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Latest news and updates

Latest news and updates

UW researcher’s six year permafrost study includes science instruction for foster youth

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Joel Eklof, a University of Washington civil & environmental engineering doctoral student, recently discussed his six-year study of the climatic impact of thawing permafrost in Alaska, as well as his pursuit to expand science and leadership skills in foster care youth through the Fostering Science Program. Eklof’s research has found variations in weather conditions at the Fairbanks site, contributing to meaningful data towards questions of why soil temperatures and permafrost thaw rates vary and the impact of water, energy and…

Initiative-funded AI pilot project looks to create datasets that spot and predict future pandemics

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The origins of the COVID-19 pandemic reflect a larger trend of increasingly frequent, severe and widespread human disease transmission caused by changes in global biotic and abiotic systems. These changes are a result of climate change, land-use change, globalization and urbanization, all of which are causing unprecedented shifts in ecosystems that result in a greater risk for zoonotic spillover. In summer 2024, a team of interdisciplinary researchers at the University of Washington were awarded an artificial intelligence-focused pilot grant from…

Summer 2024 Social Entrepreneurship Fellows finish their projects and report out findings

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The Population Health Initiative’s summer 2024 Social Entrepreneurship Fellows Program concluded in August with the fellows presenting their findings to students, faculty and staff from schools and colleges across campus. The fellows spent 10 weeks working on population health innovations developed by University of Washington researchers to determine how these innovations could be financially sustainable while also having a substantial societal impact. The Social Entrepreneurship Fellows Program was developed to expand opportunities for students from all disciplines to gain real-world…

Autumn 2023 Tier 1 pilot awardees report midpoint project progress

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The University of Washington Population Health Initiative awarded 12 Tier 1 pilot grants in autumn 2023 to interdisciplinary teams of researchers completing studies on topics like mental health, housing affordability, maternal health and HIV/AIDS. These teams represented eight UW schools and colleges, as well as several community-based partners. Each project has now reached its respective midpoint and are reporting progress in the following areas:

Students collaborate with Climate Risk Lab to evaluate risk of climate change on data centers

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A group of Foster School of Business Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) students teamed up with Professor Phillip Bruner, founder of the University of Washington Climate Risk Lab and sustainable finance expert, to understand the risk that increasing wildfires due to climate change pose on the success of data centers in Eastern Washington. The demand for massive, high-functioning data centers in the Pacific Northwest has expanded dramatically over the course of time, raising the stakes for public utilities…

UW research suggests microinclusions improve women’s work experiences, break down stigmas

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New research from the University of Washington published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that microinclusions helped women feel a greater sense of belonging in the workplace while reducing their concern of being marginalized or underrepresented based on societal stigmas. Lead author Gregg Muragishi, a UW postdoctoral scholar, explained the difference between microinclusions and simple acts of kindness in women’s work experiences, with microinclusions having the greatest impact due to its focus on empowerment through affirming statements…

Five new members named to the Population Health Initiative executive council

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President Ana Mari Cauce has named five new representatives to the 30-member University of Washington Population Health Initiative executive council. The council serves as the internal governing body for the Population Health Initiative. These representatives, who will begin their terms in autumn quarter 2024, are: Joan Casey, associate professor of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health Yonn Dierwechter, professor of Urban Studies, UW Tacoma Sarah Gimbel, professor of Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing, School of Nursing…

Initiative-funded project seeks to bridge mental health care gap for the local Somali community

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If there is one thing that the COVID-19 pandemic brought to light, it is that mental health conditions have and continue to be highly prevalent yet significantly under treated within healthcare settings across the U.S. While the number of adults who received mental health treatment increased from 2019-2021, non-Hispanic White adults continue to be the most likely to receive any mental health treatment compared to Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic Asian individuals. This disparity reflects a greater systemic exclusion of…

Health impact of military aircraft noise on residents of Whidbey Island

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A recent study conducted by the University of Washington, funded by a Population Health Initiative pilot grant, found significant health risks posed by noise pollution for residents of Whidbey Island, Washington. This community contends with persistent exposure to loud and disruptive noise from military aircraft, affecting over 74,000 individuals in the region. Unlike noise from commercial jets, the noise pollution generated by military planes is more intense and disruptive, leading to sleep disturbances, hearing impairments and cardiovascular issues. The noise…

Assessing corporate environmental, social and governance assurances

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Voluntary disclosure of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues by corporations in the United States have become increasingly common over the last decade. Investors, stakeholders and companies utilize ESG metrics to assess an organization’s sustainability and ethical impact, with stakeholders increasingly demanding ESG assurance, wherein third parties verify the metrics disclosed in ESG reports. Research from the University of Washington is assessing the landscape and evolution of ESG assurances among U.S. public companies, with findings from that work recently cited…