For University of Wisconsin-Madison Alumni and Friends Drawn In Professor Jordan Ellenberg loves math — and says that you should, too. 24 Summer 2014 The Harmony of Numbers 28 | Doctors for the Forgotten 32 | Bye Bye Birdies 36 | When DNA is TMI 46 YOUR YOUR PRESENT. LEGACY. OUR FUTURE. GIFTS CAN MULTI-TASK. By establishing a charitable gift THEIR annuity at the University of Wisconsin Foundation, you • invest in the future of the UW-Madison • receive income for life FUTURE. • generate tax benefits We can shape how we’re remembered. Remembering the University of Wisconsin-Madison in your will is an investment in the future. For our children. For our university. For the world. To discuss your legacy, contact Scott McKinney in the Offi ce of Gift Planning at the University of Wisconsin Foundation at [email protected] or 608-262-6241. supportuw.org/gift-planning UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION For more information, contact Scott McKinney in the Office of Gift Planning at [email protected] or 608-262-6241. On Wisconsin Full Pg October 2012.indd 1 10/10/2012 11:00:28 AM NOW OPEN to all University of Wisconsin-Madison alumni Overnight accommodations at the Fluno Center offer a welcome retreat after a long day of meetings, a convenient place to stay after a Badger game, or STAY IN THE simply a luxurious night in the heart of campus. Enjoy spectacular views of Madison while you HEART OF CAMPUS relax in style. The Fluno Center: Steps Away. A Notch Above. Visit fluno.com for more information. On University Ave. between Lake St. and Frances St. SUMMER 2014 3 RESTAURANTS, SPA, WEDDINGS, BOAT DOCK, RESIDENCES, AND AUTHENTIC HOSPITALITY, ALL IN A NEW HOTEL RIGHT ON THE SHORES OF LAKE MENDOTA OPENING AUGUST 2014 800.922.5512 • 1001 WISCONSIN PLACE • MADISON, WI 53703 • THEEDGEWATER.COM 4 ON WISCONSIN 14edg002_Edgewater_Adcampaign_r3_cs5.indd 1 4/14/14 1:51 PM RESTAURANTS, SPA, WEDDINGS, BOAT DOCK, RESIDENCES, AND AUTHENTIC HOSPITALITY, ALL IN A NEW HOTEL RIGHT ON THE SHORES OF LAKE MENDOTA OPENING AUGUST 2014 800.922.5512 • 1001 WISCONSIN PLACE • MADISON, WI 53703 • THEEDGEWATER.COM SUMMER 2014 5 14edg002_Edgewater_Adcampaign_r3_cs5.indd 1 4/14/14 1:51 PM KEEP ON As long as Badgers keep on doing what we do—so uniquely, so passionately, so astoundingly and so joyfully—we will continue to change the world. WWW.WISC.EDU 6 ON WISCONSIN Message furnished by the University of Wisconsin–Madison 12795 UW Print Ad_v3.indd 1 7/17/13 1:48 PM SUMMER 2014 contents VOLUME 115, NUMBER 2 Features 24 Thinking Inside the Box Introduction by Jenny Price ’96 In an excerpt from his new book, UW professor Jordan Ellenberg argues that math is part of our daily lives and encourages us to embrace its power. 28 Musical Numbers By Niki Denison Math and music are connected in some surprising ways, and David Kung ’94, MA’96, PhD’00 has made it his business to become an expert in all of them. 32 Empty Nests By David J. Tenenbaum MA’86 36 What can we learn from the demise of the passenger pigeon? Key Wisconsinites say the lesson is clear: don’t let it happen again. 36 Off the Prescribed Path By John Allen Wherever she’s gone in life, the medically underserved have always found Jenny Amani MD’09. 42 A Man with a Plan By Vikki Ortiz Healy ’97 When this landscape architect — and fellow Badgers in his Chicago firm — tackle a project, they do far more than put in bushes: they engage the community and create an experience. 32 46 Seeing Results By Kim Smuga-Otto ’97 As scientists unravel the mysteries of human DNA, genetic counselors stand at the ready to interpret what it all means. Departments 46 9 Inside Story 10 Posts 12 Scene 14 News & Notes 20 Cool Tool 21 Classroom 22 Sports Cover 50 Traditions Professor Jordan Ellenberg 53 Badger Connections with the four quadrants of his 66 Flashback “mathematical universe.” Photo by Jeff Miller. SUMMER 2014 7 INVESTING IN RESEARCH, MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR UW–MADISON, WISCONSIN & THE WORLD SINCE 1925. warf.org 8 ON WISCONSIN insidestory The UW might On Wisconsin well be the land of SUMMER 2014 acronym acrobatics. Publisher The campus has an unquench- Wisconsin Alumni Association able appetite for words made 650 North Lake Street, Madison, WI 53706 up from the initials of other Voice: (608) 262-2551 • Toll-free: (888) WIS-ALUM • Fax: (608) 265-8771 words, and if an organization Email: [email protected] can’t come up with a name that Website: onwisconsin.uwalumni.com makes a clever pun, it had better Co-Editors at least come up with something. Niki Denison, Wisconsin Alumni Association By the way, let me first dispel Cindy Foss, University Communications a common misunderstanding: not Senior Editor every term made up of the first John Allen, Wisconsin Alumni Association letters of words is an acronym. Senior Writer If you pronounce each letter — Jenny Price ’96, University Communications as in, say, UW — you’ve got an Art Director initialism. If you say it like a word, it’s an acronym. Most people don’t know this or even Earl J. Madden MFA’82, University Marketing care, but words are important to me. Production Editor When I was doing research for the article “Off the Prescribed Path” (see page 36), Eileen Fitzgerald ’79, University Marketing I had a conversation with Byron Crouse, who heads up the Wisconsin Academy for Class Notes/Bookshelf Editor Rural Medicine, or WARM, which launched in 2007. Paula Apfelbach ’83, Wisconsin Alumni Association When he brought the idea for the program to then-dean Philip Farrell, Crouse says, “his first [comment] was about the name. ‘I like academy,’ he said. ‘I like WARM. Editorial Intern: Preston Schmitt ’14 Let’s do it.’ I’m not sure if it was the idea or the acronym that appealed to him more.” Design, Layout, and Production The more research I did, the more acronyms I had to stumble through. WARM’s Barry Carlsen MFA’83; Toni Good ’76, MA’89; city counterpart is Training in Urban Medicine and Public Health, or TRIUMPH. Kent Hamele ’78, University Marketing The medical school has an outreach program that used to be called the Medical Campus Advisers Information Center, but is now just MEDiC. Paula Bonner MS’78, President and CEO, and Mary DeNiro MBA’11, Executive Clever acronyms like that must put a lot of pressure on their departmental Vice President and COO, Wisconsin siblings. When I spoke with Sarah Esmond of the Collaborative Center for Health Alumni Association • Vince Sweeney, Vice Equity (CCHE), I discovered that her organization’s name is pronounced SEE-chee, Chancellor for University Relations, and John Lucas, Interim Executive Director, which took me by surprise, though not as much as its parent organization, the University Communications • Jim Kennedy, Institute for Clinical and Translational Research. ICTR is pronounced ICK-ter. The Senior Managing Director, Marketing & Native American Center for Health Professions (NACHP) goes by NAY-chip. Communications, and Lynne Johnson, Senior Editor, UW Foundation The Population Health Institute (PHI) threw me a curveball. PHI is easily pronounceable (it’s even a Greek letter, which the organization could use if it wanted Advertising Representatives Madison Magazine: (608) 270-3600 to further abbreviate its abbreviation), but it’s an initialism nevertheless: pee aytch eye. However, it developed from the Center for Health Policy and Program Evaluation: Alumni Name, Address, Phone, CHPPE, which was pronounced chippie. and Email Changes • Death Notices Madison area: (608) 262-9648 I don’t know where this craze for acronyms will end, but I hope it doesn’t overtake Toll-free: (888) 947-2586 the medical school as a whole. Its official name is the School of Medicine and Public Email: [email protected] Health. I don’t relish the idea of seeing a doctor who graduated from a place called smuff. Quarterly production of On Wisconsin is supported by financial gifts from alumni John Allen and friends. To make a gift to UW-Madison, please visit supportuw.org. Printed on recycled paper. Please remember This magazine was printed by Arandell Corporation, a to recycle Wisconsin Green Tier participant. SUMMER 2014 9 this magazine. posts Praise for Autism Program balloons — and to think I ended In particular, it was great to hear ment materials that stated that I just wanted to let you know how up married to one of them. that the dual manual Steinway is in its policy prohibiting gays and much I appreciated “Coming of Carol Marquardt Laun ’56 such good hands. In 1977, I was lesbians violated Wisconsin law. Age” [Spring 2014 On Wisconsin]. Granby, Connecticut taking Robert C. Nesbit’s History I do not think any of us could As the mother of a son on the of Wisconsin course. I was able to have predicted that by the time autism spectrum, I found the Editor’s Note: Several readers meet many living composers, and [commencement] ceremonies information interesting. Parents of pointed out that Slichter Hall contacted Gunnar Johansen, who resumed in the stadium, gays children with autism — and also became coed in 1952, not 1960 graciously invited me to his home. could serve openly in the military. special needs — live in constant as the article reported. He took me into his studio where The university has always been worry about what will happen to I saw the Moór Steinway. I was a place where social movements our children when they get older. I was a deejay at WLHA and it blown away.