Banner image announcing the Story of Water event on Saturday October 25, 2025 at the Wisconsin Science Festival

On Saturday, Oct. 25, young readers and families can get up close and personal with Wisconsin’s iconic big fish, the lake sturgeon, at the 15th annual Wisconsin Science Festival.

From 10 a.m. to noon, Wisconsin Sea Grant and other University of Wisconsin–Madison staff will be leading hands-on activities for kids at the Story of Water mini-expo on the UW–Madison campus. Education coordinator Anne Moser will be displaying a variety of sturgeon items — including a five-foot stuffed foam fish — and fisheries specialist Titus Seilheimer will dissect a juvenile sturgeon. Kids and families can also explore booths about microplastics, science video games, Great Lakes shipwrecks, a wave tank, and more.

At noon, Moser will moderate a discussion of the newly released children’s book, “Saving our Sturgeon: Protecting Wisconsin’s Ancient Fish,” by Becky Wojahn. Moser served as a consultant on the book and has been teaching kids about sturgeon and other Great Lakes fish for many years at libraries across the state.

The book talk, which is presented in partnership with the Wisconsin Book Festival, will also feature local author Joe E. Meisel. His book, “The Marlin’s Fiery Eye and Other Tales from the Extraordinary World of Marine Fishes,” takes readers to the ocean to explore the wonders of saltwater fishes. The discussion will dive into both marine and freshwater environments and highlight the importance of protecting and celebrating fish.

“I’m looking forward to talking with both authors about writing nonfiction works and the importance of understanding and appreciating our natural world,” said Moser.

The Wisconsin Science Festival runs from October 16-26 and is a statewide celebration of science, technology, engineering, art, and math with activities for people of all ages, backgrounds, and interests throughout the state.

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The University of Wisconsin Aquatic Sciences Center administers Wisconsin Sea Grant, the Wisconsin Water Resources Institute, and Water@UW. The center supports multidisciplinary research, education, and outreach for the protection and sustainable use of Wisconsin’s water resources. Wisconsin Sea Grant is one of 34 Sea Grant programs supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in coastal and Great Lakes states that encourage the wise stewardship of marine resources through research, education, outreach, and technology transfer.

The post ‘Story of Water’ spotlights sturgeon at Wisconsin Science Festival first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

Original Article

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/story-of-water-spotlights-sturgeon-at-wisconsin-science-festival/

Jenna Mertz

The River Talks, a series of informal science presentations, returns at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, for the season with “Wild Stories of Wildlife on the St. Louis River,” an in-person and Zoom presentation by Martha Minchak, former assistant area wildlife manager for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Her talk will be held at the Lake Superior Estuarium (3 Marina Dr., Superior, Wis.).

Minchak will regale with tales of her work for 22 years as “the face of Minnesota DNR Wildlife in Duluth,” which included the St. Louis River Estuary. She will discuss changes in the Estuary over her career and her unique experiences with wildlife and people. Refreshments will be provided.

Zoom link:
https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/92250886702?pwd=clQ2M051Y2FmTjRWTm1LVjNjdmVOdz09
Meeting ID: 922 5088 6702
Passcode: 754792

This River Talk is being held as part of Wisconsin Science Festival Week. Held virtually and in-person throughout the state on October 10-16, the festival welcomes people of all ages for hands-on science, performances, demonstrations and conversations with leading researchers and creative thinkers. Unleash your curiosity!

Other River Talks will be held Nov. 9, 2022, and Jan. 11, Feb. 8, March 1, April 12 and May 10, 2023. The March talk will be held in conjunction with the St. Louis River Summit and the date may change. For more information, visit the River Talks page: go.wisc.edu/4uz720.

The River Talks are sponsored by the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Wisconsin Sea Grant Program.

The post River Talks resume with “Wild Stories” first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

Original Article

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/river-talks-resume-with-wild-stories/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=river-talks-resume-with-wild-stories

Marie Zhuikov