Astronomy Ph.D. student selected by Graduate School for science advocacy workshop

March 12th 2015 Simon Kuran
Awards, Natural & Physical Sciences, Students
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Williams Williams

Anna Williams, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Astronomy, is one of two University of Wisconsin-Madison students selected by the Graduate School to attend the Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering (CASE) workshop next month in Washington, D.C.

The workshop, sponsored by a coalition of scientific groups, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Association of American Universities, teaches STEM graduate and upper-class undergraduates about the structure and organization of Congress, the federal budget and appropriations process, and tools for effective science communication.

Williams studies the structure and growth of magnetic fields in galaxies using observations taken at radio telescopes around the world.

"When research scientists can effectively communicate their work to non-scientists, they can help people understand the importance of the pursuit of knowledge for knowledge's sake and how this endeavor leads to new innovations that improve our world," says Williams, who studies the structure and growth of magnetic fields in galaxies using observations taken at radio telescopes around the world.

"This sharing of knowledge creates a positive feedback loop for scientific advancement.”

The Graduate School hosted a competitive process to select the two graduate students. Williams will be joined by Danielle Lohman, a Ph.D. candidate in biochemistry in the College of Agricultural & Life Sciences.