The Department of Biology, which officially launched in summer 2026, brings together the talents of the former botany and integrative biology departments. Joining forces across biological kingdoms opens doors for new collaborations that will deepen our understanding of life at a variety of scales, from cells to ecosystems and all the interconnected spaces in between.
With 11 academic programs to choose from, undergraduate and graduate students alike have several pathways to expand their knowledge of cellular and molecular biology, plants, animals, fungi, and the interconnected processes that drive all of life.
The department also houses the Wisconsin State Herbarium, the Botany Garden and Greenhouse, the UW Zoological Museum, and the newly formed Center for Botany. Faculty members in the department are engaged with various research centers, including the Center for Limnology and the Center for Botany.
Your gifts help us prepare the next generation of biologists to find solutions to real-world problems spanning from medicine and human health to ecosystem conservation and sustainability. Support from gifts also helps:
- fortify outreach programs.
- support scholarships and awards for undergraduate and graduate students.
- support new education initiatives to benefit undergraduate and graduate students.
- support field work and student research.
- acquire and maintain top-of-the-line research instruments and education tools.