One day when you’re rambling on outcrops on Mt. Washington, you may find some clues to Wisconsin’s rich Paleolithic history. Mt. Washington is a great place to find fossils of brachiopod and trilobites, animals that lived millions of years ago. Both trilobites and brachiopods lived in the ancient seas that used to cover Wisconsin. Larger... Continue Reading →
Last fall, a rain garden was planted along the banks of Lake Menomin in Menomonie. The people who planted it hope that it will show their neighbors a way to help prevent blooms of cyanobacteria (also called blue-green algae) in Lake Menomin. Cyanobacteria blooms are a big problem. They make people sick and turn lakes... Continue Reading →
During the hottest time of the year, you may notice that some of your favorite lakes turn blueish green and murky. You might not be allowed to swim in them. This happens because of cyanobacteria, which is sometimes also called blue-green algae (“cyanobacteria” means “blue bacteria”). Cyanobacteria is different from the green algae that you... Continue Reading →
Spring means fresh cheese curds at the farmers market. There’s nothing like picking up a fresh, warm bag and getting that first squeaky bite. That squeak comes from a special way that long protein molecules in fresh cheese curds rub against your teeth. To make cheese curds, milk is warmed and a culture with bacteria... Continue Reading →
Neat-o Mosquito is the first of my regular columns in Chippewa Valley Family Magazine. I've always enjoyed science and have long wanted to be a science writer. I've also enjoyed writing for my children, so a science column for kids seemed like a perfect fit. I've long wondered how insects survive the winter, so this... Continue Reading →
I manage and write for the UW iDocs instructional design blog. We use this blog as professional development for our instructors, to share the policies and procedures of our unit, and to share quick tips about the LMS.
Al Ross from Wisconsin Public Radio interviewed me about instructional design and the writing group that I founded, Women Who Write. My dog, Harper, also makes an appearance. It was an exciting experience; although I've interviewed hundreds of people over the years, I myself have never been on the other side of the questions. I... Continue Reading →
I finally published an essay that I had been working on for quite some time about my twin sister Bethie, called Sisters on Separate Trails. This story is centered around a day we spent in Hayward, Wisconsin, when she skied the Prince Haakon cross country ski race. Writing this piece was a lesson in how... Continue Reading →
I had an amazing time recording a story for Wisconsin Public Radio's Wisconsin Life program. This story was originally published in Volume One. It was a wonderful experience. Click on the link to hear the recording of that essay, The Magic of a Small City.
I wrote a short article for Her Impressions magazine debunking myths about vitamin and mineral supplements. I learned a lot researching this article! I hope you enjoy it.
Katie Venit 