They have carpooling down to a science. Every Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. sharp, some seniors with an affinity for learning gather at the front desk of Meriter Retirement Community in downtown Madison. Their destination is Wednesday Nite @ The Lab, a free program on the UW campus.

Meriter resident Kert Bliss MS'53 drives a Pontiac Grand Prix that comfortably seats four. He heard about the program from another resident, Beatrice Wright, a pioneering University of Kansas psychology professor who moved to Madison in 1995 to be near family. Now she’s a member of the carpool, as is Ruth Tsotsis and several others.

Kert, who lived within walking distance of campus for years, knows his way to free parking in Lot 20 and to the Biotechnology Center, where the weekly sessions are held. It’s more difficult to pick a favorite topic: “I like them all,” he says.

Piloted in fall 2005 with four programs, Wednesday Nite @ The Lab opens the university’s doors to the public and showcases the work of UW researchers in the life, earth, and social sciences. The seventy-five-minute sessions typically offer a presentation and a hands-on learning experience. The brainchild of Tom Zinnen PhD’85, a biotechnology policy and outreach specialist with the UW-Madison Biotechnology Center and the UW-Extension, Wednesday Nite @ The Lab has a growing audience. Tom’s own presentation on DNA in July 2006 attracted a crowd of more than one hundred. Other big draws have included human embryonic stem cells, Wisconsin geological landscapes, and biofeedback measures.

Ruth Tsotsis enjoys the variety and quality of the presenters. She attended Tom’s program and was amazed by his ability “to keep all ages, from elementary school children to senior citizens, engaged and interested.”

To learn more about WAA's enrichment programs, visit uwalumni.com/learning.