Vibration amd Electromagnetic Interference Impacts on Research
The vibration caused by a train on the track and the electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated by the electrical currents that supply electricity to a train are the two primary forms of "pollution" for laboratories on campus. The ability of UW researchers to continue to perform ever more precise measurements is jeopardized by this increase in magnetic and vibration "noise." Unless great care is taken during design and construction to mitigate the impacts of this pollution, current and future research programs will be compromised.
Why Is This Important?- The UW is the first among all public universities in the country, and the second among all public and private universities, in receiving federal funds for scientific research. This results in just over $800 million coming to the region annually, thanks to UW research.
- One of the UW's primary strengths is the ability of Nobel Prize-winning Life Sciences and Physics faculty to remain in the forefront of advancing the limits of precision measurement. The state of the art laboratories housed on campus in the Health Sciences and Physics-Astronomy buildings further solidify UW's renown as a teaching and research institution.
- The world-class reputation of UW research facilities, and the researchers those facilities attract, are integral to the undergraduate and graduate experience at UW. Protecting these facilities is also critical to continued success in receiving outside funding for experimental work.
- The UW has made over $150 million in capital investments to support research on campus. That includes money spent to create a very sensitive environment.
- The UW currently enjoys a very quiet campus along the science corridor, Rainier Vista. This quiet zone allows for research that enables the UW to compete for faculty and grant funding.