Science on Tap

We’re exploring the space where science and culture intersect, and we’re doing it over drinks.

Grab a brew (or root-brew!) and meet us online OR onsite. This Carpenter lecture series features some of the best minds in science. From the sensation of being hugged by an octopus to quantum mechanics, Science on Tap looks to answer questions you never knew you had!

UPCOMING LECTURES

"Seeding Resilience: Haudenosaunee Corn & History"
Dr. Rebecca M. Webster

With a focus on the Oneida people of Wisconsin, corn has played an integral role in both their daily and ceremonial lives throughout their often-turbulent history. Their relationship with corn has changed throughout time, but the spirit of corn has remained by their side, helping them heal along the way. Learn about current efforts to grow and celebrate corn on the Oneida Reservation.

About the Speaker

Dr. Rebecca Webster is an enrolled citizen of the Oneida Nation and Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of American Indian at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Her research focuses on Tribal governance and food sovereignty. Her philosophy is that every time an Indigenous person plants a seed, it is an act of resistance, an assertion of sovereignty, and a reclamation of identity. An Oneida faithkeeper named her family’s 10-acre homestead Ukwakhwa: Tsinu Niyukwayayʌthoslu (“Our foods: Where we plant things”). They also started a YouTube Channel called “Ukwakhwa” (“Our Foods”), which shares planting, growing, harvesting, seed-keeping, food preparation, food storage as well as traditional tool and craft knowledge. In 2021, Rebecca’s family formed a nonprofit organization, Ukwakhwa, Inc., to advance their goals of helping share knowledge. Rebecca is also a founding member of Ohe∙láku (“among the cornstalks”), a co-op of Oneida families that grow several acres of corn together, and a founding member of Yukwasaheʔtahshyus (“we are selecting beans”), an informal co-op of Oneida community members growing and sharing heirloom varieties of Haudenosaunee beans.

Date and Time

Thursday, April 10, 2025
6-7 p.m. Onsite Social Hour
7-8 p.m. Lecture

Cost and Tickets

Onsite Tickets
Virtual Tickets

Level	Onsite Cost	Virtual Cost
Non-Member	$10	$5
Member	$5	Free
Sustainer+ Member*	Free	Free

*Sustainer+ members must reserve their free onsite tickets by calling reservations at 414-278-2728.
Groups of 10+ must reserve their virtual tickets by calling reservations at 414-278-2728.
**Please note, this webinar will not be recorded and must be watched live. There will be no access to a recording afterward.**

"Amphibian and Reptile Conservation in Wisconsin"
Joshua M. Kapfer, PhD

Amphibians and reptiles are interesting components of Wisconsin’s natural communities. Despite their importance, they have received less attention when it comes to conservation initiatives, which poses difficulties for those interested in wildlife preservation. Review some of the factors that impact these species in the Upper Midwest and learn more about the challenges these animals present.

About the Speaker

Joshua M. Kapfer has lived most of his life in Wisconsin. He earned his BS and MS degrees from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse in Biology and Aquatic Science. His Master’s research focused on the survival of amphibian larvae in agricultural ponds. Josh went on to earn a PhD from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in Ecology and Evolution. His doctoral research investigated numerous aspects of gophersnake ecology and conservation in Sauk County. After earning his doctoral degree, Josh worked for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, NRC Environmental Consulting (now Stantec), and Elon University in North Carolina. Since 2011, Josh has been with the biology department at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater as a professor and wildlife biologist, where he teaches various lecture- and field-based ecology courses and conducts research with undergraduate students. He is broadly interested in vertebrate ecology and conservation, with more than 35 peer-reviewed publications. He is also a co-editor and author on the book Amphibians and Reptiles of Wisconsin. He currently lives in Walworth County with his family.