January 17, 2024
UW researchers create biodegradable plastics from cyanobacteria
A team of researchers at the University of Washington has developed new bioplastics made exclusively out of powdered spirulina, a blue-green cyanobacteria. Unlike the majority of current bio-based plastics, which only decompose in commercial composting facilities, the spirulina-based material breaks down easily and can be composted in backyard bins. The new bioplastics share the same…
January 10, 2024
Powering electric vehicles while finding a win-win scenario for all
A team of students in the Master of Science in Business Analytics Program at the University of Washington Foster School of Business recently partnered with General Motors to conduct research surrounding energy demands and electric vehicles (EVs). Their project used telemetry data from California to determine EV charging patterns. This data was then used to…
January 3, 2024
Spring 2023 Tier 1 pilot awardees report project progress on funded projects
The University of Washington Population Health Initiative awarded nine Tier 1 pilot grants in spring 2023 to interdisciplinary teams completing exploratory research in areas ranging from disaster planning to mental health to workforce development. These teams represented 10 of the UW’s schools and colleges. Each project has now reached its respective midpoint and are reporting…
December 18, 2023
Buerk Center, Initiative co-host third annual Sacia Digital Health Innovation Workshop
The University of Washington Foster School of Business’ Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship partnered with the Population Health Initiative to offer students an immersive and hands-on opportunity to workshop new solutions in the growing and dynamic field of digital health. Twenty-six undergraduate, graduate and PhD students from a variety of disciplines and programs came together on…
December 12, 2023
Faculty panel offers interdisciplinary perspectives on global careers in health
The Population Health Initiative, School of Public Health, and Department of Global Health hosted a panel of faculty members on November 2, 2023 who discussed their unique paths to a global career in health. Throughout the event, panel members Sarah Iribarren, Ferdinand Mukumbang, Sarah Masyuko and Coco Alarcon shared their career journey and offered advice…
December 5, 2023
A collaborative approach to assessing extreme heat health risks in youth BIPOC communities
Washington State is experiencing an increasing number of extreme heat events due to climate change. The 2021 Pacific Northwest “heat dome,” for example, resulted in 441 deaths and became the deadliest weather-related disaster in Washington’s history. Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities are at an increased risk for extreme heat exposure due to…
November 28, 2023
University of Washington plays a key role in our clean energy future
The University of Washington is well-situated to be a leader in clean energy solutions and technology, with many of Washington state’s advancements in clean energy can be attributed to the forefront research and development accomplished at the UW. One of the pioneering research institutions is the UW’s Clean Energy Institute (CEI). Established in 2013, CEI…
November 21, 2023
Initiative co-hosts entrepreneurial women in population health panel discussion
The Population Health Initiative and Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship’s Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership program (WE Lead) partnered on October 11, 2023 to host a panel of innovative women working in population health. Each of the women had a unique industry background that intersects with population health. Despite their different professional focuses, the panel shared a drive…
November 16, 2023
Transforming a smartphone into an accurate, fever-detecting thermometer
A team of researchers from the University of Washington has created an app, FeverPhone, that transforms smartphones into thermometers. FeverPhone functions without the addition of new hardware, utilizing the touchscreen and existing battery temperature sensors to gather data. This information is then run through a machine-learning model to estimate an individual’s core body temperature. When…
November 14, 2023
Initiative to co-host the next Fostering Climate Change Connections event on February 13
The Population Health Initiative and EarthLab will co-host a winter quarter climate change-focused Open Space-style event in the University of Washington wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House on Tuesday, February 13, 2024. The goal of this quarterly gathering is to help facilitate the development of new interdisciplinary collaborations between UW researchers who are seeking to take on…