What is the new Department of Biology?
The new department will represent the combined efforts and talents of the current integrative biology and botany departments, which also include the Wisconsin State Herbarium, Botany Garden and Greenhouse and UW Zoological Museum. Faculty members in the new department are engaged with various research centers, including the Center for Limnology.
What undergraduate majors and certificates will be offered by the Department of Biology?
All of the current undergraduate majors and certificates will be offered by the new department, including undergraduate majors in molecular and cell biology, neurobiology, zoology, biology, botany and conservation biology. The College of Letters & Science will also continue to partner with the College of Agricultural & Life Sciences to offer a biology major for CALS students.
What graduate programs will be offered by the Department of Biology?
All of the graduate programs offered now will be offered by the new department, including degrees in freshwater and marine sciences, integrative biology and botany.
Why create a Department of Biology?
Modern science requires new kinds and greater scales of interdisciplinary research and bringing together top talent from across the botany and integrative biology units of the College of Letters & Science will unlock new discoveries, teaching opportunities and resources to continue the critical work of studying the story of life.
When does the new Department of Biology begin?
The new department will officially launch in Summer 2026 and is the result of an extensive shared governance process that began in Fall 2021. The University Academic Planning Council voted to approve the creation of the Department of Biology on Nov. 20, 2025, and the matter was reported to the Faculty Senate on Dec. 1, 2025.
Will the department be getting a new building?
Not yet, but long term the goal is to build a physical hub for the biological sciences on campus, where scientists can come together to enhance teaching, learning, research and more. Forming this new department is a critical step in making a new building happen.
What will happen to the Herbarium, Botany Garden and Greenhouse and Zoological Museum?
These collections will be housed and supported as critical institutions within the new Department of Biology. They will continue to serve as an indispensable asset to students, instructors and researchers as well as protectors of the planet’s biodiversity.
What is the new Center for Botany?
The University of Wisconsin–Madison will continue its legacy as a leader in the botanical sciences by founding a new Center for Botany. The center will be a new collaborative research and outreach hub. The mission of the Center for Botany will be to discover, protect and communicate knowledge of basic plant, fungal, algal and lichen biology (from genes to ecosystems) and provide coordination of the botanical and plant sciences across campus.
I previously gave to one of the current departments, and it’s important to me that my intent is honored. What happened to my donation?
All previous gifts will remain with the intended recipient(s). The new department will pay special attention to use funds as they were originally intended.
How can I give in the future?
You will have the opportunity to donate to the new Department of Biology or directly to specific programs such as the UW Zoological Museum or the future Center for Botany.
