UW News
The latest news from the UW
May 3, 2021
Genetically engineered grass cleanses soil of toxic pollutants left by military explosives, new research shows
A team, which includes researchers from the University of Washington, demonstrated that over the course of three years, a genetically engineered switchgrass could break down an explosive chemical in plots of soil at a military range.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering • Stuart StrandApril 30, 2021
UW’s new Mobile Health & Outreach Van will serve community and student experience
Getting basic health care to medically underserved populations in Seattle, while providing real-world experience for students hoping to practice in a health care field, takes wheels. Now, through a student-led, interdisciplinary effort by health science departments at the University of Washington, those “wheels” — on the new UW Mobile Health & Outreach Van — are ready.
April 29, 2021
Faculty/staff honors: Golden Apple, Leading the Narrative awards
Recent honors to UW faculty include a Golden Apple Award for teaching innovation from Seattle television station KCTS and a Leading the Narrative award for community engagement from the Society of Behavioral Medicine.
Tag(s): Barbara Baquero • Department of Health Services • Patricia Campbell • School of Music • School of Public Health
6 UW-affiliated researchers elected to the National Academy of Sciences
Five faculty members and one affiliate professor at the University of Washington are among 120 new members and 30 international members elected to the National Academy of Sciences: Anna Karlin, professor of computer science and engineering; Rachel Klevit, professor of biochemistry; Randall LeVeque, professor emeritus of applied mathematics; Julie Theriot, professor of biology; Rachel Wong, professor of biological structure; and Julie Overbaugh, professor at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and a UW affiliate professor of microbiology.
Tag(s): Anna Karlin • awards • College of Arts & Sciences • College of Engineering • Department of Applied Mathematics • Department of Biochemistry • Department of Biological Structure • Department of Biology • Julie Theriot • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering • Rachel Klevit • Rachel Wong • Randy LeVeque • School of MedicineApril 28, 2021
Report: UW No. 4 in country for economic impact as a result of federal research investments
The University of Washington is the No. 4 higher education institution in the country in terms of total economic impact as a result of federal research expenditures. The UW alone contributed $306.8 million to the U.S. gross domestic product and helped to produce more than 3,908 jobs, according to The Science Coalition’s fourth Sparking Economic Growth report, released earlier this month.
UW Spokane Center to move into historic SIERR Building
The University of Washington’s Spokane Center will soon serve the community and its constituents from new offices in Spokane’s historic Spokane Inland Empire Railroad (SIERR) Building, located in the heart of Spokane’s growing University District. The UW Spokane Center will relocate May 1, 2021, to new offices at 850 E. Spokane Falls Blvd. from its office at 201 West Main, where it has been housed since 2015.
Tag(s): Spokane
UW launches GeoHazards Initiative; names Paros Chair in Seismology and GeoHazards
Leveraging the tectonic laboratory of the Cascadia subduction zone, the University of Washington today announced a new effort to best understand how to study and live with the threats of earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanos, landslides and other seismic hazards. Dubbed the GeoHazards Initiative, the interdisciplinary work aims to develop and promote the adoption of early detection systems both on land and at sea to help prevent the loss of human life and property.
Tag(s): Applied Physics Laboratory • College of the Environment • Department of Earth and Space Sciences • Harold Tobin • Pacific Northwest Seismic Network • School of Oceanography • William Wilcock
People of color hardest hit by air pollution from nearly all sources
A new study from researchers at multiple universities, including the UW, shows that exposure disparities among people of color and white people are driven by nearly all, rather than only a few, emission source types.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering • Julian MarshallApril 27, 2021
Thousands of baby sea stars born at UW lab are sign of hope for endangered species
Scientists at the University of Washington, in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, are raising sunflower sea stars in captivity, with the goal of learning more about this species and exploring eventual reintroduction to the wild, if determined to be advisable.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • Friday Harbor Laboratories • Jason HodinApril 26, 2021
ArtSci Roundup: Rosmersholm, The Jews of Ottoman Izmir: Dina Danon in Conversation with Devin E. Naar, and More
During this time of uncertainty and isolation, find solace in digital opportunities to connect, share, and engage. Each week, we will share upcoming events that bring the UW, and the greater community, together online. Many of these online opportunities are streamed through Zoom. All UW faculty, staff, and students have access to Zoom Pro via UW-IT. Online:…
Tag(s): ArtsUW • Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Asian Languages & Literature • Department of History • Department of Political Science • Henry Art Gallery • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • Meany Hall for the Performing Arts • School of Art + Art History + Design • School of Drama • Stroum Center for Jewish Studies
Four UW faculty named to American Academy of Arts & Sciences
Four University of Washington faculty members have been inducted into the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • College of Education • College of the Environment • David Battisti • Dee Boersma • Department of Asian Languages & Literature • Department of Atmospheric Sciences • Department of Biology • James Banks • Richard SalomonApril 22, 2021
UW biology professors Jeffrey Riffell, David Perkel awarded research grants from Human Frontier Science Program
UW biology professors Jeffrey Riffell and David Perkel have received grants from the Human Frontier Science Program.
Tag(s): David Perkel • Department of Biology • Jeffrey RiffellApril 21, 2021
ArtSci Roundup: Exhibitions at The Henry Art Gallery, From ‘Permit Patty’ to ‘Karen’: Black Rearticulations of Racial Humor, and More
During this time of uncertainty and isolation, find solace in digital opportunities to connect, share, and engage. Each week, we will share upcoming events that bring the UW, and the greater community, together online. Many of these online opportunities are streamed through Zoom. All UW faculty, staff, and students have access to Zoom Pro via UW-IT. The…
Tag(s): ArtsUW • Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • College of Arts & Sciences • Comparative History of Ideas Program • Department of Asian Languages & Literature • Department of Cinema & Media Studies • Department of Classics • Department of Communication • Department of English • Department of French & Italian Studies • Department of Gender Women and Sexuality Studies • Department of Germanics • Department of Near Eastern Languages & Civilization • Department of Political Science • Department of Scandinavian Studies • Department of Slavic Languages and Literature • Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies • Henry Art Gallery • Jackson School of International Studies • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • School of Art + Art History + Design
Q&A: It’s not just social media — misinformation can spread in scientific communication too
When people think of misinformation, they often focus on popular and social media. But in a paper published April 12 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, University of Washington faculty members Jevin West and Carl Bergstrom write that scientific communication — both scientific papers and news articles written about papers — also has the potential to spread misinformation.
Tag(s): Carl Bergstrom • Center for an Informed Public • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Biology • Information School • Jevin West
A growing problem of ‘deepfake geography’: How AI falsifies satellite images
Using satellite photos of three cities and drawing upon methods used to manipulate video and audio files, a team of researchers led by the University of Washington set out to identify new ways of detecting fake satellite photos and warn of the dangers of falsified geospatial data.
Tag(s): Bo Zhao • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of GeographyApril 20, 2021
Oral history project captures Washingtonians’ pandemic experiences
Manuel S. Martinez, a lifelong campesino, trabajador and community organizer, recalls the beginning of the pandemic. Interviewed by UW student Adriana Martinez. Zoom, masks, family and politics — these are some of the lasting memories shared by participants in a University of Washington student oral history project. Undergraduate seniors in the Public Health Global Health major at…
Tag(s): Anjulie Ganti • COVID-19 • COVID-19 studies • School of Public Health
How lessons from past emergencies could improve the pandemic response
The federal government, in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, could learn from how the nation responded to Hurricane Katrina, 9/11 and the H1N1 swine flu, a new University of Washington study found.
Tag(s): Ben Brunjes • COVID-19 • Evans School of Public Policy & Governance
Using engineering methods to track the imperceptible movements of stony corals
A new study led by UW researchers borrowed image-analysis methods from engineering to spot the minute movements of a stony coral.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics • Jinkyu YangApril 19, 2021
Arguing on the internet: UW researchers studying how to make online arguments productive
UW researchers worked with almost 260 people to understand online disagreements and to develop potential design interventions that could make these discussions more productive and centered around relationship-building.
Tag(s): Alexis Hiniker • Amanda Baughan • College of Engineering • Information School • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & EngineeringApril 16, 2021
Official notice: Rule-making hearing for Chapters 478-116 and 478-161 WACs
Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 via a zoom conference meeting. The details of the hearing are available on the University Policy and Rules Office website.
April 14, 2021
Faculty/staff honors: Guggenheim fellowship, Fulbright award, cybersecurity policy advocate
Recent honors and achievements for UW faculty and staff include a Guggenheim fellowship in film history, a Fulbright fellowship for bioethics research in South Africa and membership in a new state cybersecurity team formed by the National Governors Association.
Tag(s): Barbara Endicott-Popovsky • Center for Information Assurance and Cybersecurity • Department of Cinema & Media Studies • James Tweedie • Nancy Jecker • School of Medicine
Three UW juniors selected as Truman Scholars
Three University of Washington juniors have been selected for the prestigious Truman Scholarship, the first time since the program began in 1977 that three UW students were chosen in a single year. Two recipients, Andre Jimenez and Chanise Jackson attend UW Tacoma, and Naomi See attends the UW campus in Seattle.
Tag(s): Truman Scholar
ArtSci Roundup: Ghetto: The History of a Word, CJMD Spotlight: Public opinion in U.S. broadcast news, and More
During this time of uncertainty and isolation, find solace in digital opportunities to connect, share, and engage. Each week, we will share upcoming events that bring the UW, and the greater community, together online. Many of these online opportunities are streamed through Zoom. All UW faculty, staff, and students have access to Zoom Pro via UW-IT. Joseph…
Tag(s): ArtsUW • Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • Canadian Studies Center • China Studies Program • College of Arts & Sciences • Comparative History of Ideas Program • Department of Communication • Department of Slavic Languages and Literature • East Asia Center • Henry Art Gallery • Jackson School of International Studies • Jacob Lawrence Gallery • Latin American and Caribbean Studies Program • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • Meany Hall for the Performing Arts • Middle East Center • School of Art + Art History + Design • Simpson Center for the Humanities • Stroum Center for Jewish StudiesApril 13, 2021
Deep earthquakes within the Juan de Fuca plate produce few aftershocks
In the Cascadia subduction zone, medium- and large-sized “intraslab” earthquakes, in which the slip happens within the oceanic plate and below the continental plate, will likely produce only a few detectable aftershocks, according to a new study from the University of Washington and the U.S. Geological Survey.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • Department of Earth and Space Sciences • earthquakes & seismology • Paul Bodin
Vaccines debate: ‘Escape variants’ of the coronavirus are a serious future threat
With COVID-19 cases on the rise again in many parts of the country — including Washington state where three counties were pushed back to Phase 2 effective Friday — there’s a growing debate between continuing to give both doses of Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines close together, or giving them months apart in order to get…
Tag(s): COVID-19 • Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center • Larry Corey • School of Medicine • vaccinesApril 9, 2021
Divided America needs ‘new, more viable history’: A talk with Dan Chirot
A root cause of America’s sharp division, UW international studies professor Dan Chirot says, is that the visions of the left and right are based on “drastically different histories.”
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • Daniel Chirot • Department of Sociology • Jackson School of International StudiesApril 8, 2021
UW receives $30 million gift to renovate Haring Center for Inclusive Education, underscoring the importance of early childhood education
Since 1964, the University of Washington Haring Center for Inclusive Education has provided innovative special education and early learning, improving the lives of children and youth with neurodevelopmental disorders and other disabilities.
Tag(s): College of Education
Official notice: UW accreditation evaluation by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Next week the UW will undergo a comprehensive evaluation visit by its accrediting body, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. This review will involve an assessment of the UW’s initiatives and efforts related to student success, its institutional effectiveness and mission, as well as governance, resources and capacity.
April 7, 2021
Perinatal patients, nurses explain how hospital pandemic policies failed them
With a lethal, airborne virus spreading fast, hospitals had to change how they treated patients and policies for how caregivers provided that treatment. But for maternity patients and nurses some of those changes had negative outcomes, according to a new University of Washington study. “We found that visitor restrictions and separation policies were harming families…
Tag(s): COVID-19 • COVID-19 studies • Meghan Eagen-Torkko • Molly Altman • School of Nursing • UW Bothell
First results from Muon g-2 experiment strengthen evidence of new physics
The first results from the Muon g-2 experiment hosted at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory show fundamental particles called muons behaving in a way not predicted by the Standard Model of particle physics. These results confirm an earlier experiment of the same name performed at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Combined, the two results show strong evidence that our best theoretical model of the subatomic world is incomplete. One potential explanation would be the existence of undiscovered particles or forces.
Tag(s): Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics • College of Arts & Sciences • David Hertzog • Department of Physics • Peter KammelApril 6, 2021
Back to school in springtime: UW experts offer tips for adjusting pandemic-era routines
University of Washington experts in education and psychology offer tips for families on the return to in-person school after a year of remote learning.
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • College of Education • Department of Psychology • Janine Jones • Shannon DorseyApril 5, 2021
Retiring Alaska Airlines CEO, proud Husky Brad Tilden, honored with updated UW aircraft livery
The retirement of Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden after a 30-year career with the company – at least in one way – had the University of Washington written all over it. Horizon Air recently unveiled a special Huskies-themed livery on a Q400 (tail number #N435QX) in honor of Tilden, who earned his MBA at the UW and has maintained a strong partnership with the University for several years. Tilden retired March 31.
ArtSci Roundup: Borders and Blackness: Communicating Belonging and Grief, Drop-in Session: Meditation Inspired By Nature, and More
During this time of uncertainty and isolation, find solace in digital opportunities to connect, share, and engage. Each week, we will share upcoming events that bring the UW, and the greater community, together online. Many of these online opportunities are streamed through Zoom. All UW faculty, staff, and students have access to Zoom Pro via UW-IT. Curating…
Tag(s): ArtsUW • Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • Canadian Studies Center • Center for Child and Family Well-Being • China Studies Program • College of Arts & Sciences • Comparative History of Ideas Program • Department of Anthropology • Department of Asian Languages & Literature • Department of Communication • Department of Political Science • East Asia Center • Henry Art Gallery • Jackson School of International Studies • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • Meany Hall for the Performing Arts • School of Art + Art History + Design • Simpson Center for the Humanities • South Asia Center • Stroum Center for Jewish StudiesApril 1, 2021
John Schaufelberger to receive 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award from national Associated Schools of Construction
John Schaufelberger, UW professor of construction management and dean emeritus of the College of Built Environments, has received the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Associated Schools of Construction.
Tag(s): College of Built Environments • Construction Management Department • John Schaufelberger
CDC, UW study finds significant vaccine distrust within incarcerated populations, increasing risks
Fewer than half of inmates in jails and prisons surveyed in a study by the CDC and University of Washington said they would accept a COVID-19 vaccine, while the majority either said they wanted to wait before getting the vaccine or would refuse one. “This is a population already at risk for COVID-19, and outbreaks…
Tag(s): COVID-19 • Department of Health Services • Marc Stern • School of Public Health
New system that uses smartphone or computer cameras to measure pulse, respiration rate could help future personalized telehealth appointments
A UW-led team has developed a method that uses the camera on a person’s smartphone or computer to take their pulse and breathing rate from a real-time video of their face.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering • Shwetak PatelMarch 31, 2021
Thicker-leaved tropical plants may flourish under climate change, which could be good news for climate
As carbon dioxide continues to rise, multiple changes in the leaves of tropical plants may help these ecosystems perform better under climate change than previous studies had suggested.
Tag(s): Abigail Swann • biology • climate change • College of Arts & Sciences • College of the Environment • Department of Atmospheric Sciences • Department of BiologyMarch 29, 2021
University of Washington graduate and professional disciplines rank highly in US News’ ‘Best Graduate School’ lists
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 2022 Best Graduate School rankings released March 30.
Tag(s): Rankings
UW’s Joshua Lawler named fellow of Ecological Society of America
Joshua Lawler, a University of Washington professor in the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, has been named a 2021 fellow of the Ecological Society of America. Fellows are elected for life, and the honor recognizes scientists who advance or apply ecological knowledge in academics, government, nonprofits and the broader society.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • Joshua Lawler • School of Environmental and Forest Sciences
ArtSci Roundup: Music of Today: Indigo Mist, Accidental Death of an Anarchist, and More
During this time of uncertainty and isolation, find solace in digital opportunities to connect, share, and engage. Each week, we will share upcoming events that bring the UW, and the greater community, together online. Many of these online opportunities are streamed through Zoom. All UW faculty, staff, and students have access to Zoom Pro via UW-IT. Department…
Tag(s): ArtsUW • Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of History • Department of Political Science • DXARTS • Henry Art Gallery • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • Meany Hall for the Performing Arts • School of Art + Art History + Design • School of Drama • School of Music • Stroum Center for Jewish Studies« Previous Page Next Page »
