News
Welcome to the Department of Biology
From the Chair
July 1, 2026, marks the first day of the Department of Biology in the College of Letters and Science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Bringing together botany and integrative biology (formerly zoology), two departments that have been around since the earliest years of our university, is an enormous feat and it also presents several exciting opportunities.
The Department of Biology brings together botany and integrative biology’s 10 academic programs, three living and preserved natural history collections and adds an exciting new botanical sciences research hub, the Center for Botany.
Hands-on in Hawaii
learning
Botany students travel to Hawaii with Professor Muir to study plant diversity in the global biodiversity hotspot.
DNA analysis of Mongol Empire’s Ruling Elite
REsearch
Integrative Biology graduate student Ayken Askapuli’s research reveals implications for the genetic ancestry of the broader Mongolian Empire
McGee and Walston win 2026 Award for Mentoring Undergraduates
Awards
Professor Seth McGee and graduate student Joseph Walston have each been recognized for their outstanding mentorship of undergraduate students.
Alumni and Friends Newsletter
Are you an alumnus or friend of the former Botany or Integrative Biology Departments? Botany and Integrative Biology have now combined their talents as the Department of Biology.
We’d love to stay in touch!
Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll send you updates on research discoveries, the student experience, and more twice a year.
News
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A hub for botanical research: Q&A with the Center for Botany Faculty Director
The new Center for Botany is a research hub for botanical sciences at UW–Madison housed in the Department of Biology. Members of the center will discover, archive and communicate knowledge of basic…
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Welcome to the Department of Biology
A message from Mary Halloran, Chair of the Department of Biology. Hello all, Today, July 1, 2026, marks the first day of the Department of Biology in the College of Letters and…
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Department of Biology Undergrads among 2026 Goldwater Scholars
Three University of Wisconsin–Madison juniors have received 2026 Goldwater Scholarships, the premier undergraduate scholarship in mathematics, engineering and the natural sciences in the United States. The students are juniors Aletta Bergman, Krithi Gopinath…
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McGee and Walston win 2026 Award for Mentoring Undergraduates
Professor Seth McGee and graduate student Joseph Walston have each been recognized for their outstanding mentorship of undergraduate students.
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Hands-on in Hawaii
Botany students journey to Hawaii to learn about plant diversity in the global biodiversity hotspot.
In the News
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Agave Death Bloom featured as State Journal Photo of the day
UW-Madison’s Botany Garden and Greenhouse’s Agave victoriae-reginae plant bloomed in early June, catching the attention of the public and the Wisconsin State Journal. The plant, which is about 30 years old, blooms…
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Professor Damschen talks biodiversity on WPR
Professor Ellen Damschen joins WPR’s The Larry Meiller Show to discuss why biodiversity matters in Wisconsin, and what scientists are doing to conserve plant and animal life. Listen to the episode.
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Professor Simon Gilroy on Startalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson
Are plants more aware than we think? Do they have feelings? Neil deGrasse Tyson, Gary O’Reilly, and Harrison Greenbaum explore the intelligence of plants with astrobotanist Simon Gilroy. From venus flytraps to…
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What’s wrong with ‘The Most Studied Lake in the World’?
The algae bloom-covered shorelines of Lake Mendota indicate serious lake health issues. How do we right the ship? It starts with science. View full article here.