UW News
The latest news from the UW
March 18, 2020
How people investigate — or don’t — fake news on Twitter and Facebook
UW researchers watched 25 participants scroll through their Facebook or Twitter feeds while, unbeknownst to them, a Google Chrome extension randomly added debunked content on top of some of the real posts.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Franziska Roesner • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering
‘Fatal attraction’: Small carnivores drawn to kill sites, then ambushed by larger kin
University of Washington researchers have discovered that large predators play a key yet unexpected role in keeping smaller predators and deer in check. Their “fatal attraction” theory finds that smaller predators are drawn to the kill sites of large predators by the promise of leftover scraps, but the scavengers may be killed themselves if their larger kin return for seconds.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • Laura Prugh • School of Environmental and Forest SciencesMarch 17, 2020
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 2021 Best Graduate School rankings released March 17.
Tag(s): Rankings
‘It’s a good test’: UW faculty, students adjust to an online end to the quarter, prepare for spring
This wasn’t how LaShawnDa Pittman expected to give her final exam review: At her kitchen table, laptop open, coffee cup at the ready, her 12-year-old Chihuahua named Espresso by her side. But as the first week of the University of Washington’s shift to online classes drew to a close, Pittman, an assistant professor of American…
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • College of Built Environments • COVID-19 • Department of American Ethnic Studies • Department of Architecture • LaShawnDa Pittman • Rick Mohler
Survey: What blocks your bus?
UW researchers are inviting the public to share their experiences on their regular commutes in a survey.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering • Don MacKenzie • Sustainable Transportation LabMarch 16, 2020
Faculty/staff honors: Lithuanian state decoration; National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute award; Google research awards
Recent honors to UW faculty and staff have come from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the Republic of Lithuania and Google.
Tag(s): Baltic Studies Program • Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology • Department of Medicine • Department of Scandinavian Studies • Diabetes Research Center • Guntis Šmidchens • Karin Bornfeldt • School of MedicineMarch 15, 2020
Why COVID-19 strategies built around the concept of ‘herd immunity’ are problematic
The idea of building herd immunity – increasing the number of infected to such a degree that naturally occurring immunity would outstrip the coronavirus, while isolating the elderly and others at greatest risk of the disease – has been tossed around in the United States, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. This week, however, U.K. officials…
Tag(s): COVID-19 • Judith Wasserheit • MetaCenter for Pandemic Preparedness and Global Health Security • School of Public HealthMarch 12, 2020
UW graduate student tests positive for COVID-19
The UW Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (ACCD) announced Thursday that a UW Seattle campus graduate student has tested positive for COVID-19. The student is recovering at home, out of state, and we wish them well.
Tag(s): COVID-19
Staying connected — at a distance
It’s important to maintain human connection, even during a time of social distancing, UW psychology researchers say.
Tag(s): Adam Kuczynski • College of Arts & Sciences • COVID-19 • COVID-19 studies • Department of Psychology • Jonathan Kanter • Nicole McNichols
Ocean acidification impacts oysters’ memory of environmental stress
Researchers from the University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences have discovered that ocean acidification impacts the ability of some oysters to pass down “memories” of environmental trauma to their offspring.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • School of Aquatic and Fishery SciencesMarch 11, 2020
Soundbites: UW experts respond to Gov. Inslee’s limits on crowd sizes
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee issued on Wednesday, March 11, an emergency proclamation that limits large events to minimize risks to public health during the COVID-19 outbreak. Here are how two UW experts responded to questions about the order.
Tag(s): COVID-19 • Judith Wasserheit • MetaCenter for Pandemic Preparedness and Global Health Security • Nicole Errett • School of Public Health
Video: An architecture class goes online
Rick Mohler, associate professor of architecture, meets with his Research Design Studio students online. Normally a hands-on class with poster-size drawings and tabletop scale models, Mohler’s design studio has shifted to the small screen.
Tag(s): COVID-19 • Rick MohlerMarch 10, 2020
‘Age of A.I.’ documentary on YouTube features UW experts
A documentary series produced and released this winter by YouTube features UW computer scientist Pedro Domingos and members of the UW-based Pacific Northwest Seismic Network.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • College of the Environment • Department of Earth and Space Sciences • Pacific Northwest Seismic Network • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering • Pedro Domingos
UW faculty join radio debate on climate change solutions
KUOW’s That’s Debatable on Wednesday will feature two University of Washington faculty members: Dan Schwartz, professor of chemical engineering and director of the Clean Energy Institute, and Kate Simonen, upcoming chair of the Department of Architecture and director of the Carbon Leadership Forum.
Tag(s): Carbon Leadership Forum • Clean Energy Institute • College of Built Environments • College of Engineering • Dan Schwartz • Department of Architecture • Department of Chemical Engineering • Kate SimonenMarch 9, 2020
Soundbites & B-roll: Instructor Rick Mohler’s architecture class goes online
Rick Mohler, associate professor of architecture in the College of Built Environments, is now teaching his classes using Zoom. His architecture classes usually meet in person, but were conducted entirely online Monday.
Tag(s): College of Built Environments • COVID-19 • Rick Mohler
Soundbites & B-roll: Marissa Baker on workplace disease exposure
A University of Washington researcher calculates that 14.4 million workers face exposure to infection once a week and 26.7 million at least once a month in the workplace, pointing to an important population needing protection.
Tag(s): COVID-19 • Marissa Baker
Underrepresented college students benefit more from ‘active learning’ techniques in STEM courses
Students from different backgrounds in the United States enter college with equal interest in STEM fields — science, technology, engineering and mathematics. But that equal interest does not result in equal outcomes. Six years after starting an undergraduate STEM degree, roughly twice as many white students finished it compared to African American students. A new…
Tag(s): Biology Education Research Group • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Biology • education • Elli Theobald • Scott Freeman
Book notes: UW architectural historian Tyler Sprague explores the work of Kingdome designer Jack Christiansen
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.
Tag(s): Clark Sorensen • College of Arts & Sciences • College of Built Environments • Department of American Ethnic Studies • Department of Architecture • Jackson School of International Studies • Rick Bonus • Tyler Sprague • University of Washington Press • Yong-Chool Ha
Climate change at Mount Rainier expected to increase ‘mismatch’ between visitors and iconic wildflowers
The wildflowers of Mount Rainier’s subalpine meadows, which bloom once the winter snowpack melts, are a major draw for the more than 1 million visitors to this national park in Washington state each spring and summer. But by the end of this century, scientists expect that snow will melt months earlier due to climate change. New research led by the University of Washington shows that, under those conditions, many visitors would miss the flowers altogether.
Tag(s): climate change • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Biology • Janneke Hille Ris LambersMarch 6, 2020
Video: President Cauce on the decision to end in-person classes for the quarter
University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce sat down with Vice President of Student Life Denzil Suite for a candid conversation about how COVID-19 is affecting campus operations, why classes will no longer meet in person for the rest of the quarter and whether a student-led petition had an impact on the decision.
Tag(s): Ana Mari Cauce • COVID-19 • Denzil Suite
Press conference: University of Washington’s response to COVID-19
The University of Washington held a press conference at 12:30 p.m. Friday, March 6, 2020 to address the decision to move classes online in an effort to limit the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, and address the UW staff member who received a presumptive positive test result.
Tag(s): Ana Mari Cauce • COVID-19 • Denzil Suite
UW staff member has presumptive positive test for COVID-19
The UW Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (ACCD) announced Friday that a University of Washington staff member who works in the Roosevelt Commons East building has received a presumptive positive test for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The employee is in self-isolation at home. Out of an abundance of caution, the building, which is located west of the UW’s Seattle campus in the 4300 block of 11th Ave. NE, has been closed for appropriate cleaning until further notice.
Tag(s): COVID-19
UW classes will no longer meet in person through end of quarter
The University of Washington announced today that starting Monday, March 9, classes will no longer meet in person. For the remainder of the quarter, instructors have been asked to conduct classes and/or exams remotely, as possible, until the quarter concludes on March 20. Final exams will not be conducted in person, but may be conducted online when feasible, and at the instructor’s discretion.
Tag(s): COVID-19
Millions of US workers at risk of infections on the job, UW researchers calculate, emphasizing need to protect against COVID-19
A University of Washington researcher calculates that 14.4 million workers face exposure to infection once a week and 26.7 million at least once a month in the workplace, pointing to an important population needing protection as the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, continues to break out across the U.S. Marissa Baker, an assistant professor in the…
Tag(s): COVID-19 • COVID-19 studies • Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences • Industrial Hygiene and Exposure Science • Marissa Baker • Noah Seixas • population health • preprint • School of Public Health • Trevor Peckham
Dimming Betelgeuse likely isn’t cold, just dusty, new study shows
Late last year, news broke that the star Betelgeuse was fading significantly, ultimately dropping to around 40% of its usual brightness. The activity fueled popular speculation that the red supergiant would soon explode as a massive supernova. But astronomers have more benign theories to explain the star’s dimming behavior. And scientists at the University of…
Tag(s): astronomy & astrophysics • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Astronomy • Emily LevesqueMarch 5, 2020
The food you need: UW expert on preparing for an extended home stay
Nutritional science expert Anne-Marie Gloster, a lecturer in the UW School of Public Health’s Nutritional Sciences Program and expert in emergency food planning, has put together this list of things to think about and foods to have on hand if you should be called on to stay at home for an extended period. “Shopping intentionally…
Tag(s): Anne-Marie Gloster • COVID-19 • Nutritional Sciences Program • School of Public Health
Visitors should avoid coming to UW campus to see cherry blossoms amid COVID-19 outbreak
The University is asking people to avoid coming to campus this year to comply with Gov. Inslee’s March 11 proclamation that prohibits large gatherings of more than 250 people as our region combats the spread of COVID-19.
Tag(s): cherry blossoms • College of the Environment • COVID-19 • Michael Bradshaw • Quad • Sara Shores • School of Environmental and Forest Sciences
President Cauce, Dr. Geoff Gottlieb discuss UW COVID-19 response at ASUW senate meeting
University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce, joined by Dr. Geoff Gottlieb, head of the UW’s Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases, met with the members of the ASUW Student Senate on March 3 to share the most current information and take questions about the University’s response and preparations for the novel coronavirus.
Tag(s): Ana Mari Cauce • COVID-19March 4, 2020
ArtsUW Roundup: Guest Artist trio Meridian performs and hosts a master class, Scandinavian 30 lecture asks us to contemplate Tom of Finland, and more
Updated March 6, 2020: Many of the events in this roundup have been postponed or cancelled. Information for a specific event will be at the link provided for that event. This week in the arts, School of Art faculty Whitney Lynn gives a lecture at the Art Building, UW Symphony and combined choirs perform at…
Tag(s): ArtsUW • Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of American Indian Studies • Department of Scandinavian Studies • Henry Art Gallery • Jacob Lawrence Gallery • Meany Hall for the Performing Arts • Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity • School of Art + Art History + Design • School of Music • wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ - Intellectual HouseMarch 3, 2020
Soundbites & B-roll: UW rural nursing program
On March 3, Premera Blue Cross announced a $4.7 million grant to the University of Washington to establish the Rural Nursing Health Initiative to place current students in rural practices in Washington state.
Tag(s): School of Nursing
Premera Blue Cross teams with the UW to establish rural nursing program
Premera Blue Cross, a leading health plan in the Pacific Northwest, today announced a $4.7 million grant to the University of Washington to establish the Rural Nursing Health Initiative to place current students in rural practices in Washington state.
Tag(s): Azita Emami • School of NursingMarch 2, 2020
New honors for scientists studying ‘ecosystem sentinels’
P. Dee Boersma, a UW professor of biology and director of the Center for Ecosystem Sentinels, is a finalist for the 2020 Indianapolis Prize for conservation, to be awarded later this year by the Indianapolis Zoological Society. Sue Moore, a scientist with the center and a UW affiliate professor of biology and of aquatic and fishery sciences, has won the 2020 IASC Medal, also known as the Arctic Medal, from the International Arctic Science Committee.
Tag(s): awards • Center for Ecosystem Sentinels • College of Arts & Sciences • College of the Environment • Dee Boersma • Department of Biology • School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences • Sue Moore
A conversation with Ted Poor, UW faculty, jazz drummer, with new album out, ‘You Already Know’
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.
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • Cuong Vu • School of Music • Ted Poor
Navigating the potential pitfalls of tracking college athletes
UW researchers interviewed 22 athletes and staff members from three college athletics programs to see how collecting data from college athletes might encroach on their autonomy.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering • Sean Munson
Not a ‘math person’? You may be better at learning to code than you think
New research from the University of Washington finds that a natural aptitude for learning languages is a stronger predictor of learning to program than basic math knowledge.
Tag(s): Chantel Prat • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Psychology • I-LABSFebruary 28, 2020
ArtsUW Roundup: Ted Poor debut album release show, The Women of Lockerbie opens, and more
This week in the arts, Art History professor Foong Ping discusses the reconceptualizing of the Seattle Asian Art Museum, four Native American Huskies share what “home” means to them, the exhibition As, Not For: Dethroning Our Absolutes opens at the Jacob Lawrence Gallery, and more! To learn about more events taking place, visit ArtsUW. Concert – Hélène Grimaud…
Tag(s): ArtsUW • College of Arts & Sciences • Henry Art Gallery • Jacob Lawrence 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 • UW Alumni Association • UW Drama • wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ - Intellectual HouseFebruary 27, 2020
Video: Warming Arctic means less ice, bigger waves
Throughout the month of November 2019, a team of University of Washington researchers chased storms in the Arctic Ocean. The project, Coastal Ocean Dynamics in the Arctic, or CODA, is looking at how water currents shift and waves hit the coast with more open water, to provide better forecasts and predictions for the region’s future.
Tag(s): Applied Physics Laboratory • College of Engineering • Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering • Jim Thomson • oceanography • polar science
Thinning, prescribed burns protected forests during the massive Carlton Complex wildfire
In the first major study following the devastating Carlton Complex fire in north central Washington, researchers from the University of Washington and U.S. Forest Service found that previous tree thinning and prescribed burns helped forests survive the fire.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • Maureen Kennedy • School of Environmental and Forest Sciences • Susan Prichard • UW Tacoma • wildfiresFebruary 26, 2020
The UW ranks No. 10 among Peace Corps’ top volunteer-producing schools in 2020
The Peace Corps announced today that the University of Washington ranked No. 10 among large schools on the agency’s list of top volunteer-producing colleges and universities in 2020. There are 55 Huskies currently volunteering in countries around the world.
Tag(s): Peace Corps
Wildness in urban parks important for human well-being
A new University of Washington study has found that not all forms of nature are created equal when considering benefits to people’s well-being. Experiencing wildness, specifically, is particularly important for physical and mental health.
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • College of the Environment • Department of Psychology • Peter Kahn • population health • School of Environmental and Forest Sciences« Previous Page Next Page »
