UW Notebook
UW Notebook features stories of interest to the UW community — including projects and books by, and recognition of, UW faculty, students and staff. If you’d like to submit a story idea, email uwnews@uw.edu.
April 1, 2020
UW-created podcasts: ‘Crossing North’ by Scandinavian Studies — also College of Education, Information School’s Joe Janes, a discussion of soil health
![Logo for podcast "Crossng North," by UW Dept of Scandinavian Studies](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2020/04/01095806/CrossingNorth_logo-150x150.png)
UW Notebook visits with the producer of “Crossing North,” a podcast by the Scandinavian Studies Department, and notes other podcasts on campus and an appearance by David Montgomery on the podcast “Undark.”
March 30, 2020
Faculty/staff honors: Outstanding educator in landscape architecture, Royal Society of Edinburgh corresponding fellowship — and the Green Rat Clingfish takes a bow
![A Green Rat Clingfish, Barryichthys algicola, from St. Helens, Tasmania.](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2020/03/26121506/GreenRatClingfish_2views-150x150.jpg)
Recent honors to University of Washington faculty and staff have come from the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture, the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the World Register of Marine Species.
March 23, 2020
Anatomy of a frogfish: New book explores world of fishes with arms and legs
![Cover of book. "Frogfishes: Biodiversity, Zoogeography, and Behavioral Ecology" was published in March by Johns Hopkins University Press.](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2020/03/23111740/USE_frogfish_bookcover-150x150.jpg)
Any old fish can swim. But what fish can walk, scoot, clamber over rocks, change color and even fight to the death? That would be the frogfish. A talk with Ted Pietsch, UW professor of emeritus of aquatic and fishery sciences, about his latest book, “Frogfishes: Biodiversity, Zoogeography, and Behavioral Ecology”
March 16, 2020
Faculty/staff honors: Lithuanian state decoration; National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute award; Google research awards
![](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2018/05/04125451/RainbowW-150x150.jpg)
Recent honors to UW faculty and staff have come from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the Republic of Lithuania and Google.
March 9, 2020
Book notes: UW architectural historian Tyler Sprague explores the work of Kingdome designer Jack Christiansen
![Tyler Sprague is an assistant professor of architecture who studies and teaches structural design and architectural history. A former structural engineer himself, Sprague is the author of "Sculpture on a Grand Scale: Jack Christiansen's Thin Shell Modernism."](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2020/03/09090555/SculptureonGrandScale_cover_use-150x150.jpg)
A talk with UW architecture professor Tyler Sprague about his book “Sculpture on a Grand Scale: Jack Christiansen’s Thin Shell Modernism.” Plus books from Rick Bonus and Yong-Chool Ha.
March 2, 2020
A conversation with Ted Poor, UW faculty, jazz drummer, with new album out, ‘You Already Know’
![](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2020/03/02093223/TedPoor_albumcover-150x150.jpg)
Ted Poor, assistant professor of drums in the UW School of Music, has a new album. “You Already Know,” was released Feb. 28 on New Deal/Impulse. UW Notebook caught up with Poor for a short Q and A.
February 24, 2020
Faculty/staff honors: Finnish knighthood, NIH grant, new annual Sharona Gordon Award
![Andrew Nestingen (right), chair of the UW's Department of Scandinavian Studies, receives the Knight First Class of the Order of the Lion of Finland from Stefan Lindström, Finland's Los Angeles-based Consul General.](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2020/02/24085119/nestingen-finland-award-header-150x150.jpg)
Recent honors to UW faculty and staff include a Finnish knighthood, an NIH award to extend a research grant and a new annual award from the Society of General Physiologists.
February 18, 2020
Campus podcasts: UW Tacoma, architecture, science papers explained
![Logo for Paw'd Defiance, a podcast being produced by UW Tacoma](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2020/02/18085425/PawdDefiance_logo-cropped-USE-150x150.jpg)
It’s the year 2020, and where two or more are gathered, it seems, there is a podcast. Given the level of creativity among University of Washington faculty and staff, it’s no surprise that many high-quality podcasts are now being produced on campus. Here’s a look at three podcasts being created by UW departments or people,…
February 11, 2020
Design program at UW ranked best in Washington, among the top nationally
![building](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2019/03/11141254/denny-hall-150x150.jpg)
The ’s design program in the School of Art + Art History + Design earned top honors on the 2020 list of “Best Graphic Design Programs” by the online site Animation Career Review. UW was the top ranked school in Washington, among the top 10 on the West Coast and ranked 7th out of 40 public institutions.
February 10, 2020
UW’s Steve Kramer elected to National Academy of Engineering
![headshot](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2020/02/10110256/Steve-Kramer_cropped2-150x150.jpg)
Steve Kramer, a professor of UW civil and environmental engineering, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering. Kramer is among 87 members and 18 international members newly elected to the academy, one of the highest professional distinctions in engineering.
Faculty/staff honors: Awards in architecture education, biomaterials research; nursing, cloud computing fellowships; and drama leader named among most Seattle’s most influential
![statue of George Washington on UW campus](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2012/10/04204128/george2-tile-150x150.jpg)
Recent honors to UW faculty and staff members include awards for architectural education and biomaterials research, fellowships in nursing and cloud computing, a professor named among Seattle’s most influential people and a big news year for “a burgeoning band of embodied carbon busters.”
February 3, 2020
UW Books in brief: Poetry of India’s Bani-Thani, equitable parent-school collaboration, building military cultural competence — and a 2019 National Jewish Book Award
![](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2020/02/03112348/Sokloff-Hebrew-Book-cropped-150x150.jpg)
Notable new books by UW faculty members include studies of military cultural education programs and equitable collaboration between schools and families. Also, National Endowment for the Humanities support for a coming book on an 18th century India poet, an honor for a work about postwar Japan — and a National Jewish Book Award.
January 28, 2020
Campus colleagues: Special Collections librarian Allee Monheim finds gems for social media, has new exhibit on ‘lowbrow’ art
![](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2020/01/28111904/AlleeMonheim_photo-150x150.jpg)
UW Notebook visits with Allee Monheim, UW Libraries public service librarian, who curates the libraries distinctive social media accounts.
January 27, 2020
Faculty/staff honors: Honorary doctorate, early career award, Washington state LGTBQ Commission, writing program praise
![UW astronomy professor Emily Levesque has been given the Newton Lacy Pierce Prize by the American Astronomical Society](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2020/01/23110819/Levesque_color_headshot-150x150.jpg)
Recent honors to UW faculty and staff include an early career award in astronomy, an honorary doctorate from the Delft University of Technology, a seat on Washington state’s new LGBTQ Commission and national honor for an English Department writing program.
January 14, 2020
Academic, administrator, artist: Paintings by JW Harrington to be displayed at UW Tower
![JW Harrington is not only a scholar of urban studies and a longtime UW professor, in recent years he has also become an artist. He has an exhibit pf paintings at the UW Tower in January and February.](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2020/01/13104313/JW-paintings-at-UW-Tower-150x150.jpg)
James W. Harrington is not only a UW professor and former administrator — in recent years, he has also become a prolific painter. UW Notebook caught up with him to ask a few questions about his art and his coming exhibit at the UW Tower.
Faculty/staff honors: Consulting assignment in Africa, honorary doctorate in Bern, conservation leadership award
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Recent honors to UW faculty and staff include an honorary doctorate from the University of Bern, an award for biodiversity conservation and a consulting assignment for the World Health Organization.
January 6, 2020
Supporting diversity, inclusion in neuroscience: A conversation about the BRAINS Program with UW psychology professor Sheri Mizumori
![The 2019 cohort for the BRAINS program, or Broadening the Representations of Academic Investigators in NeuroScience. Program evaluator Cara Margherio is in the back row, two people to the left of the post. Co-director Claire Horner-Devine is at the far right. Laura Ciotto , program operations, is at the far left. Co-director Joyce Yen is at the far left, middle row. Director Sheri Mizumori is fifth from the right in the front row.](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2019/12/30093812/BRAINS-COHORT-2019-150x150.jpg)
A conversation with UW psychology professor Sheri Mizumori about the UW-based program Broadening the Representations of Academic Investigators in NeuroScience — or BRAINS for short — designed to accelerate career advancement for postdoctoral researchers and assistant professors from underrepresented populations.
Honors for three faculty in aeronautics and astronautics
![statue of George Washington on UW campus](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2012/10/04204128/george2-tile-150x150.jpg)
Three faculty members in the William E. Boeing Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics have received awards for their work.
December 30, 2019
Book notes: Staff member Neile Graham publishes fourth book of poetry, Scotland-inspired ‘The Walk She Takes’
![Neile Graham's fourth book of poetry, "The Walk She Takes," was published by MoonPath Press.](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2019/12/30084214/TheWalkSheTakes_cover-150x150.jpg)
Neile Graham is both a longtime administrator with the College of Built Environments and a published poet — and she has a new book of poetry out, called “The Walk She Takes.”
December 19, 2019
Mindful travel, Silicon Valley’s evolution, Schumann on viola, Seattle history — UW-authored books, music for the Husky on your list
![A list of several UW-authored books and cds that might make good holiday gifts.](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2019/12/19094729/end-of-the-year-gifts-2019-USE-150x150.jpg)
A teacher discusses respectful world travel, a historian explores Silicon Valley’s evolution, a professor and violist plays the music of Robert Schumann and a late English faculty member’s meditation on Seattle returns … Here’s a quick look at some gift-worthy books and music created by UW faculty in the last year — and a…
December 17, 2019
Beauty in Brutalism? Architecture professor Alex Anderson reviews the UW’s ‘bunkerlike’ behemoths
![Alex Anderson, a professor in the College of Built Environments, wrote an article on Brutalism for Harvard Design News, so UW Notebook asked him his views on Brutalist buildings at the UW.](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2019/12/16141243/Alex-Anderson-19503-Edit_SMALLER_AAchoice_USE-150x150.jpg)
A discussion of Brutalist architecture on the UW campus with professor Alex Anderson of the Department of Architecture.
December 16, 2019
Faculty/staff honors: Distinguished teaching honor, new editor for environmental health journal, overseeing education in Uganda, Allen School honors
![statue of George Washington on UW campus](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2012/10/04204128/george2-tile-150x150.jpg)
Recent honors to UW faculty and staff include the new editorship of a major journal, a post with the Republic of Uganda and honors from the American College of Physicians, the Association for Computing Machinery and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
December 9, 2019
Brian Johnson receives $4.9 million from U.S. Department of Energy to support solar energy systems
![Brian Johnson, assistant professor in the UW Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, has received a $4.9 million grant across three years from the U.S. Department of Energy.](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2019/12/09120339/brianbj-20191113-150x150.jpg)
Brian Johnson, assistant professor in the UW Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, has received a $4.9 million grant across three years from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Jackson School researcher explores nexus of politics, religion in new podcast, ‘ReligioPolitics’
![Randy Thompson, postdoctoral researcher with the Jackson School, is producing the new ReligioPolitics podcast](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2019/12/09105936/randy-thompson_cropped-150x150.png)
Randy Thompson, a postdoctoral researcher with the UW Jackson School of International Studies will explore the nexus of religion and politics in a new podcast, “ReligioPolitics.”
December 4, 2019
Joy Williamson-Lott honored for book on civil rights, higher education in South during Jim Crow era
![Joy Williamson-Lott, uw grad school dean and professor of education receives honor for her 2018 book Jim Crow Campus: Higher Education and the Struggle for a New Southern Social Order](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2019/12/04085649/joy_williams_1017A-150x150.jpg)
Joy Williamson-Lott, dean of the UW Graduate School and a professor of education, has been honored for her 2018 book “Jim Crow Campus: Higher Education and the Struggle for a New Southern Social Order.”
December 3, 2019
International studies professor Donald Hellmann to receive Japan government’s Order of the Rising Sun — highest honor for scholars
![Donald Hellmann, longtime professor in the Jackson School, is being awarded the Order of the Rising Sun by the government of Japan](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2019/12/03110116/Don_Hellmann_1-300x200-150x150.jpg)
Donald Hellmann, UW professor emeritus in the Jackson School of International studies and of political science, has been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun from the Government of Japan, in recognition of his contributions in promoting academic exchanges and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States. Hellmann, 86, teaches courses on Japanese government…
December 2, 2019
Grants awarded: Speeding the engineering life cycle with data science; developing literacy interventions for students with intellectual disabilities; preventing depression among young women
![statue of George Washington on UW campus](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2012/10/04204128/george2-tile-150x150.jpg)
UW faculty members Roxanne Hudson and Magdalena Balazinska have received grants for research to be conducted over the next few years.
Faculty/staff honors: Housing association nod, honorary doctorate, distinguished fellow, best conference paper
![](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2016/04/04154306/IMG_3973-150x150.jpg)
Recent honors to UW faculty and staff members include an honorary doctorate from the University of Bucharest, membership in an inaugural class of distinguished fellows in pharmacology, and a leadership position in a national student housing association.
November 26, 2019
Author, professor Charles Johnson featured on American Philosophy Association posters on diversity
![](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2019/11/26132711/CharlesJohnson_InclusionPoster-150x150.jpg)
UW English professor emeritus Charles Johnson is one of five people whose likeness is featured on posters promoting diversity and inclusion sent by the American Philosophical Association to every college undergraduate philosophy program in the United States and Canada. And he is in excellent company: The other four people featured, each in a separate poster,…
UW researchers Alex Luedtke, Tyler McCormick receive ‘new innovator’ grants through NIH High-risk, High-Rewards program
![](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2016/02/04160434/WinterCampus_17-M-150x150.jpg)
Two UW professors — Alex Luedtke and Tyler McCormick — are among 60 researchers the National Institutes of Health has named recipients of its 2019 Director’s New Innovator Awards.
November 25, 2019
UW astronomy professor Paula Szkody elected to American Astronomical Society leadership
![Paula Szkody has begun a term as president-elect of the AAS, and will serve as the society's president in 2020-2022.](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2019/11/25094122/Paula_Szkody_web-150x150.jpg)
Balancing the needs of open science with national security and journal sustainability, and respecting the beliefs of native populations near observatories are among current issues for the American Astronomical Society, said Paula Szkody, University of Washington professor of astronomy. She has begun a term as president-elect of the AAS, and will serve as the society’s president in 2020-2022.
Grants awarded: Studying ‘culturally sustaining pedagogies,’ dual-credit coursework; teaching global perspective in architecture
![](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2016/04/04154306/IMG_3973-150x150.jpg)
University of Washington faculty members have been awarded grants for research to be conducted over the next few years. Django Paris, an associate professor in the College of Education, has been awarded a $1 million grant from the Spencer Foundation. With the four-year grant, Paris will work with H. Samy Alim, a professor at the…
New ‘UW Notebook’ section will tell stories of UW faculty and staff
![](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/01/04174626/campus-TILE-150x150.jpg)
Welcome to UW Notebook, a new section of the UW News site dedicated to telling stories of good work done by faculty and staff members at the University of Washington.
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