Ready to make your mark?
Growing the Future
The University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences is an engine of scientific discovery, with researchers working across the spectrum of agricultural and life sciences. Academically, the college offers research-based, hands-on teaching of undergraduates; world-class graduate programs rich in research and project assistantships; and short courses, workshops and other programs. Our outreach activities bring the work of the college to Wisconsin businesses, organizations and communities throughout the state. Learn more about CALS.
Explore CALS
Events
- Oct13 Info Session: Madison College Teaching Fellows STEM grad students & postdocs: learn more about this professional development opportunity.
- Oct13 CIAS Food and Agriculture Sustainability Social
I learned a lot of practical, hands-on things, but I also learned about concepts — why we talk about things the way we do, how we communicate to a broader audience.
Halei Heinzel
CALS Faces
Halei Heinzel
Halei Heinzel FISC’22, BS’24 aspires to a career in agriculture and served as one of the industry’s greatest advocates. Selected as Wisconsin’s 77th Alice in Dairyland in May 2024, she traveled the state for one year to meet with consumers, industry groups, school children and the news media as the state’s official agricultural ambassador. Heinzel came to the program with an atypical Alice background. She grew up in a city (Oconomowoc) and has no relatives with ties to agriculture. She fell in love with farming while participating in FFA in high school. She took that interest to the next level by enrolling in the Farm and Industry Short Course (FISC). During her first year in Madison, she was encouraged to seek a four-year degree to help her achieve even more on behalf of the agricultural industry. Heinzel eventually majored in life sciences communication. As for what her future holds, she says she would love to be a first-generation farmer.
Read more: go.wisc.edu/x9oa5v
$1.1M
Scholarships awarded in 2023-24
4,082
CALS students in 2023-24
CALS Social
In early September, we gave a warm welcome to our new CALS students at @allencentennialgarden! We are so excited to be part of your college journey. Enjoy your first semester on campus! 👐
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CALS Social
The summer 2025 issue of Grow magazine is out now! Stories include digitized and transcribed Aldo Leopold journals, exploring support gaps for farmers’ childcare needs, the success and legacy of WARF, and so much more. Read it now at grow.cals.wisc.edu.
CALS Social
The best way to understand ancient life on Earth is to replicate the conditions it survived in — and bacteriology professor Betül Kaçar is doing exactly that. She studies how microbes have evolved throughout history and is looking for clues to help us face today’s environmental challenges and prepare for what’s coming next.
CALS Social
Congratulations to the UW–Madison Badger Pulling Team on their 6th place finish at the @asabeorg International Quarter-Scale Student Design Competition! The team also took home the Maneuverability Award, the Safety Award, and the Best Appearance Award. Great work! 💪🚜
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CALS Social
For decades, CALS has worked closely with family farms to ensure healthy potato harvests. Our researchers are tackling disease prevention and management and the Wisconsin Seed Potato Certification Program provides farmers with high quality seed stock. Together, we’re not just growing our food — we’re growing our futures at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. One Wisconsin. #OnWisconsin.
