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Science & Health News

Summer 2025
Winter 2024-25
Summer 2024
Winter 2023-24

Science & Health News is an online magazine published twice annually for alumni and friends of UWL's College of Science & Health.

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The UWL College of Science and Health's Science & Health News is published online in January and July for more than 11,200 alumni and friends of the college.

Biology kudos

Adam Schneider

Adam Schneider, Biology, authored the article "Photosynthetic activity in the heterotrophic plant genus Cuscuta is modulated by phylogeny and ontogeny" in "Annals of Botany," published on Aug. 26 by Oxford University Press. By measuring chlorophyll fluorescence and pigment concentrations, Schneider and his team showed that for most dodders, a diverse group of parasitic plants reliant on host plants for their survival, photosynthesis is not vestigial. Instead, they retain localized photosynthetic capability in tissues with higher energetic needs, such as shoot tips and developing seeds.

Submitted on: Sept. 2

Arthur Grupe Ii

Arthur Grupe Ii, Biology, co-authored the article "Think globally, barcode locally: nine years of macrofungi sampling reveals extensive biodiversity at the Ordway-Swisher Biological Station, a subtropical site in Florida" in "Fungal Biology," published on Aug. 27.

Submitted on: Aug. 28

Ross Vander Vorste

Ross Vander Vorste, Biology, received a teaching grant from the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin. The River Studies Field Course will provide 10–20 undergraduate students, aka River Scholars, a transformative opportunity to learn about Wisconsin’s Grand Water Challenges in August 2026. Accompanied by instructors and student trip leaders, scholars will embark in canoes on a three-day river trip where they will learn basic skills in river navigation and safety while building strong teamwork and problem-solving skills. During the trip, scholars will participate in a diverse set of instructor-led field lessons and meet industry, non-profit and agency professionals that will introduce them to careers from a variety of freshwater disciplines. The river trip will culminate with an in-depth experience on UW-La Crosse’s Research Vessel Prairie Springs, where students will learn to use state-of-the-art river research and monitoring equipment.

Submitted on: Aug. 11

Ross Vander Vorste

Ross Vander Vorste, Biology, was interviewed by WEAU 13 News on Aug. 4. Ross discussed UWL's connection to federal agencies working on the Upper Mississippi River that are facing budget cuts.

Submitted on: Aug. 5

Barrett Klein

Barrett Klein, Biology, authored the article "An entomologist's improbable toolkit" in American Entomologist published on Thursday, July 24 by Oxford Academic. This piece invites scientists to consider the value of pursuing talents and hobbies in augmenting their science, as well as the importance of diversity in the sciences.

Submitted on: July 24