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 |
Fox Valley Science Society is a community for curious minds—we are here for scientists, lifelong nerds, 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.
July 1st Speaker
July 1, 2026 | Presentation starts at 6pm
Psychedelics as Medicine | What is real? What is hype?
Tardigrade's Bookshelf is proud to partner with Badgers on Tap, a community outreach program from the University of Wisconsin–Madison that brings researchers and the public together for engaging conversations about science and current issues.
Our speaker events that we have a presenter from Badgers on Tap flow a bit different than our local presenters. The Badgers on Tap presenters typically have more than one presenter and often include some trivia and/or bingo with their discussion.
For the July presentation the presenters will explore the latest research on the psychiatric and medical implications of psychedelics in an approachable, community format.
Speaker Bio
Dr. Matthew Banks Dr. Banks is Professor of Anesthesiology and Affiliate Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and trained as a biomedical engineer and neuroscientist with an emphasis on neural signal processing. Dr. Banks investigates the neural correlates of perception, cognition, and affect in human research participants using electrophysiology, neuroimaging, and computational models.
Dr. Banks is a co-investigator on the RECAP and ENHANCE projects, with a focus on EEG and MRI data collection and analysis, and the features linking brain activity and connectivity to long-term behavioral effects of serotonergic psychedelics.
Dr. Banks lab (https://anesthesia.wisc.edu/research/researchers/banks-laboratory/) focuses on neural correlates of changes in consciousness during sleep and anesthesia and during delirium, an acute disorder of consciousness. Current research efforts are centered on the neural correlates of the sense of self, with an emphasis on the disassembly and reassembly of self during sleep and anesthesia and the link between affect and interoception.
UW-Madison provide our speakers free of cost for the outreach program. However, if you are monetarily able, please consider a donation for Fox Valley Science Society so we can continue to provide the space with lights on and tp in the bathroom:-)
Want to provide more support for our nerd fest? Make a donation!
September Speaker
September 2, 2026
The Edmund Fitzgerald Storm | A case study in improved weather forecasting
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.
Recordings of Presentations
Science of Paint Drying - It’s more fascinating than it sounds!
The materials that combine to give us great works of art have another story to tell. From the optical properties of the varnish, to the pigments that produces the vivid colors, I will lead you through a discussion on the different chemical properties of oil paintings. I spent last year watching paint dry, and I assure you, it is quite a fascinating endeavor!
About the speaker:
Allison McFleshman, Associate Professor of Chemistry Lawrence University, earned her Bachelor’s of Physics and PhD in Chemistry from the University of Oklahoma. Teaches classes in thermodynamics and quantum mechanics, as well as the chemistry of art. Research interests include studying fluid dynamics on a molecular level and investigating pigments from medieval manuscripts. She also co-owns McFleshamn’s Brewing Co with her husband.
After purchasing, you will be provided a QR code link to view the presentation. Thank you for your support!
Andy Weir has become famous for his meticulously researched speculative fiction that features competent, but very human, scientists working seemingly impossible problems, all while hewing as closely as possible to known science and technology. In his latest book, Project Hail Mary, Weir has raised the stakes from saving a single stranded astronaut (The Martian) to an interstellar long shot mission to save the Earth—and our stellar neighbors. The heart of the story is two explorers, Dr. Ryland Grace of Earth and Rocky from 40 Eridani A, and their missions to tau Ceti. Along the way, Weir leans into what we know and what we might guess about the cosmos, and how competence and curiosity are universal.
Meg’s talk focuses on the astronomy and physics of Project Hail Mary, which range from well-known and exciting discoveries in science and technology to the more speculative leaps in imagination.
If you missed the live presentation in April, this recording is a great way to be part of the community conversation.
After purchasing, you will be provided a QR code link to view the presentation.
About the speaker:
Dr. Megan Pickett is an associate professor of physics and chair of the Physics Department at Lawrence University. She earned her BA in Physics at Cornell University in 1988 and MA and PhD in Astrophysics in from Indiana University in 1995. After IU, she was a National Research Council Fellow at NASA’s Ames Research Center until 1999, when she began her teaching career at Valparaiso University, Purdue University, and ultimately Lawrence University. She has written more than two dozen papers on the origins of Solar Systems and Gas Giant planets, as well as receiving several NASA and NSF grants. While at Lawrence, she has been awarded the First Year Studies Teaching Award, the Early Career Teaching Award, The Award for Teaching Excellence, and the Honors Faculty Convocation Award, which was later adapted into a TED talk (https://youtu.be/eYC93oQURPc). A native of Madison, she has worked in New York, Indiana, California, Washington, Munich, and Yorkshire.
AI in healthcare: miracle tool or terrifying robot overlord? Honestly, we’d all like to know.
See the presentation by local physician Dr. Eric Winkel, a no-BS conversation about what AI is actually doing in medicine right now. . .Startling breakthroughs to the very real questions surrounding the future of medical care. Explore how AI could reshape healthcare and what previous waves of technological disruption can teach us about what comes next.
Speaker Bio
Dr. Eric Winkel practices general hospital medicine at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center in Appleton and Neenah, and serves as Associate Program Director for ThedaCare’s new Internal Medicine Residency Program, welcoming its first residents in July 2026.
Past Presentations
