US, Japanese leaders celebrate longstanding relations

Ceremonial drummers at the tree dedication ceremony Photo: Todd Gardiner for Team Photogenic

UW President Michael K. Young and Japanese Consul General Masahiro Omura Photo: Todd Gardiner for Team Photogenic

Japanese General Consul Masahiro Omura spoke today near Drumheiller Fountain today to celebrate a recent gift of cherry trees to the UW American Ethnic Studies department from the people of Japan.

Also speaking at the ceremony were former congressman and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta and UW President Michael K. Young.

The new cherry trees, installed on central campus overlooking Drumheiller Fountain, were presented in honor of longstanding relations between the U.S. and Japan. They also honor the many Japanese and Japanese American students who have attended UW since 1894.

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Undergraduates present research with global relevance

This Friday, undergraduate researchers, faculty mentors and community members will converge in Mary Gates Hall for the 17th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. Over 1,000 undergraduates will present their research work at the event, and many of their projects address pressing global issues.

Here are four exciting examples of globally-relevant undergraduate research projects:

The Role of Root-Zone Oxygen Dynamics in the Intake of Arsenic by Rice Plants, presented by Joe Ellingson, a senior civil engineering major and Mary Gates Scholar

Intimate Partner Violence: An Analysis on Domestic Abuse and Femicide in Italy, presented by Zoraida Arias, a senior majoring in Italian and Law, Societies & Justice and Ronald E. McNair Scholar

A Survey of Late Mesozoic Vertebrate Microfossils from the Blue Nile Gorge, presented by Sam Bottman, a sophomore from Seattle Central Community College, Brandi Agena, a sophomore anthropology major, Marine Lebrec, an Oceanography major and Guanlin Yu a freshman pre-science major

Qualitative Analysis of HIV Stigma in Seattle’s African Born Population, presented by Misghana Andemichael, a senior majoring in biochemistry and Ronald E. McNair Scholar

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Launch party celebrates book by study abroad students

A May 12 launch party will celebrate the publication of TIPS to Study Abroad: Simple Letters for Complex Engagement, a book by students from Professor Anu Taranath’s 2013 study abroad to Bangalore, India.

Through the unique medium of students’ letters to Things, Ideas and People (TIPS), the book “offers a simple method to help travelers- students and tourists alike- reflect on how moving from one culture to another sparks questions about identity, society and the meaning of travel itself.”

Professor Taranath’s unique approach to teaching abroad integrates on-campus classroom learning with international immersion. Students participate in quarter-long seminars on campus before and after the study abroad to allow time for in-depth preparation for and reflection on the experience. TIPS to Study Abroad is the culmination of the group’s experience and learning.

Community members are welcome at the book launch party at 7pm on Monday, May 12. The event will be held at University Temple.

Undergrad presents global land use research to DC lawmakers

Biology major Mollie Holmberg was one of 60 US undergraduates to present research at last week’s Posters on the Hill event in Washington D.C. Supported by Luke Bergmann from the Department of Geography, Mollie investigates the impact of the global economy on agricultural land worldwide.

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Study shows gains in maternal and child health globally

New data collected by the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) demonstrate sharp declines in maternal and child deaths across the world. Study author Haidong Wang cites education, health innovations and rising income as drivers of improved outcomes for women and children.

Stroum Center for Jewish Studies celebrates 40th anniversary

Recognized internationally as a center for research and scholarship, the Stroum Center for Jewish Studies celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. To celebrate, the center is hosting a 40th Anniversary Spring Gala on May 12.

Read about a Stroum Center project from Columns…

Alum’s smartphone microscopes headed to schools, clinics worldwide

UW mechanical engineering alumnus Thomas Larson (’13) invented a microscope lens for smartphones while still an undergraduate. Since graduation, he has sold 5,000 of his product, the Micro Phone Lens. The smartphone microscopes are being used in classrooms and in the field around the world. His next step? Working with global health experts to test the Micro Phone Lens at a clinic in Kenya.

International researchers document Clean Air Act’s success

Funded by the National Science Foundation, UW researchers partnered with colleagues from the US and France to document changes in the Greenlandic Ice Sheet since the 1970 passage of the US Clean Air Act.

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Graduate students partner with Peruvian community to build gardens

In poor communities outside Lima, Peru, green space is limited and fresh food is scarce. An interdisciplinary group of UW professors and graduate students aimed to bring change to one community by supporting residents in constructing and cultivating household gardens.

Study abroad students connect with Roma communities

During winter quarter, Comparative History of Ideas’ (CHID) Legacies of Empires study abroad program took students on a journey to Rome, Budapest and Istanbul to connect with Roma communities through experiential learning.