UW News
The latest news from the UW
August 4, 2020
Generous gift bolsters effort to diversify the education workforce
The University of Washington today announced a $6 million anonymous gift earmarked to bolster diversity in the education workforce, a key driver in ultimate K-12 student success, especially for students of color.
Tag(s): College of EducationAugust 3, 2020
New studies show how to save parasites and why it’s important
An international group of scientists has laid out an ambitious global conservation plan for parasites. A related paper led by the University of Washington found that responses of parasites to environmental change are likely to be complex, and that a changing world probably will see both outbreaks of some parasites and a total loss of other parasite species.
Tag(s): Chelsea Wood • College of the Environment • School of Aquatic and Fishery SciencesJuly 31, 2020
Soundbites: UW epidemiologist says face masks can be a tool for community health
Face coverings will continue to be an important and effective tool in combating the spread of COVID-19, public health experts say.
Tag(s): COVID-19 • Department of Epidemiology • Jen Balkus
Empathy and understanding: UW psychologists offer tips on relationships during the pandemic
University of Washington psychologists say there are ways to approach interactions with friends and loved ones that can provide a positive path forward and help maintain healthy relationships during the pandemic.
Tag(s): COVID-19 • Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences • Department of Psychology • Jane Simoni • Jonathan Kanter • MIchele Bedard-Gilligan • Peter Rosencrans • population healthJuly 30, 2020
Meet the real-life kraken: the octopus
Seattle’s new hockey team is named for a legendary creature of the sea, and that’s a perfect fit, according to octopus researchers at the University of Washington.
Tag(s): David Gire • Department of Psychology
UW expert: Kraken are undefeatable; few who see the beast live to tell the tale
Lauren Poyer is an assistant teaching professor in Scandinavian studies. She teaches courses in Scandinavian mythology and Vikings in contemporary culture, among other topics, and she is well steeped in all kinds of Nordic and Icelandic lore.
Tag(s): Department of Scandinavian Studies • Lauren Poyer
Face coverings an important tool to fight COVID-19
Face coverings will continue to be an important and effective tool in combating the spread of COVID-19.
Tag(s): COVID-19 • Department of Epidemiology • Jen Balkus • School of Public Health
Deep-sea anglerfishes have evolved a new type of immune system
Deep-sea anglerfishes employ an incredible reproductive strategy. Tiny dwarfed males become permanently attached to relatively gigantic females, fuse their tissues and then establish a common blood circulation. Now scientists have figured out why female anglerfishes so readily accept their male mates. Their findings are published July 30 in Science.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences • Ted Pietsch
National Academies publishes guide to help public officials make sense of COVID-19 data
University of Washington professor Adrian Raftery is lead author on a National Academies guide to help officials interpret and understand different COVID-19 statistics and data sources as they make decisions about opening and closing schools, businesses and community facilities.
Tag(s): Adrian Raftery • College of Arts & Sciences • COVID-19 • Department of Sociology • Department of Statistics • population healthJuly 29, 2020
Rankings roundup: UW rises to No. 26 in the world, fourth among US publics; Bothell, Seattle campuses lead list of colleges that ‘pay off the most’
The University of Washington was recognized this week in two separate rankings for its global impact in teaching and research, as well as for its value to graduates compared to cost of attendance.
Tag(s): rankings
Expert FAQ: Wildfires in the Pacific Northwest during the COVID-19 pandemic
The University of Washington has a long history of leading research into the impacts of wildfires from an ecological and health perspective. We worked with two experts to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about wildfires in the Pacific Northwest, including the ways that the pandemic is increasing our community’s vulnerability to extreme wildfire events in the region.
Tag(s): Brian Harvey • College of the Environment • COVID-19 • population health • School of Public Health • Tania Busch Isaksen • wildfires
UW Libraries publishes new online research guides on racial justice, African American experience in Pacific Northwest
UW Libraries has published timely new online guides to help researchers studying the Black experience in the Pacific Northwest and the broader topic of racial justice.
Tag(s): African American Research & Archival Collections in the Pacific Northwest Collections • Anne Jenner • UW LibrariesJuly 28, 2020
Faculty/staff honors: Women in engineering network nod, winning magazine article on geologic hazards and refugees — and two national genetics society 2020 awards
Recent honors to University of Washington faculty and staff members have come from the Women in Engineering ProActive Network, Association Media & Publishing and The American Society of Human Genetics.
Tag(s): Center for Evaluation & Research for STEM Equity • Department of Genome Sciences • Department of Sociology • Elizabeth Litzler • Joseph Wartman • Mary-Claire King • Peter Byers • UW Medicine • Will Pollock
ArtSci Roundup: “The Last Stargazers” Book Launch, VoiceThreads, and More
During this time of uncertainty and isolation, find solace in digital opportunities to connect, share, and engage. Each week, we will share upcoming events that bring the UW, and the greater community, together online. Many of these online opportunities are streamed through Zoom. All UW faculty, staff, and students have access to Zoom Pro via UW-IT. Astronomer…
Tag(s): Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • Department of Astronomy • Department of History • Department of Political Science • East Asia Center • East Asia Resource Center • Henry Art Gallery • Jacob Lawrence Gallery • School of Art + Art History + Design • Stroum Center for Jewish StudiesJuly 27, 2020
Pristine air over Southern Ocean suggests early industrial era’s clouds not so different from today’s
A new study led by the University of Washington and the University of Leeds uses satellite data over the Southern Hemisphere to understand the makeup of global clouds since the Industrial Revolution. This research tackles one of the largest uncertainties in today’s climate models — the long-term effect of tiny atmospheric particles on climate change.
Tag(s): climate • climate change • College of the Environment • Department of Atmospheric Sciences • Robert WoodJuly 20, 2020
‘A world of my own’: José Alaniz publishes a life of cartooning — so far — in collection ‘The Phantom Zone’
José Alaniz says that comics — especially superhero tales — hooked him and “rewired” his brain at an early age. They also got him drawing his own comics, chronicling his life and the things he observes. Now Alaniz, a UW professor of Slavic languages and literatures, has published a collection of his own drawings and essays. “The Phantom Zone.”
Tag(s): Department of Comparative Literature • Department of Slavic Languages and Literature • Jose Alaniz
ArtSci Roundup: Virtual Author Event, Drop-In Meditation Session, and More
During this time of uncertainty and isolation, find solace in digital opportunities to connect, share, and engage. Each week, we will share upcoming events that bring the UW, and the greater community, together online. Many of these online opportunities are streamed through Zoom. All UW faculty, staff, and students have access to Zoom Pro via UW-IT. Virtual…
Tag(s): ArtsUW • Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • Center for Child and Family Well-Being • Department of Dance • Department of History • Henry Art Gallery • Jackson School of International Studies • School of Drama • School of Marine and Environmental Affairs • School of Music • South Asia Center • Superfund Research Program
Legal marijuana may be slowing reductions in teen marijuana use, study says
A longitudinal study of more than 230 teens and young adults in Washington state finds that teens may be more likely to use marijuana following legalization – with the proliferation of stores and increasing adult use of the drug — than they otherwise would have been.
Tag(s): Jennifer Bailey • Marina Epstein • Rick Kosterman • School of Social Work • Social Development Research GroupJuly 16, 2020
7 University of Washington researchers elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences in 2020
Seven scientists and engineers at the University of Washington have been elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences, according to an announcement July 15 by the academy.
Tag(s): Center for Ecosystem Sentinels • Christine Luscombe • Clean Energy Institute • College of Arts & Sciences • College of Engineering • College of the Environment • David Montgomery • Department of Bioengineering • Department of Biology • Department of Biostatistics • Department of Chemistry • Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering • Department of Earth and Space Sciences • Department of Epidemiology • Department of Materials Science & Engineering • Department of Pharmacology • Elizabeth Halloran • Institute for Nano-Engineered Systems • Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institute • Nancy Allbritton • Ning Zheng • School of Medicine • Steve Kramer • Sue Moore • Washington State Academy of Sciences
Faculty/staff honors: ‘Architect’ magazine award, national society president-elect, library research honor — and runner-up for a national award for young scientists
Recent honors to University of Washington faculty and staff have come from Architect magazine, the Center for Research Libraries, member states of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the American Society of Human Genetics.
Tag(s): Chelsea Wood • College of Built Environments • College of the Environment • Department of Architecture • Gail Jarvik • Judith Henchy • Rick Mohler • School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences • UW Data Science for Social Good Program • UW Libraries • UW Libraries Southeast Asia Section • UW MedicineJuly 15, 2020
A GoPro for beetles: Researchers create a robotic camera backpack for insects
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a tiny wireless steerable camera that can ride aboard an insect or an insect-sized robot.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering • Department of Mechanical Engineering • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering • Sawyer Fuller • Shyam GollakotaJuly 13, 2020
ArtSci Roundup: Burke Museum Online Mini-Exhibits, “Literature, Language, and Culture” Dialogue Series, and more
During this time of uncertainty and isolation, find solace in digital opportunities to connect, share, and engage. Each week, we will share upcoming events that bring the UW, and the greater community, together online. Many of these online opportunities are streamed through Zoom. All UW faculty, staff, and students have access to Zoom Pro via UW-IT. Burke…
Tag(s): Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • Center for Child and Family Well-Being • Department of Dance • Department of Political Science • Department of Sociology • Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies • Henry Art Gallery • Jacob Lawrence Gallery • School of Art + Art History + Design • School of Drama
UW books in brief: Mutiny at sea, an anthropologist’s memoir, ‘unsettling’ Native American art histories, global social media design — and an award for UW Press
Notable new books by UW faculty and staff include a study of rebellion at sea, an emeritus faculty member’s Buddhist-focused memoir, a reconsideration of Northwest Coast Native American art with Indigenous perspectives in mind, thoughts on bridging cultural gaps through design — and an award for the editor-in-chief of UW Press.
Tag(s): Bill Holm Center at the Burke Museum • Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • Charles Keyes • Department of Anthropology • Department of Sociology • Huatong Sun • Kathryn Bunn-Marcuse • Larin McLaughlin • School of Art + Art History + Design • Steven Pfaff • University of Washington Press • UW TacomaJuly 9, 2020
Former NCAA head football coach Chris Petersen named Fritzky Chair in Leadership at UW’s Foster School of Business
Chris Petersen, former head football coach at the University of Washington and Boise State University, has been appointed as the Edward V. Fritzky Endowed Chair in Leadership at the UW Foster School of Business for the 2020-2021 school year, officials announced today. Established in 2002, this prestigious faculty position is designed to bring distinguished leaders to campus to share their expertise with faculty and students.
Tag(s): Chris Petersen • Foster School of BusinessJuly 8, 2020
UW School of Oceanography holds No. 1 global ranking; more than two dozen areas in top 50
Nine University of Washington subjects ranked in the top 10 and the UW School of Oceanography held its position as No. 1 in the world on the Global Ranking of Academic Subjects list for 2020. The ranking, released June 29, was conducted by researchers at the Center for World-Class Universities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
Tag(s): rankingsJuly 7, 2020
History of Duwamish River, its people, explored in new book ‘The River That Made Seattle’
BJ Cummings,community engagement manager for the Superfund Research Program at the UW, discusses her book “The River that Made Seattle: A Human and Natural History of the Duwamish,” published in July by UW Press.
Tag(s): BJ Cummings • Superfund Research Program • University of Washington PressJuly 6, 2020
ArtSci Roundup: Seattle Art Fair Online, Drop-In Meditation Session, and More
During this time of uncertainty and isolation, find solace in digital opportunities to connect, share, and engage. Each week, we will share upcoming events that bring the UW, and the greater community, together online. Many of these online opportunities are streamed through Zoom. All UW faculty, staff, and students have access to Zoom Pro via UW-IT. Seattle…
Tag(s): ArtsUW • Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • Center for Child and Family Well-Being • College of Arts & Sciences • DXARTS • Henry Art Gallery • Jackson School of International Studies • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • Meany Hall for the Performing Arts • School of Music • Stroum Center for Jewish StudiesJuly 2, 2020
Commencement, UW’s biggest celebration, reimagined as an online event
Sara Griggs describes how the UW Office of Ceremonies moved its biggest event online for the unique circumstances of the quarantine restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tag(s): Commencement • COVID-19 • Office of Student lifeJuly 1, 2020
University of Washington releases finalized Sustainability Action Plan
The Sustainability Action Plan includes five guiding principles and 10 measurable targets along with annual actions to reach those targets. Each year, the UW will evaluate the immediate actions needed over the next fiscal year to respond to changing realities and needs across our campuses.
Tag(s): UW SustainabilityJune 30, 2020
UW EarthLab and The Nippon Foundation launch Ocean Nexus Center
The University of Washington and The Nippon Foundation today announced the launch of the Nippon Foundation Ocean Nexus Center, an interdisciplinary research group at the UW that studies changes, responses and solutions to societal issues that emerge in relationship with the oceans. The Center will bring uncompromised, critical voices to policy and public conversations to enable research and studies equaling $32.5 million spread over 10 years.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • EarthLab • Ocean Nexus Center • School of Marine and Environmental Affairs • Yoshitaka Ota
UW, Public Health – Seattle & King County responding to coronavirus cases in Greek system
The University of Washington and Public Health – Seattle & King County continue to respond to a cluster of cases among residents of Greek houses north of the Seattle campus, and their close contacts.
Tag(s): COVID-19June 29, 2020
ArtSci Roundup: Drop-in meditation session, Jacob Lawrence Vimeo channel, and more
During this time of uncertainty and isolation, find solace in digital opportunities to connect, share, and engage. Each week, we will share upcoming events that bring the UW, and the greater community, together online. Many of these online opportunities are streamed through Zoom. All UW faculty, staff, and students have access to Zoom Pro via UW-IT. Drop-in…
Tag(s): ArtsUW • Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • Center for Child and Family Well-Being • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of History • Department of Political Science • Henry Art Gallery • Jacob Lawrence Gallery • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • Meany Hall for the Performing Arts • School of Art + Art History + Design • Simpson Center for the Humanities
Trouble paying medical bills can lead to longer episodes of homelessness, new study shows
A new University of Washington study of people experiencing homelessness in King County finds that unpaid medical bills were their primary source of debt, and that debt extended their period of homelessness by an average of two years.
Tag(s): Amy Hagopian • population health • School of Public Health
UW Tacoma’s Eric Madfis explores curbing school violence in new book
A talk with Eric Madfis of UW Tacoma about his new book “How to Stop School Rampage Killing: Lessons from Averted Mass Shootings and Bombings,” published this spring by Palgrave MacMillan.
Tag(s): Eric Madfis • UW TacomaJune 25, 2020
Sleep improving for university students under stay-at-home orders
In a study published June 10 in Current Biology, a team from the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Washington reports that a group of students at CU Boulder generally got more sleep after widespread stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines were put into place in mid-March.
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • COVID-19 • COVID-19 studies • Department of Biology • Horacio de la Iglesia • population health
Soundbites: UW public health experts on benefits of face coverings
Beginning June 26, face coverings will be required statewide in Washington. Hilary Godwin, dean of the UW School of Public Health, offers some practical information about using masks to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Tag(s): COVID-19 • Hilary Godwin • School of Public HealthJune 24, 2020
ArtSci Roundup: Drop-in Meditation Session, Meany Center Virtual Programming, and more
During this time of uncertainty and isolation, find solace in digital opportunities to connect, share, and engage. Each week, we will share upcoming events that bring the UW, and the greater community, together online. Many of these online opportunities are streamed through Zoom. All UW faculty, staff, and students have access to Zoom Pro via UW-IT. Drop-in…
Tag(s): ArtsUW • Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • Center for Child and Family Well-Being • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of History • Henry Art Gallery • Jackson School of International Studies • Jacob Lawrence Gallery • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • School of Art + Art History + Design • School of Music • South Asia Center • UW Alumni Association
Puget Sound eelgrass beds create a ‘halo’ with fewer harmful algae, new method shows
Genetic clues show that eelgrass growing underwater along Puget Sound shorelines is associated with fewer of the single-celled algae that produce harmful toxins in shellfish. The evidence shows this effect extends 45 feet beyond the edge of the eelgrass bed.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • Ryan Kelly • School of Marine and Environmental Affairs
Study asks Washington state residents to describe food security and access during pandemic, economic downturn
A new online survey for Washington state residents has launched to gather data on how the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic downturn have affected food access and economic security. The Washington State Food Security Survey, which went live June 18 and runs through July 31, is open to all Washington state residents aged 18 or over.
Tag(s): Adam Drewnowski • COVID-19 • COVID-19 studies • Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences • Department of Epidemiology • Jennifer Otten • population health • School of Public Health
Videos: If you fish the Duwamish in Seattle, better eat the salmon — Comer el salmón, Ăn cá hồi, បរិភោគត្រីសាម៉ុង — and here’s how
It could take another generation before resident fish in the heavily polluted Lower Duwamish Waterway in Seattle will be safe to eat. Yet many fishers from a wide range of cultural backgrounds continue to fish the 5-mile stretch of river for fun, cultural connections and food even as cleanup of this designated Superfund site continues….
Tag(s): Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences • population health • School of Public Health • Superfund Research Program • Thomas BurbacherNext Page »
