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No football? Still plenty to do on campus this weekend

October 16, 2019 By Sinclair Richards

After a five consecutive home games, this Camp Randall on Saturday will have an unfamiliar silence instead of the roar of 80,000 football fans.

But you still have plenty of options. Every weekend there are free movies, road races and club meetings that could change open your eyes to a new part of campus. Here are a few:

Photo: Person with net of sensors on head

A science festival volunteer explains how scientists study the sleep cycle and why the research is important at a booth in the Discovery Expo during the science festival in 2018. Morgridge Institute for Research

  1. The Wisconsin Science Festival runs Thursday through Sunday with a variety of science events, including a science fair at the Discovery Building on Friday. There will even be art and science related chalking on state street. 
  2. On Friday and Saturday the No. 6 Badger women’s volleyball team has two Big Ten games at home. On Friday they play against Illinois (No. 18) at 8 p.m. On Saturday they take on Northwestern at 7 p.m. The team has beaten Nebraska and Minnesota in some impressive outings in recent weeks. Dana Rettke recently was named the Big Ten Player of the week and Sydney Hill earned Big Ten Setter of the week

    The Running Man Nebula (left) and Great Orion Nebula (also known as Messier 42, at right), can be found in the “sword” in the middle of the constellation Orion. Relatively young stars in Messier 42 pump out copious X-rays, causing gas nearby to glow blue-green and red. This region of the sky is the brightest of such emission nebulae, and often visible to the naked eye. Colin MacDiarmid, associate scientist in the Nutritional Sciences Department | digital camera and 80mm telescope

    The Running Man Nebula (left) and Great Orion Nebula (also known as Messier 42, at right), can be found in the “sword” in the middle of the constellation Orion.

  3. Stargazing in Alumni Park is being hosted by the Wisconsin Alumni Association from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday. There will be telescopes for you to peek at the night sky. Once you are done looking out of this world you can walk around an illuminated alumni park.
  4. On Saturday at 9 a.m. there is a free timed five kilometer run along Howard Temin lakeshore path. Everybody, including strollers and dogs on short leashes, are welcome for the fun run. There are runners and there are walkers; all you need to do to participate is sign up for a free personal barcode at https://parkrun.us/register and show up behind the Wisconsin Alumni Association, 650 N. Lake St., with your barcode on Saturday. 

    Picnic Point and Lake Mendota are pictured in an aerial view. Photo: Jeff Miller

  5. On Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon you can head down to the entrance of Picnic Point and volunteer for a Lakeshore Nature Preserve restoration event. Meet at the entrance to Picnic Point with some cozy clothes and a can-do attitude. Whether you are majoring in Environmental Studies or just like nature, this is the perfect time to restore the land that’s hosted so many picturesque walks and fun bonfires.