Contact: Council President Murphy
(414) 286-3763
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has always been one of the premiere higher education institutions in our city, but this week’s notable accomplishments highlight the importance of UW-Milwaukee not just for our city, state and country, but now even the universe.
Indeed, for most colleges and universities, having just one of the positive developments UW-Milwaukee experienced this week would be terrific for an entire year.
Consider:
· Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO)
Just this week, UWM was part of one of the most significant discoveries in physics in the last 100 years — the discovery of gravitational waves, a key portion of confirming Albert Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity. A group of scientists, of which 20 are UWM faculty and listed as authors, was involved in the discovery. The UWM faculty members were instrumental in the calculation of large data sets and the formulas used to interpret them. “The UWM group has been a key part of the project from very early on,” Clifford Will, lead physicist on the project, told one media outlet.
UW-Milwaukee Shines/ADD ONE
· R1 research institution designation
UWM was named to the 2015 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education list of R-1 accredited doctoral universities making it one of the nation’s leading research universities. Being named to the list can determine an institution’s eligibility for federal research money, and it also serves as a key talent recruitment tool for universities (and it helps the bottom line by helping secure grant dollars!). Other institutions with R-1 status include Yale, the University of Michigan, Harvard, and Duke, among other highly distinguished universities and colleges.
· Democratic Debate
Last night, the two contenders for the Democratic nomination for President took part in a nationally-televised debate at the Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts. The debate and its events both before and after went off without a hitch, and it brought the very best face of UWM and Milwaukee into the homes of millions.
Common Council President Michael J. Murphy said he hopes the great news just keeps coming for UWM. “I will go out on a limb and predict a win for the Panthers’ men’s basketball team against Detroit tomorrow – it just seems right,” he said.
