2011 | UW News

December 28, 2011

Evidence found for brain injury in diet-induced obesity

UW scientists report today, Dec. 27, the first evidence of structural changes in the brains of rodents and people with diet-induced obesity. The findings may lead to a better understanding of body weight control problems.

The School of Social Work will host a public reception Jan. 11 at 4-6 p.m. to kick off an art exhibit featuring about 20 paintings and drawings by homeless youths in the University District.

December 22, 2011

From crate to plate: Students study how to improve campus access to fresh local food

Recipes that come boxed with fresh ingredients ready to cook? How about a monthlong incentive program inspiring a commitment to fresh local food? A design class studies how to get it done.

December 21, 2011

To turn up the heat in chilies, just add water

Hot chilies growing wild in dry environments produce substantially fewer seeds than non-pungent plants, but they are better protected against a seed-attacking fungus that is more prevalent in moist regions.

Ali Tarhouni, on leave as a senior lecturer at the UW Foster School of Business, spoke at a news conference regarding his work so far as a leader of the Libyan revolution and the country’s new government.

December 20, 2011

Just messy or is it hoarding? Sorting out darker reality hidden inside clutter

We joke about being pack rats or collectors, but hoarding is a common and extremely hard problem to treat. A psychologist tells UW students how to identify and treat hoarding.

Five with UW links named to Forbes 30 under 30

A biostatistics faculty member, two genome scientists, and two computer engineers, all with UW links, are among the 30 under 30 young achievers in the annual Forbes list.

December 19, 2011

Upper atmosphere facilitates changes that let mercury enter food chain — with video

New research shows that the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere work to transform elemental mercury into oxidized mercury, which can easily be deposited into aquatic ecosystems and ultimately enter the food chain.

Doctors cautious, patients enthusiastic about sharing medical notes

A survey reported today gauged baseline interest among patients and doctors in sharing physicians after an office visit. The survey was conducted at Harborview and two other sites before the one-year OpenNotes trial.

December 16, 2011

Robert Stacey named interim dean of College of Arts and Sciences

The University of Washington named Robert C. Stacey as interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

December 15, 2011

Nitrogen from humans pollutes remote lakes for more than a century

Nitrogen derived from human activities has polluted lakes throughout the Northern Hemisphere for more than a century and the fingerprint of these changes is evident even in remote lakes thousands of miles from the nearest city, industrial area or farm.

December 14, 2011

Study finds superior drug combo for difficult-to-control epilepsy

A lamotrigine/valproate treatment regimen significantly reduced seizure frequency, according to a retrospective study of records at Fircrest and Rainier Habilitation Centers. UW Medicine neurologist Dr. Nicholas Poolos of the Regional Epilepsy Center led the project.

Nine UW-affiliated researchers are among 539 new Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Election as a Fellow of AAAS is an honor bestowed upon members by their peers. Fellows are recognized for meritorious efforts to advance science or its applications.

December 13, 2011

Brain drain of African doctors costs sub-Saharan Africa billions, saved U.S. nearly $900 million

Sub-Saharan African countries that invest in training doctors lose billions of dollars when those clinicians leave to work in developed nations, finds research recently published on bmj.com with the help of seven universities, including UW.

UW Arborist Sara Shores reports that people have been cutting trees and tree limbs on campus, presumably for Christmas decorations. For those people, she has one message: Dont.

Memorial service for dean emeritus Sidney Nelson set for Dec. 17

Memorial services for Sidney Nelson, professor of medicinal chemistry and dean emeritus of the School of Pharmacy, will be at 1 pm. on Saturday, Dec. 17, at the New Life Church at 6830 Highland Dr. in Everett.

Featured video: Reflectors react to changing light

The reflector “paintings” on the exterior of the Henry Art Gallery, are made up of 21,500 reflectors normally found on bicycles, cars and trucks, explains this video, the first in a series highlighting the museums permanent collection.

December 12, 2011

Fisheries lands a Ray Troll – with slideshow

Some 99 species of fishes glide and snake across a supersized 15-foot mural by Alaskan artist and confessed fish groupie Ray Troll, unveiled last month at the University of Washington.

December 9, 2011

Small lifestyle changes can prevent diabetes

Learn some tips keep your weight in check over the winter holidays, and other ways to prevent type 2 diabetes, as well as recognize its symptoms.

Where is my shuttle? Information available online and on smart phones

People who use the UW South Lake Union and Night Ride shuttles now can check the shuttles progress from their desktop or laptop computer or smart phones.

When the UW lines up against Baylor in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 29, Political Science Professor Tony Gill will have divided loyalties. After all, though he works at the UW, Baylor sponsors his weekly podcast, “Research on Religion.”

December 8, 2011

Fire alarms triggered by surge in water pressure

Fire alarms were triggered in 12 buildings by a sudden and sustained surge in water pressure.

Undergraduates asked to compete in "Be the Change" contest for global health

UW undergrads can propose solutions to the worlds pressing health challenges in preparation for the 50th anniversary of the World’s Fair. Applications due Jan. 13.

University of Washington ranks 13th in world in measure of scientific prowess

The University of Washington was ranked 13th in the world in a measure of universities scientific impact and their involvement in scientific collaboration.

December 7, 2011

Look for new UW Today, UW Insider pages

Coming soon to a website near you: redesigned Faculty-Staff and UW Today pages. Both will highlight the current date and weather, will be refreshed more often and will feature a wide variety of spotlight stories, videos, news feeds, events and more.

UW Libraries Special Collections’ exhibit “Merry Company: Pop-ups, Movables & Toy Books,” comes mainly from the collections of an extraordinary donor, Pamela Harer. The exhibit will be open through March 12, 2012.

Over the past four years grad students Ingrid Swanson Pultz, Justin Siegel and Rob Egbert have worked hundreds of hours with more than 50 students who competed in November to win the championship in iGEM, sometimes sacrificing their own work to help the team.

Official Notices, Dec. 8

One Board of Regents meeting canceled, a special one scheduled and a public hearing on residence hall rules.

Etc.: Campus news & notes

Patricia K. Kuhl is honored for her work in understanding language acquisition; Akio Takamori named a USA Ford Fellow and gets a $50,000 grant; Sheryl Burgstahler receives a leadership award; and the GenOm project is honored for its diversity. Also, Carl Ebeling, Dan Suciu and David Wetheral are honored by the The Association for Computing Machinery.

This weeks film — and the last one for a while — shows what appears to be the UWs Friday Harbor Laboratories in 1958. People walk between buildings and some kind of experiment is undertaken on a small motorboat. Know any more?

One of Israels most popular and enduring singers, Chava Alberstein, will perform at Meany at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10. She will present a mix of old favorites and new compositions sung in Hebrew, Yiddish and English.

Nominations sought for Lifelong Learning Award

A reminder that nominations are open for the UW Distinguished Contributions to Lifelong Learning Award. This annual award honors faculty who have taught or designed courses, seminars or workshops aimed at working adults and other nontraditional students.

Green Dot offers students “bystander training,” where they learn about identifying potentially risky situations, discuss their personal barriers to intervening and practice the skills needed for responding, as opposed to doing nothing.

Think you know the campus? Then try your luck with the Mystery Photo. Guess correctly and you might win a prize.

Charter Schools and Unions: Contracts provide innovations but could go further

A new study from the University of Washingtons Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) finds that charter school collective bargaining agreements tend to be more streamlined and provide for greater flexibility than the typical district contract.

Professional and Continuing Education has been offering arts classes for almost all of its nearly 100 year history, but now, for the first time, graduates of those programs have a journal in which to publish their work.

To swim or not to swim? The biological control that makes this choice for genetically identical Salmonella impacts the bacteria’s ability to cause infection.

Dr. Shiu-Lok Hu and his colleagues are looking to generate protective antibodies targeting a part of the HIV virus that binds to immune cells. This segment is widely considered to be the Achilles heel of the virus

A new plasma pencil promises to give nutrition status in minutes that used to take 24 hours, and could improve health in developing world.

December 6, 2011

UW inaugurates award to honor achievements of retirees

The university is inaugurating a new, major award this year, recognizing the accomplishments of UW retirees in service to the community.