A number of CALS scientists (see below) were featured in a recap by University Communications of worldwide media coverage of the UW-Madison over the past year. The list is far from comprehensive but offers a sampling of the coverage of work done in the college and elsewhere on campus (media coverage is tracked in the UW Clipsheet and eCALS In the News postings). The media attention reflects not only the scientists’ accomplishments, but also the efforts of science writers and other media specialists in University Communications, the CALS communications program and many departments and centers. As mentioned in the introduction to the media recap, these efforts to showcase UW-Madison accomplishments to nonscientists is key to reinforcing UW-Madison’s strong image and reputation across the world.

CALS work on this list includes

• The discovery by James Ntambi of a genetic explanation for the link between obesity and high-fructose corn syrup was covered by Scientific American and the Toronto Star (Dec. 2007).
• A study by Bret Shaw demonstrating how online prayer groups can make a physiological impact on the cancer recovery process received media pickup from WISC-TV, Reuters Health and WSJ (Jan. 2008).
• Life Sciences Communication professor Dietram Scheufele‘s work focusing on America’s moral perceptions of nanotechnology was picked up by The Wall Street Journal and The Christian Post (Feb. 2008).
• News from the lab of Tomas Prolla that red wine, in moderation, can increase natural anti-aging compounds in the body received worldwide coverage in the health media, including stories in ABC News, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, USA Today and BBC News (June 2008).
• A Curiosities feature on entomologist Susan Paskewitz explaining why some folks make more attractive targets for mosquitoes went from the WSJ to national coverage in The New York Times, Newsweek and others (July 2008).
• A study by evolutionary biologist Sean Carroll helped explain the origin of manes, antlers, plumes and other peculiar male traits in the animal kingdom. The story was covered by WSJ and CT (August 2008).