Contents
In This IssueHalf of World's Population Could Face Climate-Induced Food Crisis by 2100
UW graduate students Shella Biallas and Chami Arachchi found multiple reasons to join the Peace Corps. Apparently, too, there are multiple reasons why, for the last three years, the UW has led U.S. universities in producing Peace Corps volunteers. In 2008, the Peace Corps had 104 UW alumni serving as volunteers—more than the University of Colorado, Boulder, which ranks second with 102, or Michigan State University, which is third, with 89. Read more... Also see: The Seattle Times: "UW tops list for Peace Corps" The Chronicle of Higher Education: "U. of Washington Again Leads in Peace Corps Volunteers" UW Seattle Temporarily Closes Doors to Spring Applicants In an effort to lower faculty and facility costs, UW Seattle officials decided not to accept new students for the 2009 spring quarter. Nearly 325 letters were sent to applicants who would have been accepted under ordinary circumstances, explaining they had the choice of freezing their application for fall consideration, applying for a $55 application fee refund or attending either the Bothell or Tacoma branch campuses. Also see: The Seattle Times: No new students at UW in Seattle this spring The Chronicle of Higher Education: "Admissions Officials Anticipate a Spring of Uncertainty"
Trees are dying twice as fast as they did three decades ago in older forests of the western United States and scientists suspect warming temperatures are a contributing factor. In the Pacific Northwest and southern British Columbia, the rate of tree death in older coniferous forests doubled in 17 years. That rate of increase is about 1.5 times faster than California forests, where mortality rates took 25 years to double. California, however, still had the highest tree mortality rates at the end of the study. Mortality has been lowest for forests in the interior states and the rate of change was slower, taking 29 years to double. "This suggests that one, or several, northwestern tree species are sensitive to whatever is going on," says Jerry Franklin, a professor of forest resources at the University of Washington and one of 11 co-authors of a report in the Jan. 23 issue of Science. Read more... Also see: The Seattle Times: "Northwest tree die-off likely due to warming trend, study says" Washington Post: "Study Ties Tree Deaths To Change in Climate" Compostable Coca-Cola Cup Launched at University of Washington The University of Washington is the pilot site for the first compostable paper cup designed specifically for soft drinks and made from renewable resources. The cup, developed for Coca-Cola® fountain drinks, was created by International Paper in cooperation with the UW and Cedar Grove Composting. With the addition of the compostable cup, there is a potential for 150,000 fewer cups to go to landfills annually, and the university's impact on the environment will be lessened. Read more... Also see: KING5.com: "Coca-Cola goes compostable at UW" Two UW Faculty Receive Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers Two faculty members at the University of Washington have received the 2007 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. Maya Gupta, assistant professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and adjunct in the Department of Applied Mathematics, and Michael J. MacCoss, UW assistant professor in the Department of Genome Sciences, were among those honored Dec. 19 at a White House ceremony where 67 researchers were presented with the prestigious award. The award is the highest honor given by the U.S. Government to scientists and engineers beginning their careers. The award comes with $1 million in research funding for each recipient. Read more...
The UW's next Common Book will be President Barack Obama's 1995 memoir, Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance. It's the UW's fourth Common Book—volumes that are chosen each year to be studied by incoming freshmen and celebrated with campus discussions and activities. The aim of the Common Book project is to introduce freshmen to the University's academic community through a shared reading experience and events related to the book. "The story is that of a search for identity, identity as an individual and identity as a citizen," says Gene Edgar, professor of education and one of two co-chairs of the 18-member Common Book Committee. Read more... Brandon Fandom: Feb. 20 Is Husky Night with Brandon Roy and the Portland Trail Blazers Paint the Rose Garden purple and cheer on former Husky All-American and NBA All-Star Brandon Roy as the Portland Trail Blazers take on the Atlanta Hawks Feb. 20 in Portland. UWAA members get discounted tickets and access to a private post-game Q&A with Brandon Roy. Get more information and register online. Check It OutOffbeat and/or outstanding UW-related links:
February 2009 UW NewsLinks Trivia ContestThis year marks the 100th anniversary of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, a seminal event in Seattle's and the UW's history, which ran from June 1 to Oct. 16, 1909. The first world's fair ever held in the Pacific Northwest, it attracted more than 3 million visitors. It's midway area, known as the Pay Streak, ran from Northeast 40th Street to the shore of Lake Union. Which of the following was not an attraction featured on the Pay Streak?
2. The Captive Balloon Amusement 3. The Educated Horse Amusement 4. The Hindoo Mystery Amusement 5. The Human Laundry Amusement Answer this month's question Resources |
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