The Representation of Sport In Society
Sports transcend the time we spend training, competing, and cheering. Sports shape our everyday lives – what we watch, read, hear, feel, and believe – more than ever before. BIOS focuses on diverse representations of sport in society. From media studies and journalism, we consider how the framing and promotion of sports shape our perceptions and behaviors. We examine intersections between social media and sport, including the ways individual and collective identities in sport are cultivated on public platforms. And we also look to the field of art, learning how creative works convey deep meanings of sport, inspire new possibilities, and bridge cultural and disciplinary boundaries.
Recap: 2026 BIOS Leadership & Coaching Symposium
More than 200 coaches and leaders gathered at Camp Randall Stadium for our 5th Annual BIOS Leadership and Coaching Symposium, a day of culture-building, research, and inspiration.
BIOS Verified: Research-Informed Sport Practice
Badger Inquiry on Sport (BIOS) conducts research on athletics and serves as a catalyst for great research and sport in Wisconsin and beyond. Through BIOS Verified, BIOS partners with sports programs across the state to strengthen practice, connect research to the everyday work of coaches and leaders, and build deeper relationships across Wisconsin. What is [...]
Register: 2026 BIOS Leadership & Coaching Symposium
Save the date — the 5th Annual BIOS Leadership & Coaching Symposium is June 23, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium. This year’s theme: Building Culture and Developing Your People.
UW BIOS Featured in School of Education and On Wisconsin Magazines
BIOS was featured in the UW School of Education and On Wisconsin magazines — a look at our groundbreaking research on the science of leadership in sport.
Identity and Art in Sport
The Promega Fall Art Showcase, Family Ties, features an exhibition by British-born, Madison-based artist and BIOS Fellow, Dr. Faisal Abdu’Allah. The exhibition offers a deeply personal exploration of identity, legacy and the powerful bonds that define our sense of belonging. BIOS supported Dr. Abdu’Allah’s photography, printmaking, and equipment for the UW Athletics pieces. Faisal Abdu’Allah Faisal […]
Untold Stories from UW Athletics History
Whether it’s the die-hard Badger fanbase, legendary players and coaches, iconic stadiums, or the chants and cheers that ring throughout dozens of arenas during any sporting event, it’s hard to miss the culture surrounding athletics at UW-Madison. These elements are just some of the most prominent characteristics of sports at UW, but the long history […]
Female Athletes and the Hierarchies of Networked Sports Media
On Thursday, April 20, BIOS and the UW Department of Communication Arts. co-hosted Dr. Jennifer McClearen of the University of Texas Austin at Camp Randall Stadium. McClearen is a feminist media scholar whose research examines the cultural production of identity and difference in popular media with a specific interest in sports media industries. She probes […]
Finding Meaning at the Intersection of art and sport
Dr. Faisal Abdu’Allah joined BIOS to share his story on the intersection of athletics and art. Dr. Abdu’Allah was a high-level soccer player and discussed how his identities as an athlete and artist came together.
Making sports historical: The experience gained from two classes
BIOS welcomed UW Department of History Professor and former UW Athletic Board Chair, Dr. David McDonald, to Camp Randall Stadium on Thursday to hear how and what makes sports matter in history.