Fox Valley Science Society

First Wednesday of Each Month

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6:00 pm

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First Wednesday of Each Month | 6:00 pm |

The Fox Valley Science Society is a community for curious minds—whether you’re a scientist by training, a lifelong nerd, or just someone who likes asking good questions and following where they lead.

We host informal talks, discussions, and events centered around science, critical thinking, and curiosity about the world. Topics range widely and accessibly, with an emphasis on learning together rather than lecturing at one another. No lab coat required.

This is a welcoming, inclusive, and neurodivergent-friendly space where it’s okay to get excited, go deep, ask “wait, how does that actually work?”, and occasionally nerd out a little too hard. All backgrounds, identities, and levels of expertise are welcome—as long as you come in good faith and with respect for others.

If you like science, conversation, and community (and maybe a beverage while you’re at it), you’ve found your people.

Can’t make it in person? We’ve got you. . . starting March 2026, we have them recorded. Find the recordings in the online shop.

May Speaker

May 6, 2026 | Presentation starts at 6pm

The Edmund Fitzgerald Storm | A case study in improved weather forecasting

For our May speaking event, we’re excited to welcome our friends from Badgers on Tap back to the bookbar. Badgers on Tap brings UW–Madison expertise into pubs, breweries, and community spaces like ours, connecting real research with real community conversations.

The Badgers on Tap presentation follow a bit of a different format from our local speakers. A Badgers on Tap event features 2–3 rapid-fire “flash talks,” plus Q&A, trivia, bingo, and a few chances to win something fun.

This month, we’ll dive into the storm that brought down the Edmund Fitzgerald and the forecasting breakthroughs that followed.

About the speaker:

Steve Ackerman is a professor of atmospheric and oceanic sciences, is an expert in the area of satellite meteorology, a field largely invented at UW–Madison. He is well known as an accomplished researcher, teacher and communicator of the science of weather and climate. He previously served as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research in the Physical Sciences. Steve attained his PHD in Atmospheric Science from Colorado State University.

No tickets, no pre-registration, just show up. Seating is first come, first served, so come early if you want a good spot and a shorter wait for your drink.

If you’re able, we do encourage donations to help keep these events going. Give what feels right, especially if you enjoy having your brain pleasantly expanded over a beverage.