UW News
The latest news from the UW
April 21, 2025
Q&A: UW researchers examine mental impact of Girl Scouts’ interactions with nature
New research from the University of Washington, recently published in the Journal of Environmental Education, examined whether children’s interactions with nature that are embodied, rather than just visual, are associated with feeling connected to something beyond the self. Exploratory analyses found that participants who had embodied interactions reported a greater sense of presence in nature than those who reported only visual interactions.
Tag(s): Carly Gray • College of the Environment • Department of Pediatrics • Department of Psychology • Gregory Bratman • Joshua Lawler • Peter Kahn • Pooja Tandon • School of Environmental and Forest Sciences • School of MedicineApril 15, 2025
ArtSci Roundup: May 2025
From campus to wherever you call home, we welcome you to learn from and connect with the College of Arts & Sciences community through public events spanning the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. We hope to see you this May. Innovation Month April 30 | An Evening with Christine Sun Kim (Public Lecture)…
Tag(s): Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • Comparative History of Ideas Program • Department of American Indian Studies • Department of Asian Languages and Literature • Department of Chemistry • Department of Classics • Department of Dance • Department of English • Department of Linguistics • Department of Philosophy • Department of Physics • Department of Political Science • Department of Scandinavian Studies • DXARTS • Jackson School of International Studies • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • School of Art + Art History + Design • School of Drama • School of Music • Simpson Center for the Humanities • Stroum Center for Jewish Studies • UW Public LecturesApril 14, 2025
Tina Pamintuan selected as next president and CEO of KUOW
The University of Washington and KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio are pleased to announce the appointment of Tina Pamintuan as KUOW’s next President and CEO, effective Aug. 1, 2025. Pamintuan is a distinguished figure in public media, known for her bold leadership and extensive experience as a journalist and educator. Pamintuan currently serves as the CEO of St. Louis Public Radio (STLPR), a role she assumed in December 2021. She has been an NPR Board member since November 2020 and chairs its DEI committee.
April 8, 2025
UW professors highlight music in powwow culture course
University of Washington associate professors Jessica Bissett Perea and John-Carolos Perea are co-teaching a new iteration of “Powwow Cultures in Native North America” this quarter. While a powwow course existed in the past, this is the first time it’s an interdisciplinary offering between American Indian Studies and the School of Music.
Tag(s): Comparative History of Ideas Program • Department of American Indian Studies • Jessica Bissett Perea • John-Carlos Perea • School of MusicApril 7, 2025
UW Information School ties for 1st; other UW programs place highly in US News & World Report Best Graduate Schools ranking
The University of Washington’s graduate and professional degree programs were widely recognized as among the best in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Graduate Schools released late Monday.
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • College of Education • College of Engineering • College of the Environment • Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering • Department of English • Department of History • Department of Psychology • Department of Sociology • Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences • Evans School of Public Policy & Governance • Foster School of Business • Information School • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering • Rankings • School of Nursing • School of Pharmacy • School of Public Health • School of Social WorkStatement on UW students having visas revoked without notice
The University of Washington has learned that, as of this posting, five current UW students plus four recent graduates participating in post-graduation training have had their visas unilaterally cancelled by the federal government without prior notice to the University or the students. We are deeply concerned about the well-being of these students and graduates and are working to support them.
April 2, 2025
Children exposed to higher ozone levels early in life are more likely to develop asthma
Children exposed to higher levels of ozone in their first two years of life were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with asthma or wheezing at ages 4-6 — but researchers didn’t observe the increased risk of asthma at ages 8-9.
Tag(s): Adam Szpiro • Catherine Karr • Christine Loftus • Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences • Department of Pediatrics • Joel Kaufman • Logan Dearborn • Magali Blanco • Mary Crocker • School of Public Health • UW MedicineMarch 31, 2025
Discovery of Quina technology challenges view of ancient human development in East Asia
Ben Marwick, a University of Washington professor of archaeology, was part of a team of researchers that uncovered a complete Quina technological system in the Longtan site in southwest China. The discovery challenges the widely held perception that the Middle Paleolithic period was mostly static in East Asia.
Tag(s): archaeology • Ben Marwick • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of AnthropologyMarch 27, 2025
Five UW researchers named AAAS Fellows
Five University of Washington researchers have been named AAAS Fellows, according to a March 27 announcement by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. They are among 471 newly elected fellows from around the world, who are recognized for their “scientifically and socially distinguished achievements” in science and engineering.
Tag(s): Celeste A. Berg • Center for Pediatric Dentistry • College of Arts & Sciences • College of the Environment • Department of Chemistry • Department of Genome Sciences • Department of Microbiology • Donald Chi • Matthew Parsek • School of Dentistry • School of Environmental and Forest Sciences • Sharon Doty • UW Medicine • Xiaosong LiMarch 26, 2025
Video: A look at UW Libraries’ rare 1544 edition of Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’
Bound in calfskin and detailed in gold, a rare 1544 edition of Dante’s Divine Comedy was added to UW Libraries’ collection this year. The book is nearly 500 years old, and has likely lasted so long because its pages are made of durable linen fiber, not wood pulp. The handmade leather cover and sturdy binding also helped preserve the book. When librarian Julie Tanaka handles the book today, she knows that there is something here to pique anyone’s interest.
Tag(s): Julie Tanaka • UW LibrariesMarch 25, 2025
OS-CONNECT data set helps pedestrians find accessible routes all over Washington state
A new data set called OS-CONNECT maps sidewalks and other pedestrian paths statewide, from Forks on the Olympic Peninsula to Clarkston in the southeast. In House Bill 1125, the Washington State Legislature assigned the UW’s Taskar Center for Accessible Technology to build the data set, which was completed well ahead of its projected 2027 goal.
Tag(s): Anat Caspi • College of Engineering • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering • Taskar Center for Accessible TechnologyMarch 23, 2025
UW President honors life and impact of Rep. Frank Chopp
University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce issued this statement following the passing of Rep. Frank Chopp, former speaker of the Washington House and a 1975 UW graduate:
March 21, 2025
Determination of non-significance: Husky Soccer Field Renovation
Pursuant to the provisions of WAC 197-11-340 and WAC 478-324-140, the University of Washington hereby provides public notice of: DETERMINATION OF NON-SIGNIFICANCE Project Name: Husky Soccer Field Renovation Proponent/Lead Agency: UW–Seattle Campus Comment Period Closes: April 4, 2025 Description: The proposed University of Washington Husky Soccer Field project is intended to renovate the field turf…
March 20, 2025
Cloaked in color: UW-led research finds some female hummingbirds evolve male plumage to dodge aggression
Trickery by female white-necked jacobin hummingbirds results in reduced aggression from other hummingbirds and increased access to nectar resources.
Tag(s): Alejandro Rico-Guevara • Carl Bergstrom • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of BiologyMarch 19, 2025
Faculty/staff honors: Best paper, collaborative innovation, young investigator award
Recent recognition of the University of Washington includes the Best Paper Award at NeurIPS Pluralistic Alignment Workshop, Scialog: Early Science with the LSST Collaborative Innovation Award and 2024 AVS Thin Film Young Investigator Award. Professor wins ‘best paper’ at NeurIPS Pluralistic Alignment Workshop Max Kleiman-Weiner, assistant professor in the UW Foster School of Business, received…
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • College of Engineering • David Bergsman • Department of Astronomy • Department of Chemical Engineering • Foster School of Business • Max Kleiman-Weiner • Nora ShippMarch 14, 2025
Ranking: UW library and information management best in the country, second best in the world
The University of Washington is the best in the U.S. and No. 2 in the world for library and information management, according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject released Wednesday. Four other UW subject areas placed in the top 10.
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • College of the Environment • geology • geophysics • Information School • Rankings • School of NursingMarch 13, 2025
Statement: UW Regents vote not to convene ACSRI on divestment proposal
A statement from Blaine Tamaki, Chair of the UW Board of Regents, following the UW Board of Regents vote this week not to convene an Advisory Committee on Socially Responsible Investing (ACSRI) related to investments in companies doing business with or providing materials to Israel.
March 12, 2025
ArtSci Roundup: April 2025
From campus to wherever you call home, we welcome you to learn from and connect with the College of Arts & Sciences community through public events spanning the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. We hope to see you this April. Worldwide Conversations April 4 | University of Washington International Security Colloquium (UWISC): “The…
Tag(s): Center for Child and Family Well-Being • China Studies Program • Department of Asian Languages and Literature • Department of Astronomy • Department of Classics • Department of English • Department of French & Italian Studies • Department of History • Department of Linguistics • Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures • Department of Philosophy • Department of Political Science • Department of Psychology • East Asia Center • Henry Art Gallery • Jackson School of International Studies • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • School of Art + Art History + Design • School of Drama • School of Music • Simpson Center for the HumanitiesMarch 7, 2025
Video: Predicting when cherry trees will bloom on UW campus
[April 4] UPDATE: Our iconic cherry trees are in bloom. Plan your visit to campus using this map, which highlights the locations of different cherry trees on the University of Washington campus, including the Yoshino blossoms in the Quad. [March 31] UPDATE: The majority of the blossoms are in peak bloom, a developmental phase which…
Tag(s): Autumn Maust • cherry blossomsMarch 4, 2025
Video: The UW’s assistive-feeding robot gets tested outside the lab
Researchers deployed a robotic feeding arm in a pair of studies outside the lab. In the first, six users with motor impairments used the robot to feed themselves a meal in a UW cafeteria, an office or a conference room. In the second study, a community researcher and co-author on the research used the system at home for five days.
Tag(s): Amal Nanavati • College of Engineering • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & EngineeringFebruary 26, 2025
From the Hollywood Bowl to the classroom, UW professor blends roles as educator and professional musician
At the University of Washington, Ted Poor is the associate director of the School of Music and an associate professor of Jazz Studies. The rest of his calendar is filled with tours, performances and recording sessions.
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • School of Music • Ted PoorFebruary 25, 2025
The UW once again is a Fulbright top producer
The University of Washington has been recognized once again as one of American higher education’s top producers of Fulbright students and scholars. This recognition is given to the U.S. colleges and universities that had the highest number of applicants selected for the 2024-25 Fulbright U.S. Student and Fulbright U.S. Scholar Programs – the federal government’s flagship international exchange program.
Tag(s): Fulbright Program • Office of Global Affairs • UW Graduate SchoolQ&A: How AI is changing the film industry
UW doctoral student Brett Halperin interviewed picketing film workers about AI during the 2023 strikes.
Tag(s): Brett Halperin • College of Engineering • Department of Human Centered Design & EngineeringFebruary 20, 2025
ArtSci Roundup: March 2025
From campus to wherever you call home, we welcome you to learn from and connect with the College of Arts & Sciences community through public events spanning the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. We hope to see you this March. Closing Exhibits March 1 | Overexposures: Photographs from the Henry Collection (Henry Art…
Tag(s): China Studies Program • Department of American Indian Studies • Department of Asian Languages and Literature • Department of Comparative History of Ideas • Department of German Studies • Department of History • Department of Political Science • Department of Slavic Languages and Literature • Henry Art Gallery • Jackson School of International Studies • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • School of Drama • School of Music • Stroum Center for Jewish Studies • UW Public LecturesFebruary 18, 2025
Coffee grounds and Reishi mushroom spores can be 3D printed into a compostable alternative to plastics
UW researchers developed a new system for turning used coffee grounds into a paste, which they use to 3D print objects, such as packing materials and a vase. They inoculate the paste with Reishi mushroom spores, which turn the coffee grounds into a resilient, fully compostable alternative to plastics.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Danli Luo • Department of Human Centered Design & EngineeringThree UW scientists named Sloan Fellows
Three University of Washington faculty members have been awarded early-career fellowships from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The new Sloan Fellows, announced Feb. 18, are Amy L. Orsborn, the Clare Boothe Luce assistant professor of electrical & computer engineering and bioengineering, Dianne J. Xiao, an assistant professor of chemistry in the College of Arts & Sciences, and Amy X. Zhang, an assistant professor of computer science in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering.
Tag(s): Amy Orsborn • Amy X. Zhang • College of Arts & Sciences • College of Engineering • Department of Bioengineering • Department of Chemistry • Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering • Dianne Xiao • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering • UW MedicineFebruary 13, 2025
Q&A: How 12 UW researchers fell in love with their research
For Valentine’s Day, UW News asked 12 University of Washington researchers to share their love stories: What made them decide to pursue their career paths?
Tag(s): Adam Summers • Bara Safarova • College of Arts & Sciences • College of Education • College of Engineering • College of the Environment • Department of Biology • Department of Cinema & Media Studies • Department of Communication • Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering • Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering • Department of Materials Science & Engineering • Foster School of Business • Health Systems and Population Health • Jennifer Nemhauser • June Lukuyu • Katya Cherukumilli • Kendall Valentine • Kira Schabram • Lakeya Afolalu • Navid Zobeiry • School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences • School of Oceanography • School of Public Health • School of Urban Studies • Stephen Groening • Timeka Tounsel • UW Tacoma • Zoe PleasureFebruary 6, 2025
Whale poop contains iron that may have helped fertilize past oceans
A recent theory proposes that whales weren’t just predators in the ocean environment: Nutrients that whales excreted may have provided a key fertilizer to these marine ecosystems. Research led by University of Washington oceanographers finds that whale excrement contains significant amounts of iron, a vital element that is often scarce in ocean ecosystems, and nontoxic forms of copper, another essential nutrient that in some forms can harm life.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • oceanography • Randie Bundy • School of OceanographyFebruary 3, 2025
Robert J. Jones named 34th president of the University of Washington
The University of Washington Board of Regents on Monday announced that Robert J. Jones, who is currently concluding a nine-year tenure as Chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has been selected as the 34th President of the UW. The Board had previously authorized Chair Blaine Tamaki to enter into contract negotiations with Jones and an agreement has been reached. Jones’ five-year contract will begin on August 1.
Grasshopper size changes suggest how to predict winners and losers under climate change
Thousands of grasshopper specimens from mountains in Colorado show trends in how the insects changed in size over 65 years. With earlier emergence of spring greenery and earlier summer drought, grasshopper species that emerged early in the year grew larger, while grasshopper species that emerge later in the year grew smaller in size. The study, led by UW biologist Lauren Buckley, shows that changes in insect size can be predicted based on lifecycles and environmental conditions.
Tag(s): climate change • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Biology • Lauren BuckleyQ&A: UW researchers are designing cancer therapeutics that can kill cancer cells and restore healthy tissue
Two University of Washington researchers are developing treatments that aim to simultaneously treat cancer and improve patients’ quality of life. For World Cancer Day, UW News asked them to discuss their novel materials and how these materials can treat both the cancer and the patient.
Tag(s): Avik Som • College of Engineering • Department of Materials Science & Engineering • Department of Neurological Surgery • Department of Radiology • Miqin Zhang • UW MedicineQ&A: UW-led research identifies migration, housing quality as risk factors in earthquake deaths
Workers from small, rural communities often move into the outer edges of cities, which offer greater economic opportunities but often have low-quality housing that is likely to suffer greater damage during an earthquake. The risk grows even more when migrants come from low-income or tribal villages.
Tag(s): College of Built Environments • Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences • Department of Urban Design and Planning • Diana Ceballos • earthquakes • Karen Chen • School of Public HealthJanuary 31, 2025
Report: UW No. 7 in the world powering global innovation
The University of Washington is No. 7 in the world on a list of the top universities in the world powering global innovation, according to the Institute for Scientific Information at Clarivate.
Tag(s): RankingsJanuary 27, 2025
Q&A: How rate of CO2 rise can affect a global ocean current
How fast the level of atmospheric carbon dioxide — and with it, the temperature — goes up matters for the ability of humans and ecosystems to adjust. A slower increase gives humans time to move away from low-lying coasts and animals time to move to new habitats. It turns out the rate of that increase matters for non-living systems, too. Camille Hankel, a postdoctoral researcher at the Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean and Ecosystem Studies, talks about her research on the Atlantic Ocean circulation.
Tag(s): Camille Hankel • College of the Environment • Cooperative Institute for Climate • Ocean and Ecosystem Studies • oceanography • Q&AJanuary 23, 2025
ArtSci Roundup: February 2025
From campus to wherever you call home, we welcome you to learn from and connect with the College of Arts & Sciences community through public events spanning the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. We hope to see you this February. Featured Events: Topics in Social Change February 4 | A Shattered Country: Burma/Myanmar…
Tag(s): Center for Child and Family Well-Being • Center for Southeast Asia and Its Diasporas • Department of American Ethnic Studies • Department of Asian Languages and Literature • Department of Chemistry • Department of Classics • Department of Communication • Department of Dance • Department of German Studies • Department of History • Department of Linguistics • Department of Political Science • Department of Slavic Languages and Literature • DXARTS • East Asia Center • Jackson School of International Studies • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • School of Art + Art History + Design • School of Drama • School of Music • Simpson Center for the Humanities • South Asia Center • Stroum Center for Jewish Studies • UW Alumni Association • Women & Sexuality Studies Department of GenderJanuary 21, 2025
Study finds strong negative associations with teenagers in AI models
A UW team studied how AI systems portray teens in English and Nepali, and found that in English language systems around 30% of the responses referenced societal problems such as violence, drug use and mental illness. The Nepali system produced fewer negative associations in responses, closer to 10% of all answers.
Tag(s): Aayushi Dangol • Alexis Hiniker • College of Engineering • Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering • Information School • Robert WolfeJanuary 16, 2025
Panorama of our nearest galactic neighbor unveils hundreds of millions of stars
The Hubble Space Telescope has generated the most comprehensive survey yet of the Andromeda galaxy, the nearest galactic neighbor to the Milky Way. The new mosaic of about 2.5 billion pixels yields new clues to the galaxy’s history. UW astronomers presented the findings Jan. 16 at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society.
Tag(s): astronomy & astrophysics • Benjamin Williams • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Astronomy • Hubble Space Telescope • space scienceJanuary 15, 2025
Office of Civil Rights concludes UW investigation with resolution agreement, no finding of liability or wrongdoing
The U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights announced the conclusion of its investigation into complaints alleging that the University of Washington discriminated against students on the basis of shared ancestry by failing to respond to incidents of harassment consistent with the requirements of Title VI. The resolution agreement “does not constitute an admission of liability, non-compliance or wrongdoing by the University,” and the UW has agreed to five actions that will strengthen its commitment to timely and effective responses to complaints filed by students, faculty and staff.
January 8, 2025
A smart ring with a tiny camera lets users point and click to control home devices
UW researchers have developed IRIS, a smart ring that allows users to point and click to control smart devices. The prototype Bluetooth ring contains a small camera which sends an image of the selected device to the user’s phone. The user can control the device by clicking a small button or — for devices with gradient controls, such as a speaker’s volume — rotating the ring.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Maruchi Kim • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering • Shyam GollakotaJanuary 6, 2025
Q&A: How a UW teaching professor adds the context behind the science in her chemical engineering courses
Alex Prybutok, UW assistant teaching professor of chemical engineering, studies anti-racism, diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in engineering education.
Tag(s): Alex Prybutok • College of Engineering • Department of Chemical EngineeringNext Page »
