Instead of carbon dioxide, or CO2, creating a blanket that slowly warms the planet, long-term warming happens because a darker surface and more moist air can absorb more of the incoming rays.
November 10, 2014
The latest news from the UW
UW top tier among best-landscaped West Coast colleges
The UW and other Washington schools hog half the spots on a new list of the West Coast’s 10 best-landscaped colleges, with the UW coming in at No. 4. The amount of green space, unique landscaping and attention to lawns earned the UW its ranking. The list was created by inspecting hundreds of photos, interviewing students, alumni and faculty, and scanning message boards. The accompanying website shows an image of the Quad and says: “University of Washington, a ‘public ivy’…
November 7, 2014
Board of Regents — Nov. 13 meeting
The Board of Regents will hold their Regular Meeting at 12:45 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, in the Petersen Room of Allen Library. The full schedule and agendas are available online.
Undergrads use sonar to uncover Lake Union shipwrecks
Undergraduates this week were among the first people to try the latest in seafloor mapping technology — and use it to image a shipwreck on Seattle’s urban lake.
November 6, 2014
Public notice: Availability of final environmental impact statement — animal research facility
Public Notice University Of Washington Pursuant to the provisions of WAC 197-11-460 & 510 and WAC 478-324-140, the University of Washington hereby provides public notice of the: Availability of final environmental impact statement (FSEIS*) Project Name: Animal Research and Care Facility Proponent: University of Washington — Seattle Campus Description of Proposal: Construction of a below grade two story structure totaling approximately 90,000 square foot (approximately 43,000 square feet on each level, plus an additional 4,000 square feet for the expanding…
UW ranked 14th in the world by U.S. News & World Report
The University of Washington landed in a three-way tie for No. 14 in U.S. News & World Report’s first ranking of Best Global Universities – a new ranking that is separate from its annual Best Colleges list. The publication released world rankings, it said, in recognition of the fact that more students are looking beyond their own borders for higher education options and universities are competing worldwide for the best students. The new U.S. News rankings, released last week, were…
Zebrafish stripped of stripes
Within weeks of publishing surprising new insights about how zebrafish get their stripes, University of Washington researchers now explain how to “erase” them.
November 5, 2014
Arts Roundup: Art, music — and ‘Sweet Charity’
This week in the arts features an array of film, exhibitions, music and musical theater to enjoy—one of the highlights being “Sweet Charity,” the debut production of the new Musical Theater program.
Ditch tokens and increase light for optimal learning
Classroom décor may seem relatively unimportant, but it can play a surprisingly big role in influencing student learning and achievement. That’s among the key findings in a new paper co-authored by University of Washington researchers. Published this week in the inaugural issue of Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, the paper finds that classroom features such as light, temperature and décor can profoundly influence learning. Students exposed to more natural light perform better, the analysis found, but research…
UW Ebola preparedness plans reflect changing situation
Well-informed precautions are being taken to protect the UW community and the public.
Incorporate more voices to loosen conservation gridlock, scientists urge
More diverse voices could help break a deadlock gripping the conservation community, say 238 co-signatories – including a dozen from the University of Washington.
UW study shows direct brain interface between humans
University of Washington researchers have successfully replicated a direct brain-to-brain connection between pairs of people as part of a scientific study following the team’s initial demonstration a year ago.
November 4, 2014
‘Future proofing’: Present protections against challenges to come
You can’t predict the future, but you can prepare for it — that’s the thinking behind architect (and architecture graduate student and UW staff member) Brian Rich and his principles of “future proofing” existing and historical buildings.
Two new degrees coming from UW School of Law
The University of Washington School of Law is introducing two new programs to expand its degree offerings and provide more options for students. Beginning in January 2015, the school will offer an accelerated Juris Doctor/Master’s in Business Administration program that will enable students to earn degrees from the school the Foster School of Business in four years. Students will be encouraged to start the master’s courses in their first year and their doctorate curriculum in the second year. In the…
November 3, 2014
KCTS-9 Washington Poll: Strong support for Initiatives 594, 1351
The latest KCTS-9 Washington Poll has found strong support for the background checks on gun sales promoted by Initiative 594 and the reduced classroom sizes sought by Initiative 1351, and slightly less support for Initiative 591, which seeks to prohibit background checks for gun sales minus a national standard. The poll, directed by Matt Barreto, a University of Washington professor of political science, interviewed 602 registered voters statewide. Of these, 64 percent expressed support for the expanded gun sales background…
October 31, 2014
Genesee Adkins named UW director of state relations
Genesee Adkins, who brings 12 years of experience in the halls of state government, has been appointed director of state relations at the University of Washington, effective Nov. 12. “We are getting an experienced, highly capable government relations professional who understands the subtleties of Olympia and will be able to represent the university’s interests extremely well,” said Randy Hodgins, UW vice president for external affairs. “This coming legislative session will be one of the most important in recent years, and…
Study: Expansion of UW medical school in Spokane is state’s lowest-cost, highest-quality and most-immediate solution
The University of Washington’s plan to double the size of its medical school in Spokane is “clearly the most cost-effective option” to meet the physician workforce needs in Eastern Washington and throughout the state, according to an independent study by research firm Tripp Umbach. The study also found that Eastern Washington currently cannot support two medical schools because of a lack of capacity in clinics and residency programs. “As an established program, UW School of Medicine has greater capacity than…
October 30, 2014
Trout trick-or-treat: fish gobble furry animals with four feet
Freshwater fish with bellies full of shrews – one trout a few years back was found to have eaten 19 – aren’t as random as scientists have thought.
October 29, 2014
Geoscience teachers honor David Montgomery
David Montgomery, a UW professor of Earth and space sciences, took home the 2014 James H. Shea Award, given annually since 1991 by the National Association of Geoscience Teachers. The award, presented Oct. 21 during the national meeting of the Geological Society of America in Vancouver, British Columbia, was for “exceptional contributions in the form of writing and or editing of Earth science information” that is of interest to the public and Earth science teachers. The award was established in…
Arts Roundup: Exhibitions, music — and ArtBreak
Music and exhibitions lead this week in the arts as David Alexander Rahbee conducts the UW Symphony and the School of Music presents the annual Halloween Organ Concert featuring spooky classics.
UW pedals to gold
The University of Washington’s innovative “Ride in the Rain challenge” is among the reasons the university has just moved up to the highest gold level set by the League of American Bicyclists. Among the 100 current Bicycle Friendly Universities recognized by the league, only 10 have achieved gold. The league’s president and a panel of city and university experts talking about current progress and the path forward for bicycling around the region will kick off the annual November “Ride in…
New study shows three abrupt pulses of CO2 during last deglaciation
Increases of atmospheric carbon dioxide that helped end the last ice age more than 10,000 years ago happened in three abrupt pulses, not gradually.
Fires and floods: North Cascades federal lands prepare for climate change
UW scientists worked with managers of federal parks and forests to come up with a strategy to address warmer temperatures, increased wildfires and more flooding in the North Cascades region.
October 27, 2014
Political scientist Christopher Parker: ‘If it were not for big government…’
Political scientist Christopher Parker: ‘If it were not for big government…” Christopher Parker, University of Washington associate professor of political science, rarely minces words when debating about American politics and government.He has done much research on philosophical differences between the tea party and traditional conservatives, and was co-author, with fellow UW political scientist Matt Barreto, of the 2013 book, “Change They Can’t Believe In: The Tea Party and Reactionary Politics in America.” He also has some new research about conservative…
Portraits from time of change in Western Washington logging industry
“I’ve had my leg crushed; been in a full-leg cast for 16 months; put more of my buddies six feet under than I care to think about; been frost bitten and treated for heat exhaustion; and had every one of my fingers and most of my toes broken. [But] when I’m at the top of that mountain of one of those perfect mornings and the sun is just cresting the ridge, nothing else really seems to matter. I guess I…
October 24, 2014
Fusion researchers take a different approach to a heated conversation
When Thomas Jarboe and Derek Sutherland took their concept for an economically feasible fusion reactor into the public sphere two weeks ago, they expected some negative loud mouths and naysayers. After all, this is fusion physics, a field that seems so inaccessible to most people that it carries a certain mystique and inspires an almost religious fervor to see it succeed or fail. That’s the playing field that Jarboe, a professor of aeronautics and astronautics, and Sutherland, a graduate student,…
Jackson School hosts daylong discussion of Kurdistan, Middle East Nov. 6
The University of Washington’s Jackson School of International Studies will host a daylong conference titled “Kurdistan and the Changing Middle East” on Thursday, Nov. 6, in the Peterson Room on the fifth floor of Allen Library. Reşat Kasaba, Jackson School director, will give introductory remarks and moderate panels titled “Regional Dynamics” and “State-Society Relations in Northern Iraq.” Arbella Bet-Shlimon, UW assistant professor of history, also will participate in the latter panel. The keynote address, “Kurdistan, the Changing Middle East, and…
UW honored for sustainability efforts
The UW won Seattle Business Magazine’s 2014 Community Impact Award for Sustainability in Business Operations this week for demonstrating how businesses can have a beneficial impact on their communities. Seattle Aquarium and Harley Marine Services won silver awards for their sustainable business operations. UW’s award recognizes its overall environmental stewardship, Climate Action Plan, many LEED certified buildings and the connection to the UW Business Diversity Program. “This award reflects the terrific work by the entire UW community over the past…
Large X-ray scanner to produce 3-D images for labs across campus
A state-of-the-art imaging machine is coming to the University of Washington for use by researchers in a variety of disciplines.
U.S. Navy awards $8 million to develop wave, tidal energy technology
The UW has an $8 million, four-year contract to develop technologies that can harness waves, tides and currents to power naval facilities worldwide.
October 23, 2014
Denny Bell to ring Friday as family carries on 53-year UW tradition
Brewster Denny, great-grandson of Seattle and University of Washington founders Arthur and Mary Denny, rang the Denny Bell for UW homecoming ceremonies nearly every autumn for 51 years. He died in 2013 at the age of 88, but his family is carrying on the tradition. Denny’s daughter Maria Denny will gather with her mother, Patricia, husband, Jim Kodjababian, and their children, Jacob and Ella, at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 — at Denny Hall, of course — to ring the…
October 22, 2014
Arts Roundup: Music, drama — and Noche Flamenca
Drama, lectures, dance and exhibitions fill this especially busy week in the arts. From the closing of the Mad Campus exhibition to the start of the UW World Series collaboration with Noche Flamenca on a new work, “Antigona,” there’s plenty to see and do.
Solar energy research gets boost from federal grant
Energy researchers at the UW will expand their work in making high-efficiency, printable solar cells and solar inks with the help of a competitive grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. Researchers say these printable solar cells could be twice as efficient as today’s standard solar technologies. This, in turn, could drive down the cost of solar installations and solar power as a clean energy source. Hugh Hillhouse, a professor of chemical engineering, and Alex Jen, professor and department chair…
Traditional, tea party conservatives seem split on foreign policy
Foreign policy looms large as the 2014 midterm elections approach. But traditional conservatives and their tea party counterparts may bring different concerns and motivations to the November ballot, according to a University of Washington political scientist. While traditional conservatives seem most motivated by concern over American security, Christopher Parker, UW professor of political science, suggests that those identifying as tea party conservatives have somewhat more mixed motivations, linked with agitation over the Obama presidency and stemming from a feeling of…
Graduate School Public Lectures: Olympia Snowe, Nobel recipient Michael Levitt and more
Seats are still available for three of the four UW Graduate School Public Lectures of 2014, presented in cooperation with the UW Alumni Association. The lectures are all free, but advance registration is required. The series begins with a lecture by Olympia Snowe, a former U.S. senator from Maine, who will speak at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, in Room 130 of Kane Hall. Her lecture is titled “Anything is Possible — How to Overcome Obstacles and Make a Difference.”…
October 20, 2014
Two UW slots open for 2015 Slovenia visit
UW faculty, other academic personnel and senior graduate students are being invited to apply for the chance to visit the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia during 2015. There is financial support for two UW participants staying for two to four weeks. Each is expected to give lectures, interact with Slovenian students and collaborate with Slovenian faculty members in their field of study. The visits must be completed by the end of 2015 and should take place during the spring or…
UW student population grows, minority enrollment continues upward trend
Enrollment for the three University of Washington campuses increased nearly 3 percent in the new school year, according to the finalized Fall 2014 census of enrolled students released by Philip Ballinger, associate vice provost for enrollment and undergraduate admissions.
2014 History Lecture series sold out, but you needn’t miss the lectures
The four evenings that comprise the 2014 History Lecture Series have already sold out, but no one needs to miss the lectures themselves. The lectures will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday evenings from Nov. 5 to Dec. 3, all in Room 130 of Kane Hall. The series topic is “1914: The Great War and the Modern World.” There will be on-site waiting lists each evening and a televised feed will be broadcast in Room 210 of Kane…
October 17, 2014
UW president touts innovation, public commitment in annual address
The University of Washington fosters innovation on its campuses not only because of its deep economic impact “but because, more importantly, we know it can create a world of good,” UW President Michael K. Young said Wednesday at his annual address. “Equally important is the extraordinary advantage that teaching innovation and creativity gives our students, whatever path they ultimately choose to pursue,” Young said. “We do good, and we train the next generation of people who will do good.” The…
See-through scalyhead
With its skeleton revealed in red and cartilage in blue, an image of a scalyhead sculpin fish from biology prof Adam Summers‘ lab is among the winners in this year’s BioArt competition. “Each day, scientific investigators produce thousands of images and videos as part of their research – from collection of image-based data, to the visualization of results,” according to contest sponsor the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. The federation conducts the BioArt competion to “share the beauty…