UW News

UW News blog


October 17, 2023

CDC funds UW to take first steps toward regional public health emergency preparedness center

The UW will convene partners across Washington, Alaska, Idaho and Oregon to develop a workplan to establish a future regional Center for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response.


October 12, 2023

Video: Highlights from UW President’s annual address

Ana Mari Cauce

University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce delivered her annual address to the community on Oct. 12. Highlights of the speech are reflected in this video. The audience was invited to attend the event remotely via livestream.


October 10, 2023

Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Cowles appointed chair of Ruckelshaus Center board

Betsy Cowles

Elizabeth A. “Betsy” Cowles has been named chair of the Advisory Board to the William D. Ruckelshaus Center, a public policy-minded collaboration of Washington State University and the University of Washington.


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.


October 4, 2023

New UW-themed plane takes to the skies

airplane painted in purple and gold with "Go Dawgs" written on the side.

Alaska Airlines has launched its third iteration of University of Washington-themed designs on its aircraft, with a purple and gold “Go Dawgs” Embraer E175 Horizon Air jet on a flight from Seattle to Portland on Oct. 3


September 25, 2023

Q&A: Can AI in school actually help students be more creative and self-directed?

A woman sits in an office setting

Katie Davis, a University of Washington associate professor in the Information School, discusses how generative AI might support learning, instead of detracting from it, if kids can keep their agency.


September 21, 2023

UW’s incoming class to be welcomed at New Student Convocation

Purple video boards in a darkened arena

The University of Washington will welcome its incoming classes and their families on Sunday, Sept. 24 at the University’s 40th annual New Student Convocation, which will be held in Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.


September 20, 2023

Video: UW welcomes students to campus as thousands move into residence halls

About 8,500 students, including 78% of this year’s freshman class, are expected to move into UW residence halls and apartments this week.  


September 15, 2023

Polar experiments reveal seasonal cycle in Antarctic sea ice algae

sea ice with greenish underside

The frigid ocean surrounding Antarctica is home to much of the region’s photosynthetic life. A new University of Washington study provides the first measurements of how sea-ice algae and other single-celled life handle dramatic seasonal swings, offering clues to how this ecosystem might adapt to climate change.


September 8, 2023

UW a lead partner on new NSF-funded earthquake research center

tsunami evacuation sign

The University of Washington is a lead partner on a new multi-institution earthquake research center that will study the Cascadia subduction zone and bolster earthquake preparedness in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.


September 7, 2023

Video: New hives at UW Farm welcome us to ‘bee curious’

A close up of bees on a honey comb.

The UW Farm welcomed an addition this spring: two bee hives in an apiary on the south side of the Center for Urban Horticulture. The hives will serve as a teaching tool for students who want to know more about agriculture and the function of pollinators in the ecosystem.


UW claims top 3 spots on ‘Best Value’ list for Washington state; UW also ranks high on national list for educational and public impact

students on campus

The University of Washington has been recognized on two lists that measure impact on students and communities. The UW placed third in the nation among public universities on the Washington Monthly 2023 National University Rankings, which ranks the school’s impact on its graduates and the nation. In a separate ranking, all three UW campuses topped the state for best value, according to SmartAsset, a financial services portal.


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.


Q&A: Older adults want more say in companion robots, AI and data collection

An older person's hand is held by a younger person's hand.

Clara Berridge, associate professor of social work at the University of Washington, discusses her research into how older adults feel about technology that’s marketed for their safety and security, such as location trackers and companion robots.


August 29, 2023

Researchers prefer same-gender co-authors, UW study shows

A group of people at a table with papers and water bottles.

A new study from the University of Washington and Cornell University shows researchers more likely to write scientific papers with co-authors of the same gender, a pattern that can’t be explained by varying gender representations across scientific disciplines and time.


August 28, 2023

UW research links wildfire smoke to increased risk of emergency room visits for people of all ages

Taken together, the two papers’ findings suggest that wildfire smoke poses a risk to people of all ages, not just young children and older adults.


August 21, 2023

Statement from UW President Ana Mari Cauce on the departure of Jen Cohen, Director of Athletics

text reads "Statement"

We’re grateful to Jennifer Cohen for her 25 years of outstanding service to the University of Washington, including the last seven years as the Director of Athletics. We wish her success in her next endeavor, and we thank her for all that she has done to make Husky Athletics a thriving program for our student-athletes and our global community of alumni, fans and supporters.


August 16, 2023

Q&A: As AI changes education, important conversations for kids still happen off-screen

Jason Yip, a UW associate professor in the Information School, discusses how parents and schools can adapt to new technologies in ways that support children’s learning.


August 15, 2023

Ranking: UW among top 20 in the world, No. 3 in US publics

campus image

The University of Washington is No. 18 in the world — and No. 3 among U.S. public universities — on the 2023 Academic Ranking of World Universities, released Aug. 15.


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.


August 9, 2023

In the Field: UW team to spend six weeks visiting deep-ocean observatory

ship by dock in morning sun

Twenty-five undergraduates are among the participants on a 41-day cruise off the Oregon coast aboard the UW’s large research vessel, the R/V Thomas G. Thompson. Principal investigator Deborah Kelley, professor of oceanography, answers questions about the expedition to visit and maintain the cabled ocean observatory.


July 27, 2023

Q&A: UW researcher discusses just how much energy ChatGPT uses

A hand holding a phone that has ChatGPT on the screen

Training a large language model, such as ChatGPT, uses on average roughly equivalent to the yearly electricity consumption of over 1,000 U.S. households, according to Sajjad Moazeni, UW assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, who studies networking for AI and machine learning supercomputing.


July 18, 2023

Q&A: UW pharmacy professor Donald Downing on the over-the-counter birth control pill

On July 13, the Food and Drug Administration approved for the first time an over-the-counter birth control pill, expected to hit shelves in early 2024. The approval of the oral contraceptive Opill could drastically expand access to birth control, which for decades has been available only through a prescription. It’s a rare victory for reproductive…


Eight UW professors elected to Washington State Academy of Sciences

The Academy said members are elected “in recognition of their outstanding record of scientific and technical achievement, and their willingness to work on behalf of the Academy to bring the best available science to bear on issues within the state of Washington.” 


June 29, 2023

Statement from UW President Ana Mari Cauce on the Supreme Court’s affirmative action decisions

text reads "Statement"

A statement from University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce on the United States Supreme Court decisions Thursday striking down the consideration of race in college admissions.


June 26, 2023

New report, tool suggest how Washington can better protect against extreme heat

report cover with silhouettes on skyline

Two years after the Pacific Northwest heat dome — the deadliest weather-related disaster in state history — a collaborative effort has drawn up recommendations for how people and groups across the state could prevent future heat-related illness and save lives. The effort involves a report led by the UW Climate Impacts Group and an interactive risk-mapping tool led by the UW Center for Health and the Global Environment,


June 13, 2023

Allison Webel named interim dean of the School of Nursing

University of Washington Provost Mark  Richards announced that Allison Webel has agreed to serve as interim executive dean of the School of Nursing, effective Aug. 1, until a new permanent dean is selected.


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 7, 2023

UW statement regarding ongoing contract negotiations with postdocs, research scientists — June 7, 2023

text reads "Statement"

We are very disappointed at the postdoctoral researchers and research scientists’ decisions to strike after some significant progress was made in both negotiations recently. The UW has continued to bargain in good faith and has offers on the table in both negotiations that are fair and represent significant wage increases. Our postdocs and research scientists…


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

UW researcher discusses the buzz behind ‘Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’

A screenshot of Zelda protagonist Link standing outside the Shrine of Resurrection in the "Tears of the Kingdom" game

UW News sat down with Michele Newman, a University of Washington doctoral student in the Information School, to learn more about fans’ dedication to “Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.”


May 26, 2023

From Botswana to Taiwan, a dozen UW students receive Fulbright exchange awards

images of students

Twelve UW students and recent alumni were awarded Fulbright U.S. Student Program scholarships this year, joining about 2,000 students and recent graduates from around the country to study and teach abroad.


What’s in a name? Sometimes, the climate

By analyzing records from the U.S. Social Security Administration, two scientists at the University of Washington and Ohio University have discovered that the popularity of certain month and season names for girls varies by geographic region in the continental United States. The name April dominates monthly names in southern states where spring arrives early in the year. June is more popular in northern states where spring blooms later. Autumn is also more prevalent in the northern U.S., a region known for its brilliant fall foliage.


May 23, 2023

UW a top producer of Peace Corps volunteers; Forbes names UW a ‘Best Employer for New Graduates’

block W

The Peace Corps announced that the University of Washington is No. 3 on a list of top-volunteer producing institutions for the past two decades.


Q&A: Have a favorite food memory? How technology can help take you back

A hand holding a spring roll open in the palm. Inside the spring roll are noodles and finely chopped vegetables. Behind the hand is a plate containing more vegetables.

Danli Luo, a UW doctoral student of human centered design and engineering, developed a toolkit of sensors and controllers that helped her re-create three dishes from growing up in China: rice wine, tofu and spring roll wrappers.


May 16, 2023

School of Dentistry researchers to expand upon study into how and why our gums swell

Researchers collect a sample of oral bacteria from a study subject. Photo credit: Dr. Shatha Bamashmous.

Gingivitis research could also deepen our understanding of inflammation in the rest of the body, which can be difficult to study in real time.  


May 11, 2023

UW, partners celebrate the groundbreaking of new U District Station Building

Artist rendering of the new U District Station Building.

The University of Washington joined Lincoln Property Company, Intercontinental Real Estate Corporation and Sound Transit on May 10 to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new University District Station Building, along with local officials, community leaders and neighbors. The 266,000-square-foot office building resting above the University District light rail station will feature ground-floor retail and amenities, office space and a rooftop terrace.


Parenting tips can reduce substance use in first-year college students

laptop, notebook and backpack on a desk

A handbook for parents of incoming college students, developed by researchers at Washington State University and the University of Washington, finds that use of the book helped improve family connections and moderate substance use.


April 24, 2023

Awakening the canoe: UW Canoe Family prepares for this summer’s Tribal Canoe Journey

The wide end of a wooden paddle is being held by a gloved hand in an indoor workshop setting.

Member of the University of Washington Canoe Family have spent months carving traditional paddles using only hand tools, all in preparation for this summer’s Tribal Canoe Journey.


April 19, 2023

Q&A: Two ways UW researchers are studying marine microplastics

microplastics seen in a water tank

Two University of Washington researchers are using very different methods to investigate the issue of marine microplastics. For Earth Day, UW News asked them to discuss their research.



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