Dean alumni & friends,
As we approach the end of another remarkable year in L&S, I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude. During this season of reflection, I want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible achievements of our L&S community and to recognize the power of our collective commitment to our research and educational mission.
Next year marks 30 years since I arrived on UW–Madison’s campus as an assistant professor of astronomy. Throughout my career at UW, I’ve been fortunate to engage in curiosity-driven research unique to R1 institutions like L&S, which excel in fostering interdisciplinary collaborations. Now as dean, I take great pride in ensuring that our faculty, staff and students have the support they need to address the questions we all share, as we consider our place in an increasingly complex world.
In the coming years, WiCOR has the potential to reshape our understanding of everything we know about, well, everything.
This fall, the Wisconsin Center for Origins Research (WiCOR) moved into its own office and research space on the sixth floor of Sterling Hall. What began as an idea in 2019 soon coalesced around a group of researchers from seven different units — astronomy, botany, integrative biology, chemistry, geoscience, atmospheric and oceanic sciences, and bacteriology — all asking the same questions: How did life form on Earth? And what are the potentials for life elsewhere in our universe? In the coming years, WiCOR has the potential to reshape our understanding of everything we know about, well, everything. The collaborative efforts of our interdisciplinary teams will lead to new insights into the origins of life, the formation of planetary systems and the fundamental processes that govern our universe. These discoveries will not only enhance our scientific knowledge, but they will also inspire future generations of scholars and researchers.
These questions could not be asked without the unwavering support of our alumni, parents and donors. I want to especially thank the Department of Astronomy’s Board of Visitors for their foundational support of this important project. WiCOR is but one of the many interdisciplinary research centers housed in L&S and supported by our incredible community. Your generosity has been instrumental in enabling us to create environments where curiosity thrives and where we can tackle the big questions about our universe and our place within it.
Together, let us celebrate the accomplishments of this year and look forward with excitement to the possibilities that lie ahead.
As I look to the future, I am excited about the potential for new discoveries and the impact they will have on our understanding of the world. The work being done at WiCOR and across the College is a testament to what can be achieved when we come together with a shared vision and purpose.
With heartfelt thanks and best wishes for the new year,
Eric M. Wilcots, Dean
Mary C. Jacoby Professor of Astronomy
College of Letters & Science
University of Wisconsin-Madison
P.S. If you would like to join the thousands of alumni, parents and friends who make our work possible, please visit supportuw.org/giveto/LSWinter24 and make your impact today.