UW News


October 1, 2024

Q&A: UW researchers examine link between light pollution and interest in astronomy

Two backlit people standing on a mountain in front of a starry night sky

Rodolfo Cortes Barragan, research scientist the University of Washington Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences (I-LABS), and Andrew Meltzoff, co-director of I-LABS and professor of psychology, recently co-authored a study in Nature Scientific Reports showing a link between the ability to see the stars unblocked by light pollution and an interest in astronomy.


September 25, 2024

Q&A: UW Climate Risk Lab focuses on financial impacts of climate change

Power lines at sunset

Phillip Bruner, executive director of the UW Climate Risk Lab and professor of practice of sustainable finance, and other representatives from the lab, will participate Sept. 22-29 in Climate Week NYC. Based in the Foster School of Business, the Climate Risk Lab brings together experts in finance, climate data, and business to research climate-related financial risk.


September 13, 2024

In the Field: Understanding the impact of Arctic militarization on Indigenous communities

An aerial view of Tromsø, Norway.

Mia Bennett, University of Washington assistant professor of geography, will spend a week this month in Norway as part of the orientation for the Fulbright Arctic IV Initiative. Bennett is one of 20 scholars selected to collaborate on multi-disciplinary research over the next 18 months.


September 9, 2024

COVID-19 lockdowns prematurely aged teenage brains, UW study shows

Young girl doing schoolwork on a laptop while sitting at a table

New research from the University of Washington found lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in unusually accelerated brain maturation in adolescents. This maturation was more pronounced in girls. When measured in terms of the number of years of accelerated brain development, the mean acceleration was 4.2 years in females and 1.4 years in males.


July 29, 2024

UW model shows cortical implants like Elon Musk’s Blindsight unlikely to ‘exceed normal human vision’

Close-up of a human eye

New research from Ione Fine and Geoffrey Boynton, UW professors of psychology, shows Elon Musk’s projection for the latest Neuralink project rests on the flawed premise that implanting millions of tiny electrodes into the visual cortex, the region of the brain that processes information received from the eye, will result in high-resolution vision.


July 17, 2024

New faculty books: Traditional Syrian cuisine, Indigenous ecological knowledge, data science for researchers

Three books on a wooden table background

Three new faculty books from the University of Washington cover the recipes and culture of the world’s largest Syrian refugee camp, traditional ecological knowledge of Indigenous peoples and data science for neuroimaging researchers. UW News spoke with the authors to learn more. Documenting history and rituals of Syrian cuisine When Karen E. Fisher was invited…


June 3, 2024

Q&A: Microinclusions improve women’s workplace belonging and commitment

A group of people sit around a table at a business meeting.

New research from the University of Washington published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, shows how “microinclusions” — brief instances of positive treatment, especially from members of the dominant group — help women feel valued at work.


May 30, 2024

Infants hear significantly more speech than music at home, UW study finds

A woman playing guitar for a toddler. The toddler is laying down and reaching forward to touch the guitar.

A new University of Washington study, published May 21 in Developmental Science, is the first to compare the amount of music and speech that children hear in infancy. Results showed that infants hear more spoken language than music, with the gap widening as the babies get older.


April 23, 2024

Video: UW professor on ‘The Boys in the Boat,’ Nazi Germany and the 1936 Olympics

The film version of “The Boys in the Boat,” released on Dec. 25, was inspired by the University of Washington men’s rowing team that won a gold medal at the 1936 Olympics. It’s based on the 2013 book by Daniel James Brown. But there is more to the story than the improbable victory by UW student-athletes from…


Q&A: UW research shows neural connection between learning a second language and learning to code

Closeup of woman with glasses looking at code. The code is reflected in her glasses.

New research from the University of Washington shows the brain’s response to viewing errors in both the syntax (form) and semantics (meaning) of code appeared identical to those that occur when fluent readers process sentences on a word-by-word basis, supporting a resemblance between how people learn computer and natural languages.


April 15, 2024

Q&A: How claims of anti-Christian bias can serve as racial dog whistles

A brown, leather Bible on its side with the spine facing the camera. The background is white.

A new University of Washington study showed that white and Black Christians perceived a politician concerned about anti-Christian bias as caring more about anti-white bias, being more willing to fight for white people and as less offensive than one concerned about anti-white bias.


April 8, 2024

Everyday social interactions predict language development in infants

A woman sits with a baby facing her on her lap. The woman is talking to the baby using hand gestures. The baby is watching her.

In a study published April 8 in Current Biology, University of Washington researchers found that when the adult talked and played socially with a 5-month-old baby, the baby’s brain activity particularly increased in regions responsible for attention — and the level of this type of activity predicted enhanced language development at later ages.


April 5, 2024

Q&A: The growing trend of environmental, social and governance assurances in corporate America

A pen sitting on top of a business report. Behind, a laptop screen shows graphs.

Voluntary reports that discuss environmental, social and governance issues — or ESG issues — have become a major trend in corporate America over the past decade. Shawn Shi, University of Washington assistant professor of accounting in the Foster School of Business, is conducting ongoing research on the topic.


February 27, 2024

Q&A: Decline in condom use indicates need for further education, awareness

Two red condom wrappers on a light purple background

New research from Steven Goodreau, University of Washington professor of anthropology, shows that condom use has been trending downward among younger gay and bisexual men over the last decade, even when they aren’t taking pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP.


February 6, 2024

Parents’ conversational approaches about Black Lives Matter differ by race

Signs and people marching for Black Lives Matter

A new study from the University of Washington professor Andrew Meltzoff and Northwestern University showed key differences in the language Black parents and white used to explain Black Lives Matter.


January 19, 2024

UW military rhetoric instructor explores trauma through poetry, writing

Abby Murray a black dress smiling and posing in front of a wall painted with colorful umbrellas.

Abby Murray doesn’t have a military background, but she is an instructor and fellowship director for the U.S. Army War College fellowship program at the University of Washington. She’s also a poet who has hosted free writing workshops at locations including community centers, military posts and immigration detention centers.


December 11, 2023

New faculty books: Story and comic collection, Washington state fossils, colonial roots of intersex medicine

Three book covers on a wooden table background

Three new faculty books from the University of Washington cover wide-ranging topics: life in the Rio Grande Valley, fossils of Washington state and the colonial roots of contemporary intersex medicine. UW News talked with the authors to learn more. Collection highlights life in Rio Grande Valley “Puro Pinche True Fictions” is a collection of short…


November 28, 2023

Authentic or ethical? UW study shows best leadership style for inclusive hiring depends on manager’s racial identity

Three cartoon resumes on a blue background

New research from Andrew Hafenbrack, associate professor of management and organization in the University of Washington School of Business, and other institutions examines the impact of leadership style on prospective Black employees who apply for jobs in less-diverse companies.


October 19, 2023

Q&A: UW expert on rise of younger, less experienced bosses in the workplace

Empty meeting room with table and brown chairs

Supervisors are traditionally associated with higher status markers such as age, education and tenure than their subordinates. But it’s increasingly common to see those dynamics reversed, which is the focus of a new study from Jessica Huisi Li, University of Washington assistant professor of management and organization.


October 9, 2023

Prescription opioid companies increased marketing after Purdue Pharma lawsuit, UW study shows

Three orange pill bottles in front of a grey background. One is tipped over.

Public scrutiny of Purdue Pharma’s role in the opioid crisis increased sharply in the years after the state of Kentucky filed a lawsuit against the company. New research from David Tan, University of Washington associate professor of management, examines the ensuing behavior of competing prescription opioid companies.


September 11, 2023

Q&A: New book examines intersection between climate and information crises

A pile of garbage on the beach behind a laptop computer, which has a hand holding a globe on the screen.

Adrienne Russell, professor of communication at the University of Washington, examines in her new book how journalism, activism, corporations and Big Tech battle to influence the public about climate change.


September 6, 2023

A tax on menthol cigarettes would work better than statewide bans, UW study finds

Used cigarettes in an ashtray.

New research from Simha Mummalaneni and Ali Goli, assistant professors of marketing in the University of Washington Foster School of Business, finds that a menthol cigarette tax is a preferable policy to scattered statewide bans.


August 14, 2023

These organizational changes can shake up company hierarchy

A group of co-workers sit on and around a desk during a meeting.

How people initially react to organizational change depends on their placement within their work groups’ status hierarchy, according to new research from Elijah Wee, assistant professor of management in the University of Washington Foster School of Business.


June 13, 2023

Employee approval can make or break CEOs, UW research shows

People sitting at a table with computers while a man presents at a white board.

New research from Bruce Avolio, professor of management in the University of Washington Foster School of Business, finds that employee approval greatly influences whether a board of directors will retain or dismiss a chief executive officer.


June 9, 2023

UW ‘Brainworks’ video wins Northwest Emmy Award

Three people holding Emmy awards and celebrating.

A University of Washington Video production, “Brainworks: Vision and the Brain,” won a 2023 Northwest Emmy Award this month in the Children/Youth/Teens category. “Brainworks” is a series that educates children about neuroscience. The episode was executive produced by Eric H. Chudler, research associate professor of bioengineering and executive director of the UW Center for Neurotechnology, and Cara Podenski, managing executive…


June 6, 2023

UW research shows real-world value of strategy courses for MBA students

Interior wall with the University of Washington logo and "Foster School of Business"

A new study from Mana Heshmati, assistant professor of strategy and entrepreneurship in the University of Washington Foster School of Business, found that strategy courses in MBA programs improve decision-making abilities, boost the amount of attention paid to broader industry concerns and expand the depth of mental representations.


May 31, 2023

New funding supports growth of Canadian Studies Program, Foreign Language and Area Studies

Canadian flag flying in front of a blue sky

Two grants from the U.S. Department of Education International and Foreign Language Education office will allow the Canadian Studies Center at the University of Washington to award eight to 10 fellowships each year to students studying French or an Indigenous language spoken in Canada.


May 16, 2023

Q&A: Documenting the growth of UW’s Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity

A collage of black and white, historical images.

In his new book, Emile Pitre chronicles the story of OMA&D from its 1968 inception to its current status as a model for university programs. Pitre retired from the UW as associate vice president for minority affairs in 2014.


March 31, 2023

Q&A: Developing a new Spanish-language controlled vocabulary of LGBTQIA+ terms

Books on library shelves

The Homosaurus is a linked data controlled vocabulary used by libraries, museums and other cultural heritage institutions worldwide to describe LGBTQIA+ resources and aid in indexing and retrieving content. Marika Cifor, University of Washington assistant professor in the Information School, was awarded a 2023 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to develop a free-standing Spanish-language Homosaurus.


March 17, 2023

UW study investigates how ‘vaccine shopping’ impacts rollout during pandemic

Syringes on a table next to vaccine bottles.

New research from Leela Nageswaran, assistant professor of operations management in the University of Washington Foster School of Business, considers whether individuals should be able to select their vaccine type.


March 7, 2023

UW law professor goes to music school, launches interdisciplinary Music Law & Policy class

Peter Nicolas, professor of law and adjunct professor of music at the University of Washington, recently launched a new class. Music Law & Policy combines Nicolas’ legal training with his growing academic interest in the study of music.


February 8, 2023

Prosocial CEOs increase company value, stakeholder satisfaction

Empty black chairs around a table that has an open laptop on it.

New research from Weili Ge, professor of accounting at the University of Washington Foster School of Business, found that CEOs who engage in prosocial behavior — activities that primarily help others — are more likely to make decisions that benefit people and increase company value.


February 6, 2023

UW project has uncovered thousands of racially discriminatory housing covenants in Washington state – and it’s not done yet

Artwork featuring newspaper articles about racial covenants in the background and a white family in the foreground. Family is walking by a sign that reads "Welcome: A restricted residential community."

More than 40,000 property deeds containing racially discriminatory language have been uncovered in Western Washington by the Racial Restrictive Covenants Project. Director James Gregory, professor of history at the University of Washington, and his team aren’t finished yet.


February 1, 2023

Q&A: UW historian explores how a Husky alum influenced postcolonial Sudan

A large 'W' statue in the snow

Christopher Tounsel, associate professor of history at the University of Washington, found multiple connections between Sudan and Seattle while researching his upcoming book. The most prominent was the late Andrew Brimmer, a UW alum who in 1966 became the first Black member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.


December 13, 2022

New faculty books: Nightlife among Black queer women, hybrid warfare, and decolonizing climate justice

Three book covers on wooden background

Three new faculty books from the University of Washington cover a variety of topics: nightlife among Black queer women, hybrid warfare and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and decolonizing climate justice.


November 16, 2022

Q&A: How ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ impacts financial health

Two cartoon hands reaching out of separate laptop screens with one holding a credit card and the other holding a shopping bag

Ed deHaan, associate professor of accounting in the University of Washington Foster School of Business, studies the impact of Buy Now Pay Later on financial health. His research finds that BNPL users faced rapid increases in bank overdraft charges and credit card interests and fees.


October 26, 2022

New study shows how voting methods affect group decision-making

Cartoon hand placing voting ballot in ballot box

Michael Johnson, professor of management in the University of Washington Foster School of Business, found in a new study that groups that used “multivoting” in unofficial votes were 50% more likely to identify the correct option than those that used plurality or ranked-choice voting.


October 21, 2022

UW’s Dianne Xiao receives Packard Fellowship for research on new materials for sustainable chemical synthesis

Headshot of smiling woman

Dianne Xiao, a University of Washington assistant professor of chemistry, has been awarded a 2022 Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering for her research on creating new materials to make chemical reactions that are compatible with renewable energy sources and raw materials.


October 19, 2022

These factors have the biggest impact on influencer marketing effectiveness

Phone screen with social media apps

New research from the University of Washington professor Robert Palmatier examines how factors related to social media influencers, their posts and their followers impact marketing success. The study concluded that reallocating spending based on the study’s insights could result in a 16.6% increase in engagement.


October 6, 2022

Chamber Dance Company shifts focus, reimagines repertoire in return to stage

Comprised of University of Washington graduate students, the Chamber Dance Company works to perform, record and archive dance works of artistic and historical significance. This year, the company will exclusively perform contemporary works created within the last 15 years.



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