Cole Miller
Coming from a small Wisconsin town with a long-time experimental passion, Cole Miller is now studying physics at UW–Madison where he pursues further science and research opportunities.I grew up in Shell Lake, Wisconsin, a population of around 1000 people on a good summer day. In winter, life settles into the quieter rhythm of rural northern Wisconsin.
I’m a tinkerer: I enjoy taking things apart, rebuilding them, figuring out how they work. Recently I’ve been experimenting with electromagnetism, solenoids, and circuitry. Some projects succeed. Others fail dramatically. It blew up once or twice, but failure is part of learning. Eventually you get better and can explain what’s happening.
The big thing that excites me about science is the question, “What if?” My dorm room reflects that question. Circuit boards, motors, electronic components cover my workspace. I’ve always liked answering “what if.” There’s always something new, no matter the project. The process of discovery is just as important as the final result.
I can pinpoint the exact moment my curiosity ignited. I was in third grade and given a battery and a wire. By wrapping the wire and connecting it, I assembled my first electromagnet. That was my moment.
That fascination continued in high school, when I began building a custom periodic table. Instead of a printed chart, I designed a three-dimensional version with small vials containing real chemical elements. That led me deeper into electronics. I built my first circuit board to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. It worked after a few tweaks.
“At the time it was fun, but looking back, the connections I made were what really helped me see UW–Madison as a place where I could belong.”
I eventually made my way to UW–Madison. The journey was memorable, but it wasn’t always comfortable. For a student from a small rural community, the change was dramatic. The average class size there was about my entire high school enrollment.
For many curious students like me, interest in science may be overshadowed by our limited access to research or science experiences. Before attending Morgridge Summer Science Camp, I had never visited Madison. However, I settled in at camp and let my curiosity continue to blossom despite my uncertainties.
During that week, we spent time in laboratories with professional equipment. I was introduced to stem cells, cardiomyocytes and other emerging areas of biomedical research. I even learned the basics of precise measurement techniques using pipettes. At the time it was fun, but looking back, the connections I made were what really helped me see UW–Madison as a place where I could belong.
When choosing a college, the camp experience played a major role. Without the interpersonal experiences, I might have attended a different university closer to home. The camp pushed me to get out of my comfort zone and go somewhere bigger than my hometown. Today, I’m a physics major at UW–Madison, with particular interests in robotics and automation.
Last summer, I returned to camp. Instead of attending as a student, I helped with research activities and demonstrations. I found it rewarding to see students with similar rural backgrounds encountering the same spark of interest in science.
Scientific curiosity often begins with something small: a battery, a wire, a classroom experiment. From there it grows through tinkering, experimentation and freedom to explore. For students like myself, a little encouragement from new experiences can push us to new frontiers.
Rural Roots, Research Futures
For 20 years, the Morgridge Summer Science Camp has opened the doors of a world-class research university to high school students from rural Wisconsin. Through interviews with students, teachers, and experts, we examine what makes the experience transformative for participants and for science itself.