Justin Michalka has been named Vice President for University Development at the University of Washington, Senior Vice President for University Advancement Mary Gresch announced today. Michalka’s appointment begins July 1, 2026.
May 20, 2026
The latest news from the UW
May 19, 2026
Three UW faculty members elected American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Three University of Washington faculty members have been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Their work spans environmental science, computing and engineering, addressing challenges ranging from climate resilience and ecosystem sustainability to artificial intelligence and accessible healthcare technologies. Founded in 1780, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences recognizes leaders across disciplines whose work advances research, public policy and the common good. The Academy elects roughly 250 members each year. Daniel Schindler, UW professor in the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, was elected for research on how climate change, urbanization, and land use…
May 18, 2026
3 UW-affiliated graduate students among this year’s 30 Soros Fellows
Two current University of Washington graduate students and one recent alumnus received this year’s prestigious Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans.
May 14, 2026
Q&A: How evolution influences nature-based infrastructure
Marina Alberti, a University of Washington professor of urban design and planning, studies how cities and natural ecosystems influence one another. UW News spoke to Alberti about how climate change is triggering evolutionary change within nature-based infrastructure projects — and what urban planners can do about it.
A new method could help Washington shellfish farmers control a pesky shrimp
Burrowing shrimp, native to Washington, create problems for shellfish farmers. As their name suggests, these creatures burrow in marine sediments, and the excavated material piles up on the surface, which can smother oysters and clams growing there. State-funded research led by the University of Washington offers a new, non-chemical approach to controlling shrimp populations in shellfish-growing areas.
UW selects Studio Joseph to design Ana Mari Cauce Welcome Center exhibits
The University of Washington today announced the selection of Studio Joseph as the exhibition and storytelling partner for the Ana Mari Cauce Welcome Center. Based in New York, Studio Joseph is known for its nuanced understanding of brand expression and its skill in co‑creating environments that are both inspiring and authentic to the institutions they represent.
May 13, 2026
UW researchers decipher beluga calls to bolster conservation efforts
In a new study, University of Washington scientists eavesdropped on Cook Inlet belugas to better understand the context of their calls and how human noise is impacting their ability to communicate with each other.
May 12, 2026
Nobel Prize winner and Husky alumna Mary E. Brunkow to address graduates at UW’s 151st Commencement
Graduates at the University of Washington’s 151st Commencement, scheduled for Saturday, June 13, at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium, will hear from Mary E. Brunkow, Class of ’83, who shared the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
May 11, 2026
Q&A: UW researchers discuss their work on the Mariana Islands and the impact of devastating early-season typhoon
Super Typhoon Sinlaku caused widespread damage on the Mariana islands in April, leaving many people without power, tearing roofs off homes and destroying vital infrastructure. Several ongoing UW research projects focused on native birds and plants were disrupted.
May 8, 2026
Joel Thornton selected as dean of the College of the Environment
University of Washington Provost Tricia R. Serio announced that Joel Thornton will serve as the next Maggie Walker Dean of the College of the Environment. His appointment is effective June 1, pending approval from the UW Board of Regents.
UW researchers launch ‘little free pantry’ mapping pilot, internet-connected pantries in Seattle
University of Washington researchers launched a pilot app that maps ‘little free pantries’ throughout the Seattle area and gives pantry users and donors new tools to communicate with and help one another.
May 6, 2026
Near-miss tsunami in Alaska during tourist season last year highlights increasing environmental instability
A new analysis of a 481-meter tsunami generated by a landslide in Alaska’s popular Tracy Arm Fjord last summer describes how glacial retreat, due to global warming, primed the fjord for the colossal wave and what, if any, warning signs preceded it.
Fewer insects, fewer nutritious crops: Pollinator decline puts our health at risk
When pollinators decline, families risk poorer nutrition leading to higher vulnerability to illness and infections, and deeper cycles of poverty and poor health. One quarter of the global population currently suffer from this “hidden hunger.”
May 5, 2026
Q&A: How are teachers reckoning with AI in schools?
Katie Davis, a UW professor in the Information School, discusses a study in which she and a team of researchers interviewed 22 teachers about AI use.
May 1, 2026
UW unveils this year’s Husky 100 — exemplary students from across all three campuses
The University of Washington unveiled the 2026 Husky 100, recognizing 100 undergraduate, graduate and professional students from the UW Bothell, Seattle and Tacoma campuses in all areas of study who are making the most of their time at the UW and are making an impact in their communities.
April 30, 2026
Washington students return to UW campus for Engineering Discovery Days 2026
Discovery Days gives K-12 students from across Washington state a chance to experience science and engineering concepts for themselves at the University of Washington’s Seattle campus.
April 29, 2026
Q&A: UW professor lends human rights expertise to FIFA, 2026 World Cup
Anita Ramasastry, a professor of law at the University of Washington, is an expert in the convergence of business and human rights. After the 2022 World Cup, FIFA made Ramasastry an independent advisor to its human rights subcommittee. Now, as the 2026 World Cup approaches, her involvement includes: chairing the human rights advisory group for FIFA 2026 and drafting the human rights action plan for host city Seattle.
April 28, 2026
April research highlights: Sunbird tongues, Seattle fault, inbound asteroids, more
Explore recent research from the University of Washington: how sunbirds sip nectar through straw-like tongues, why the Seattle Fault might not pose as great a risk as previously thought, how to gauge landslide dam risk in the PNW, what marine microbes use for making meals and when the Simonyi Survey Telescope at the NSF-DOE Rubin Observatory will spot small inbound asteroids.
BikeButler map creates personalized routes for riders based on preferences like speed limits and road conditions
University of Washington researchers created BikeButler, a demo web app that lets users find personalized bike routes in Seattle. Cyclists plug in their destination and origin — just like in other mapping apps — and can then toggle sliders for eight attributes to create personalized route options.
April 23, 2026
Researchers discover the fossil of a new hamster-sized mammal that lived alongside dinosaurs on the Pacific Coast
A research team led by the UW has identified a new species of an ancient rodent-like creature. The new species, named Cimolodon desosai, was about the size of a golden hamster, the researchers said. It likely scampered on the ground and in the trees and ate fruits and insects.
April 22, 2026
Q&A: UW scientists decode the logic behind cells’ mysterious protein stockpiles
UW News spoke with Paul Wiggins, a University of Washington associate professor of both physics and bioengineering, to learn about a surprisingly relatable behavior prompting bacteria to stockpile huge reserves of essential proteins.
April 21, 2026
UW physicists win 2026 Breakthrough Prize for study of enigmatic particle
David Hertzog, a University of Washington professor of physics, is a recipient of the 2026 Breakthrough Prize for Fundamental Physics. The award is shared among roughly 400 scientists and celebrates decades of work to better understand the muon — a subatomic particle with anomalous properties.
April 20, 2026
Statement on Department of Justice compliance review
A statement from the University of Washington in response to a U.S. Department of Justice compliance review that was announced by a U.S. assistant attorney general on social media.
Washington’s hepatitis C elimination initiative expanded access to testing and treatment while reducing per-patient costs, UW-led study finds
A directive signed by former Gov. Jay Inslee in 2018 aimed to eliminate hepatitis C from Washington state by 2030. A new study led by the University of Washington found that the plan not only expanded access to tests and treatment, but may save money in the long run.
April 15, 2026
UW’s Claire Willing named fellow of Ecological Society of America
The Ecological Society of America named the UW’s Claire Willing a 2026 Early Career Fellow. Willing, an assistant professor of environmental and forest science, studies fungal ecology, looking at how fungi are evolving and supporting plant communities as the climate changes.
Planets need more water to support life than scientists previously thought
In a new study, University of Washington researchers show that an Earth-sized planet likely needs at least 20 to 50% of the water in Earth’s oceans to maintain a critical natural cycle that keeps water on the surface. These new parameters could exclude many exoplanets in the so-called habitable zone.
April 14, 2026
UW earns Gold STARS rating for sustainability performance
The University of Washington has earned a Gold rating from the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, or STARS.
Tiny cameras in earbuds let users talk with AI about what they see
University of Washington researchers developed a system called VueBuds that uses tiny cameras in off-the-shelf wireless earbuds to allow users to talk with an AI model about the scene in front of them. For instance, a user might look at a Korean food package and say, “Hey VueBuds, translate this for me.” They’d then hear an AI voice say, “The visible text translates to ‘Cold Noodles’ in English.
April 13, 2026
A fossil of a new carnivoran species effectively doubles the evolutionary history of the weasel family
A new study doubles the evolutionary history of the weasel family. Researchers, including Chris Law, a UW principal research scientist in the biology department, have determined that a fossil that was discovered in Spain belongs to a new species dating back to around 6.5 million years ago. This new species was likely similar in size to the smallest living weasel species today, the least weasel.
At quantum testbed lab, researchers across the UW probe ‘spooky’ mysteries of quantum phenomena
At the brand-new Quantum Technologies Training and Testbed lab, researchers from across the UW probe the “spooky” mysteries of quantum phenomena.
UW School of Law to convene ‘Neither Sword Nor Purse,’ a national rule of law symposium on defending America’s independent judiciary
As judges across the United States face growing political pressure, public attacks and threats to their personal safety, the University of Washington School of Law will host a national symposium on April 17 and 18 to examine how to protect America’s independent federal judiciary and the rule of law.
April 9, 2026
David Lance appointed the UW’s chief of staff to the president
University of Washington President Robert J. Jones on Wednesday announced that David Lance has been appointed chief of staff to the president, effective May 11. The chief of staff serves as a senior advisor to the president and plays a critical role in advancing the University’s strategic priorities and institutional goals.
ArtSci Roundup: May 2026
Come curious. Leave inspired. The UW offers an exciting lineup of in-person and online events. From thought-provoking art and music to conversations on culture, history, and science, the UW community invites you to explore, learn, and connect across disciplines throughout the University. And you don’t have to wait until May: Take a look at everything still happening in April. Sign up to receive a monthly notice when the ArtSci Roundup has been published. ArtSci On Your Own Time: Video |…
April 7, 2026
UW is a top producer of Peace Corps volunteers
The Peace Corps announced Tuesday that the University of Washington is again No. 3 on the list of top volunteer-producing institutions since the international program launched in 1961.
April 6, 2026
UW’s graduate and professional programs highly ranked by US News & World Report
The University of Washington’s graduate and professional degree programs again were recognized as among the best in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Graduate Schools released late Monday.
Parasitic tapeworm — a risk to domestic dogs and humans — found in Washington coyotes
New evidence suggests that a disease-causing tapeworm that has been spreading across the United States and Canada has arrived in the Pacific Northwest. The tapeworm, called Echinococcus multilocularis, was found in one-third of coyotes surveyed from the Puget Sound region.
April 2, 2026
Early data from Rubin Observatory reveals over 11,000 new asteroids
Using preliminary data from the Simonyi Survey Telescope at the NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory, scientists have discovered over 11,000 new asteroids in our solar system. The findings include hundreds of distant worlds beyond Neptune as well as 33 previously unknown near-Earth objects.
March 31, 2026
Q&A: Ryan Calo, law professor and interdisciplinary researcher, talks about his new book, “Law and Technology”
Since Ryan Calo joined University of Washington School of Law in 2012, he has become a leading expert on the law and emerging technology.
Cheryl Wright-Wilson and Raymond Wilson bequest supports UW’s College of Education, School of Pharmacy and School of Medicine
It all started with a slide rule. In the fall of 1965, during Cheryl Wright’s first week at the University of Washington, she went to Suzzallo Library to complete a chemistry assignment. She needed help with a math problem and saw a boy across the reading room who had a slide rule — an analog calculator. The young pharmacy student who helped her that day was Raymond Wilson. Together the couple, who go by Cherie and Ray, did far more than solve a mathematical equation — they married and formed a bond that’s lasted more than six decades.
March 30, 2026
UW researcher gives keynote speech on human-wildlife coexistence and climate adaptation at international roundtable
Briana Abrahms, associate professor of biology at the University of Washington, studies how climate change affects human-wildlife interactions and increases conflict around the world. In January, she gave the keynote speech at the International Parliamentary Roundtable on Human-Wildlife Coexistence held in Botswana.