or the OSTFE website.

The initial proposal was $300,000, which was rejected by the Madison Finance Committee due to concerns surrounding setting precedent for how the grants would be distributed to businesses, according to District 6 Alder Davy Mayer.

“They [Department of Planning & Community & Economic Development] came up with $100,000 in unspent but already budgeted funds, and then $200,000 from the city’s contingent reserve,” Mayer said, “A lot of them [Madison Finance Committee] are very risk averse and are concerned about maintaining that contingent reserve, should anything happen.”

The primary goal of the WSBSP is to provide grants to affected businesses on the basis of how much they were financially impacted by the encampment, according to the City of Madison Common Council.

Businesses can qualify for the aid on the basis of lost sales, if the applicant had business interruption insurance and where the money would be going, according to the Common Council.

Madison community response to the July 22 shooting of Ruiz was fast and extensive, with hundreds of community members marching down State St. before stopping at the Capitol, leading to the cancellation of Concert on the Square, according to The Badger Herald reporting.

The protests developed into a street encampment at the intersection of Williamson St. and S. Baldwin St. that was ultimately shut down by Madison Police Department after nearly 13 days, according to WPR.

Several businesses faced serious financial struggles during the period. The Crystal Corner Bar was closed through the duration, many businesses such as St. Vinnies were unable to get any deliveries and others that kept their doors open had a lot less foot traffic, according to Alder Mayer.

The discussion surrounding funds, protests and the contingent reserve are nuanced. The situation continues to be complicated, but the WSBSP has the potential to relieve those affected businesses, according to the Common Council.

According to Alder Mayer, these places are owned by prominent Madison locals who continue to give back and support the Willy St. community, some doing so during the encampment.

The Common Council is set to meet Sept. 8, where they will discuss the program and make a decision.

“Sometimes two net goods can be in conflict with each other. I think we want the right to protest and the right to mourn, but obviously that had a negative impact on other businesses’ right to exist and do what they’re doing,” Mayer said. “We’re looking to facilitate both of those when we can, but they do come in conflict.”

The shelter has capacity to serve up to 250 people overnight and is looking to eventually operate 24 hours a day, according to City of Madison Community Development.

The construction of the shelter began July 2024 and was completed April 2026. The shelter finalized interior designs and is now open for use, according to City of Madison Engineering.

Initially, the shelter’s construction was projected to be completed in October 2025 but was delayed due to several issues with the construction that needed to be corrected, according to city’s engineering website.

The facility will not operate as a drop-in shelter but will use a registration system instead that will prioritize certain individuals over others, according to the city’s community development website.

“The operator [Porchlight, Inc.] will employ a set of criteria that will rank people on the basis of age, medical vulnerability and length of homelessness,” director of Community Development Jim O’Keefe said.

The registration system will provide highest consideration to those who fit the criteria, but will allow those who are not offered a bed to add their name to a waitlist to be notified about future openings, according to the city’s community development website.

This shelter has a strong housing-focused mission and aims to transition individuals to stable housing through case management supported by Porchlight, Inc, according to the city’s community development website.

Though potential services are still being finalized, the shelter hopes to bring behavioral health, mental health, addiction recovery and other additional services, according to O’Keefe.

“There may be support with housing navigation, helping some apply for rental housing,” O’Keefe said. “There will be an effort to try to help connect people to public benefits such as disability and medical assistance coverage or Section 8 and public housing.”

The City of Madison provided $13.5 million for the construction of the shelter, while Dane County contributed $10.5 million and the federal government gave $3 million, according to the city’s community development website.

Private donations from local nonprofit organizations, such as Shelter Friends of Dane County, are being collected to allow the operation of the shelter on a 24-hour basis, according to the city’s community development website.

O’Keefe said he estimates it will take over a year to accumulate the funds needed for daytime operations of the shelter.

“This is a sign of this community’s commitment to people that find themselves in a vulnerable time in their lives,” O’Keefe said. “It’s a tremendous investment in supporting that population.”

The Morgridge Institute is a nonprofit biomedical research institute that works closely with and is located within the University of Wisconsin, according to the Morgridge Institute.

The nonprofit is comprised of 20 different research groups and over 200 scientists that work together to drive the next advancements in biomedicine, according to the Morgridge Institute.

Perrault previously served as Northwestern University’s vice president of research, as well as the associate dean for research at the McCormick School of Engineering and as the chair for the Department of Biomedical Engineering prior, according to the Morgridge Institute.

Perrault was selected by the Morgridge Institute Board of Trustees after former CEO Brad Schwarz announced his retirement February 2026, according to the Morgridge Institute.

Schwarz, who has served as CEO since 2013, will continue leading the institute until Perrault begins in the role early 2027, according to the Morgridge Institute.

Wilcots stepped into the role of interim chancellor May 17, 2026 after former Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin announced her departure to become president of Columbia University, according to Universities of Wisconsin. Wilcots previously served as dean of the College of Letters & Science since 2019 and professor of astronomy since 1995, according to the L&S website. 

In terms of future positions at UW, Wilcots did not confirm or deny whether he would be seeking a more permanent role as chancellor, saying he was currently more focused on the start of the school year. 

AI usage at UW

With the introduction of UW’s new College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence July 1, 2026, the university has highlighted opportunities and responsibilities that come with advances in AI, according to The UW Now. 

“The way I like to think about it — and this is important — we are doing a lot in the space of AI because we are such a big university,” Wilcots said.

UW is doing work in AI across multiple disciplines, from core faculty members in CAI to individuals in research using it to advance discovery, in addition to those in L&S who are examining ethics in AI usage, Wilcots said. 

Some professors and students at UW have been grappling with how best to employ or regulate AI usage in the classroom, according to The Cap Times. 

UW faculty will be using AI as a revelatory tool in research, while also discussing humanistic questions about its uncertainty and working toward more AI competency in the classroom, according to Wilcots. 

“We’re going to embrace AI in its whole to understand it, to be leaders in that embracing of all of it,” Wilcots said.

Future uncertainties

In recognizing some uncertainties people may have regarding AI, Wilcots also acknowledged other ways the university is operating in questionable times. 

In 2025, the Trump administration attempted to reduce federal spending on research, resulting in a 17% decline in federal research funding and a 30% decline in new awards in 2025, according to a 2026 report by the Wisconsin Alumni Association. 

“We’re in a real challenging environment, there’s been big cuts,” Wilcots said. “We’re faring a little bit better than we feared we would — say, a year ago — with what’s actually coming. I think there’s a couple of trends that are potentially very troubling for us.” 

UW is receiving fewer grants with larger dollar amounts from large institutions such as the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy, Wilcots said. This also leads to a trend of front-loading grants, according to Wilcots. Because of this, funding agencies no longer have the same flexibility when giving amounts of money to student researchers to use in a particular period of time, according to Wilcots. 

UW is in a similar position as other institutions: watching the situation carefully and pursuing the work that upholds the core mission of the university, according to Wilcots. 

This summer the Trump administration also passed a rule altering the “duration of status” for international students, limiting their time in the U.S. to four years, according to the Department of Homeland Security. 

UW is part of a group pursuing legal action to prevent the rule from taking effect, according to Wilcots. 

“. . . we support our international students. We support our international faculty and staff,” Wilcots said. “It’s an important part of this institution to have those individuals here. We want to be supportive, welcome them here.” 

The change is anticipated to go into effect Sept. 15, 2026, Wilcots said. 

UW is also making plans in the case of adapting to that rule and continuing to support international students, staff and faculty, according to Wilcots. 

“It will have a tremendous negative impact on not just on our students, but also on who we are as an institution: advancing knowledge, supporting our local communities, supporting the economy more broadly,” Wilcots said. “It’s something we are against.” 

In terms of uncertainties at the state level, Wilcots also discussed the period of leadership transition we are seeing in the University of Wisconsin System and the State of Wisconsin. 

The system is searching for a new system president, and the campus is searching for a new chancellor, amidst a gubernatorial election and other changes in large state roles, according to Wilcots. 

Over the summer, all 13 UW System chancellors met with the Board of Regents to develop a budget proposal for the next biennial budget, Wilcots said. But, they don’t know who the new governor will be and what priorities they will bring to that budget, Wilcots said. 

“It’s the uncertainty of it all,” Wilcots said. “I think that is the biggest question mark right now.” 

New campus buildings and other accomplishments

In spite of the challenges the university may face in the upcoming year, Wilcots highlighted a variety of past and future accomplishments on campus. 

“I think that everybody should appreciate that if you ever go to a college or university campus and you see no construction, that is a college that is in trouble,” Wilcots said. “Because it’s just a sign that we’re moving forward and constantly thinking about the things that we need to do, and how we make ourselves better and achieve excellence.”  

Among these campus constructions, Irving and Dorothy Levy Hall is set to open the first day of fall semester classes on Sept. 2, 2026, according to Wilcots. The building will house history, Jewish studies, African-American studies, American Indian and Indigenous studies, religious studies and gender and women’s studies, according to Wilcots. 

The Kellner Family Athletic Center will have a grand opening later in September, and the Phillip A. Levy Engineering Center, which will increase the capacity of the College of Engineering, is set to open in 2029, according to Wilcots. 

Wilcots and Reesor also highlighted a number of pluralism initiatives, including Wisconsin Exchange and the Deliberation Dinners. 

The Wisconsin Exchange: Pluralism in Practice was founded by former Chancellor Mnookin in 2025 to aid the people of UW in leading in a polarized world, according to the initiative’s website. The Deliberation Dinners, which are part of the Wisconsin Exchange, provide a series of dinners in which students engage with a range of diverse perspectives, according to their website. 

“I think it really is equipping our students with the skills so that they can manage these [differences], both in classes, out of classes,  and then I think that will make you more marketable when you go out for jobs,” Reesor said. 

Ending remarks

One of the most important roles for the interim chancellor, no matter who it would be, was to move the university forward, Wilcots said. 

Wilcots ended the interview by commending UW’s women’s sports teams and sharing his hopes for UW’s new athletic director Shawn Eichorst. 

“It’s a core part of who we are as an institution,” Wilcots said. 

A second-degree sexual assault was reported Monday to the University of Wisconsin Police Department, according to a UW Crime Warning email sent to students Tuesday.

The assault occurred in a west campus student housing residence around 4 p.m. Friday, and the suspect and victim are known to each other, according to the email. UWPD is investigating the incident, according to the email.

Second-degree sexual assault covers nonconsensual sexual contact or intercourse committed under specific aggravating circumstances, such as the use of force or an existing power imbalance between parties, according to Wisconsin law. UW prohibits sexual harassment and sexual violence (including sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking and sexual exploitation), according to UW Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence policy.

To report an incident to law enforcement, contact UWPD at 608-264-2677. To report a concern to the university, contact the Sexual Misconduct Resource and Response Program.

Resources regarding sexual assault:

• UHS Survivor Services provides confidential, no-cost victim advocacy, mental health and/or medical support, including
  forensic nurse exams available onsite at UHS: survivorservices@uhs.wisc.edu; 608-265-5600 (option 3); or self-schedule using the MyUHS app
• UHS Survivor Services Crafty Coping and drop-in survivor support groups
• RCC: Sexual Violence Resource Center: (608)-251-7273
• Let’s Talk: uhs.wisc.edu/wellness/lets-talk
• Room to be Safe: For Queer survivors of violence: (414) 856-LGBT (5428)
• National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
• To report an incident to law enforcement, contact UWPD at 608-264-2677.
• To report a concern to the university, contact the Sexual Misconduct Resource and Response Program at https://go.wisc.edu/report
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224

The fall primary election in Wisconsin, which determines the Democratic and Republican nominees for governor, was held Tuesday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

Evers, a two-term Democrat, announced that he would not be seeking re-election in a July 2025 press release. The news sparked nine Democrats to announce their bid for governor, with three candidates unofficially withdrawing before election day, according to Ballotpedia.

Republican frontrunner and President Donald Trump-endorsed Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., defeated nominal opponent, 27-year-old medical services technician Andrew Manske, by 95%, according to AP.

Crowley dropped out of the race July 8, stating it had become clear he would not be the Democratic nominee, according to WisPolitics.

Crowley re-entered the race July 17, following Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez’s departure over mishandled campaign finance reports, he said to 620WTMJ radio. Despite pledging not to endorse any candidate, Evers announced his support for Crowley as governor, according to WisPolitics.

The Milwaukee County Executive represents a more moderate faction of the Democratic party than his main opponent, with a platform calling for diverse, affordable housing construction, expanding his Building Bridges Program statewide and prioritizing affordable, efficient energy, according to his campaign website.

Crowley plans to make Wisconsin more affordable through the expansion of apprenticeship programs and other workforce pipelines, increasing funding for the Housing Cost Reduction Initiative, requiring large data center developers to invest in virtual Power Plants and more, according to his campaign website.

Hong is part of a new wave of politicians named Democratic Socialists that have splintered the status quo within the Democratic Party. Hong campaigned on progressive policies such as universal childcare, guaranteed paid leave and lowering property taxes by taxing the top 1% of earners in Wisconsin, according to her campaign website.

On the other side of the aisle, Tiffany intends to alleviate housing, healthcare and childcare costs by freezing property taxes and removing “burdensome” regulations while prioritizing manufacturing and farming in Wisconsin, according to his campaign website.

As governor, Tiffany aims to improve education through curriculum limitations, protect “Wisconsin values” by placing restrictions on bathroom/locker room use and safeguard hunters and anglers from licensing fees and endangered animal lists, according to his campaign website.

Crowley and Tiffany will face off to see who will be the next governor of Wisconsin November 3, 2026.