The Badger Meat Science Club is back at UW-Madison! Jordan Hartley, a Masters student at MSABD and president of the Badger Meat Science Club, spearheaded the club’s reestablishment. Restarting the club had previously been discussed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it was difficult to get the club back off the ground. Jordan collaborated with Jessica Brown, a PhD student in Dr. Steven Ricke’s lab, to get the club running again this year. Jordan knew that this club would be the perfect opportunity to foster community and develop student interest in meat science. 

The Badger Meat Science Club welcomes both undergraduate and graduate students of all majors. The club aims to spread knowledge about meat science and introduce students to new opportunities in the field. Jordan emphasizes the importance of sharing her personal journey in discovering meat science, in order to connect with potential new members. This semester laid the groundwork for the club to continue growing in numbers. 

One of the Badger Meat Science Club’s goals is to help undergraduate students discover meat science and find a passion in the field. It also aims to teach students new possibilities within the meat industry. This past semester, the Badger Meat Science Club held many successful events, including socials, educational opportunities, and guest speakers. This semester’s guest speakers included Dr. Elton Aberle, Director of the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station and former Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, as well as Kelsey Sindelar and Brooke Moore from Jones Dairy Farm. Jordan hopes to continue expanding the club’s events and collaborate with other organizations on campus.

As part of the Badger Meat Science Club’s leadership team, Jordan sees high value in connecting with the club’s members. She finds it very rewarding to educate members about the meat industry and inspire them to become meat scientists. She also enjoys collaborating with the club’s other chairs in organizing events. In the future, Jordan sees the club continuing to grow and become further established at UW-Madison. She hopes to utilize fundraising to provide members with opportunities to attend conferences and further develop their passion for meat science. 

Be sure to check out future Badger Meat Science Club events during the Spring 2025 semester! If you are interested in learning more about the club, check out their Instagram (@badgermeatscience) and Facebook. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This article was posted in Program Features.