The science of determining funny; A chat with the new president of the UW System Board of Regents

Air Date:
Heard On The Morning Show
AUW-Green Bay graduate adjusts her cap
Graduate Jenna Vaaler adjusts her cap before receiving her diploma Saturday, May 15, 2021, during a drive-thru ceremony at UW-Green Bay. Angela Major/WPR

We talk with a Mount Horeb man who has twice won the New Yorker magazine cartoon caption contest and the UW-Madison professor who developed an algorithm that helps the magazine determine what’s funny. Then, we meet the president of the UW System Board of Regents.

Featured in this Show

  • The funny algorithm

    Last week, Paul Nesja of Mount Horeb won his second New Yorker magazine cartoon caption contest. We talk to him about his strategy. Then we speak to the UW-Madison computer science professor who created the algorithm that helps the magazine determine what’s funny.

  • UW System Board Of Regents president discusses priorities

    The ninth president of the UW System is scheduled to start this summer after a years-long search for a new leader. We discuss the selection of a Milwaukee law firm CEO and other news in higher education with the head of the UW System Board of Regents.

Episode Credits

  • Kate Archer Kent Host
  • Joel Patenaude Producer
  • Keegan Kyle Producer
  • A. Emily Ralph Technical Director
  • Paul Nesja Guest
  • Robert Nowak Guest
  • Edmund Manydeeds Guest

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