These were just some of the markers of 2012 in L&S. Here are some of the moments that made 2012 a memorable year for the College:
L&S scientists play key role in Higgs boson discovery
This reconstruction of a particle collision captured by the CMS detector at the Large Hadron Collider shows a new particle first announced on July 4, 2012, that is a strong candidate for the long-sought Higgs boson. (Image courtesy CERN)
L&S faculty members Sau Lan Wu (Physics), Wesley Smith (Physics) and Miron Livny (Computer Sciences) contributed to the July discovery of a new particle that's believed to be the elusive Higgs boson.
From Adam's housecat to zydeco: Dictionary of American Regional English final volume completed
Beth Witherell and Jennifer Ellsworth, graduate students who worked on DARE, listen to one of the more than 1,800 audio recordings made in the field. (Image courtesy UW-Madison Archives)
After nearly five decades of work, editors at UW-Madison completed the fifth volume of the celebrated dictionary, covering "Sl" to "Z." And it was a hit — it recently even made The New Yorker's "Best Books of 2012" list. Now it's on to a sixth volume of supplementary materials.
UW-Madison archaeologists to mount new expedition to Troy
The ruins of Troy. (Image courtesy Troia Project, University of Tübingen)
It was announced in October that William Aylward, Professor of Classics, will lead a new expedition of the ancient city of Troy. The new international project will begin next summer.
The Odyssey Project's celebrates an amazing 10-year journey
Student Keena Atkinson (center) reads aloud her written assignment during and English class led by professor Emily Auerbach. (Jeff Miller, University Communications)
UW-Madison's Odyssey Project, founded and directed by Professor of English Emily Auerbach, celebrated its 10th anniversary. The program has given more than 250 low-income adults jump starts toward college degrees.
Sandefur to step down as dean, return to faculty
Prior to his service as dean, Gary Sandefur was a professor of sociology, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, as well as the director of the American Indian Studies Program. (Sarah Morton, L&S)
Gary Sandefur announced in July he will step down as dean of the College of Letters & Science at the end of the 2012-13 academic year. Sandefur, who has headed the College since August 2004, said that after wrapping up his work as dean in 2013, he will go on research leave for a year, then return to the faculty of the Department of Sociology.
IceCube Neutrino Observatory explores origin of cosmic rays
An early morning at the IceCube lab. (Jim Haugen, NSF)
The IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antartica took major steps toward uncovering the origins of cosmic rays. UW-Madison Professor of Physics Francis Halzen is the principal investigator of the project, which uses the world's largest neutrino detector.
Anthony Shadid: A journalist's life remembered, a legacy that lives on
In December 2010, Anthony Shadid spoke to a group of journalism students. Shadid was back on campus to serve as the keynote speaker for the Center for Journalism Ethics. (Bryce Richter, University Communications)
The world lost one of its most talented and accomplished reporters in February when Anthony Shadid (BA'90, Journalism and Political Science) died from an asthma attack while on assignment in Syria for The New York Times.
History professor Kantrowitz leads campus "Emancipations" series
John Steuart Curry’s mural "The Freeing of the Slaves" in the UW Law School portrays the slaves themselves as drivers of their emancipation, says history Professor Steve Kantrowitz.
As the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation approaches - President Lincoln signed the edict on Jan. 1, 1863 - Professor of History Steve Kantrowitz is leading a yearlong, campus-wide series of talks.
L&S faculty take top honors at 2012 Distinguished Teaching Awards
Parry Karp, Professor of Cello and Chamber Music in the School of Music, instructs a string quartet in his studio in the Mosse Humanities building. (Bryce Richter, University Communications)
Seven L&S faculty members received 2012 Distinguished Teaching Awards from the Wisconsin Alumni Association and the Secretary of the Faculty. The deserving winners were: Jeffrey Beneker (Associate Professor of Classics), Parry Karp (Professor of Cello and Chamber Music, School of Music), Cameron Macdonald (Assistant Professor of Sociology), Gary Shiu (Professor of Physics), Jake Vander Zanden (Professor, Center for Limnology and Department of Zoology), Lee Palmer Wandel (Professor of History, Religious Studies and Visual Culture) and John Zumbrunnen (Associate Professor of Political Science).
Suomi satellite reveals Earth's dark side
The Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite captured this nighttime image of the United States. (Image courtesy NASA)
The Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite, named after the late UW-Madison Professor of Meteorology Verner Suomi, captured a remarkable new view of the dark side of Earth. NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released the photo earlier this month - and it's just a glimpse of the nightime capabilities of the weather satellite.
First summer a success for Puskin Institute
The Department of Slavic Languages and Literature launched the Pushkin Summer Institute, a pre-college enrichment and outreach program targeted at high school students from traditionally underrepresented demographic groups.
Curb magazine celebrates a decade of student journalism
Curb is produced entirely by students in UW-Madison's School of Journalism and Mass Communication. (Jeff Miller, University Communications)
Curb, a magazine produced by UW-Madison journalism students, published its 10th issue on Dec. 5. The students create all the content, raise more than $10,000 to print the magazine, distribute copies across the state and build an online counterpart.
Hawk Cam captivates audiences on campus, around the world
A red-tailed hawk feeds its babies on April 20.
A red-tailed hawk nest on a ledge of Weeks Hall, the Geoscience building, became an Internet sensation thanks to a webcam from the Space Science and Engineering Center in the Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences Building. "Hawk Cam" attracted so many visitors that DoIT had to upgrade server capacity.