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Arts and entertainment | UW Notebook

November 21, 2024

ArtSci Roundup: December 2024

From campus to wherever you call home, we welcome you to learn from and connect with the College of Arts & Sciences community through public events spanning the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. We hope to see you this December. Open Exhibits Henry Art Gallery Through March 2025 | Overexposures: Photographs from the Henry Collection This focused presentation features a selection of photographs from the Henry’s collections that explore the uses of light to obscure, obliterate, and alter…

News releases | Research | Science

Fewer than 7% of global hotspots for whale-ship collisions have protection measures in place

A new study led by the University of Washington has for the first time quantified the risk for whale-ship collisions worldwide for four geographically widespread ocean giants that are threatened by shipping: blue, fin, humpback and sperm whales. In a paper published online Nov. 21 in Science, researchers report that global shipping traffic overlaps with about 92% of these whale species’ ranges. Only about 7% of areas at highest risk for whale-ship collisions have any measures in place to protect whales from this threat. These measures include speed reductions, both mandatory and voluntary, for ships crossing waters that overlap with whale migration or feeding areas.

Administrative affairs | News releases | Research

November 20, 2024

UW addresses USDA inspection report findings at WaNPRC

A routine inspection of the University of Washington’s animal care and use program conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on Oct. 8 identified issues that the UW had self-reported and corrected before the inspection took place.

News releases | Research | Technology

In the ‘Wild West’ of AI chatbots, subtle biases related to race and caste often go unchecked

University of Washington researchers developed a system for detecting subtle biases in AI models. They found seven of the eight popular AI models they tested in conversations around race and caste generated significant amounts of biased text in interactions — particularly when discussing caste. Open-source models fared far worse than two proprietary ChatGPT models.

Engineering | Expert quotes | News releases | Research | Technology

Q&A: A new medical AI model can help spot systemic disease by looking at a range of image types

UW assistant professor Sheng Wang discusses BiomedParse, an AI medical image analysis model that works across nine types of medical images to better predict systemic diseases. Medical professionals can load images into the system and ask the AI tool questions about them in plain English.

Engineering | News releases | Research | Technology

AI headphones create a ‘sound bubble,’ quieting all sounds more than a few feet away

A team led by researchers at the University of Washington has created a headphone prototype that allows listeners to hear people speaking within a bubble with a programmable radius of 3 to 6 feet. Voices and sounds outside the bubble are quieted an average of 49 decibels, even if they’re louder than those in the bubble.

News releases

November 11, 2024

UW recognizes Veterans Day with ceremonies and events

The University of Washington’s annual Veterans Day ceremony, held on Monday at the Medal of Honor Memorial near Parrington Hall, honored those who have served and featured music by the Husky Marching Band. The Monday ceremony kicked off a number of events during Veteran Appreciation Week at UW. UW alum Dr. Dana Covey, ’84, U.S. Navy, was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Veteran Award by Provost Tricia Serio. Covey is considered one of the world’s leading authorities on battlefield care…

Global | News releases | Research | Science

November 8, 2024

Miniature backpack-like tags offer insight into the movement of hummingbirds

A team led by scientists at the University of Washington and the University of Aberdeen attached tiny “backpack” trackers to hummingbirds in the Colombian Andes to learn more about their movements. As they report in a paper published Oct. 10 in the journal Ecology and Evolution, the tracking system will aid conservation efforts in this region by revealing the previously hidden movements of hummingbirds and other small animals.

Global | News releases | Research | Science

November 5, 2024

Reconstructing ancient Andean climate provides clues to climate change

As Earth faces unprecedented climate change, a look into the planet’s deep past may provide vital insights into what may lie ahead. But knowledge of the natural world millions of years ago is fragmented. A 15-year study of a site in Bolivia by a joint U.S.-Bolivia team has provided a comprehensive view of an ancient ecosystem when Earth was much warmer than it is today, and changed how we look at the Andes.

Engineering | Research | Science | UW News blog

November 4, 2024

NASA funds effort to study effects of the space environment on living organisms

NASA has awarded a five-year, $2.5 million grant to establish a regional scientific consortium based at the University of Washington, in partnership with Washington State University and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The consortium will use an interdisciplinary approach to explore how the space environment — both in low-Earth orbit and beyond — affects living things.

Administrative affairs | For UW employees | UW News blog

UW President, Provost commit to new processes, policies, training and more in response to antisemitism and Islamophobia task force reports

The University of Washington on Monday announced several improvements and new practices to address concerns of antisemitism and Islamophobia that were raised in a recent climate assessment and associated task force reports.

News releases | Research | Technology

October 31, 2024

AI tools show biases in ranking job applicants’ names according to perceived race and gender

University of Washington researchers found significant racial, gender and intersectional bias in how three state-of-the-art large language models ranked resumes. The models favored white-associated names 85% of the time, female-associated names only 11% of the time, and never favored Black male-associated names over white male-associated names.

Science | UW Notebook

October 30, 2024

UW researcher reveals ‘everything you (n)ever wanted to know’ about parasites in new children’s book

Chelsea Wood, a University of Washington associate professor of aquatic and fishery sciences, has an upcoming children’s book titled “Power to the Parasites! Everything You (N)ever Wanted to Know About the Creepy Crawlies Hidden in Your Home, Your Food, Your Pets – and Maybe Even in You!” The book introduces kids to the world of parasitism.

News releases

Report: UW drives nearly $21 billion, 112,000 jobs to help support Washington’s economy

Across its three campuses, the University of Washington generated a total impact on the state’s economy of $20.9 billion in fiscal year 2023, according to an economic contribution analysis released today. The study further concludes that the economic activity of the UW system supported or sustained 111,951 jobs statewide. 

Global | News releases

October 29, 2024

Estate of Stan and Alta Barer makes transformational gift to UW School of Law to support global sustainable development program

The University of Washington on Tuesday announced a transformational gift from the estate of Stan and Alta Barer to the School of Law, expanding the couple’s namesake institute: The Barer Institute for Leadership in Law & Global Development. The gift will support the recruitment of additional international fellows, increase scholarships, endow faculty positions and create more global impact.

Expert quotes | Population Health | UW News blog

Q&A: After developing a better way to count homelessness, UW researchers discuss how more accurate data can help providers and people

America’s homeless services system relies on a massive amount of data, and at first glance, that data is exacting. Federal reports describe the country’s unhoused population in granular detail, listing precisely how many people are experiencing homelessness in each city along with detailed demographic data. Want to know how many people ages 55-64 slept outside in Spokane last year? A spreadsheet confidently provides the answer: just one.  That data influences decisions at every level of government, from how the U.S….

Arts and entertainment | UW Notebook

October 24, 2024

ArtSci Roundup: November 2024

From campus to wherever you call home, we welcome you to learn from and connect with the College of Arts & Sciences community through public events spanning the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. We hope to see you this November. Election & Democracy Events November 7 | Trust on the Ballot: Voting in Washington Shortly after the General Election, three Washington Secretaries of State discuss the history and evolution of voting in our state—from the various systems in…

UW Notebook | Video

October 23, 2024

Video: UW historian on medieval European monsters, and the meaning of monsters

Charity Urbanski, a teaching professor of history at the UW, studies monsters and monstrosities in medieval Europe. One of her interests is the purpose monsters served for medieval Europeans, and what we can learn about medieval European society by looking at their monsters, which served as vehicles for expressing anxieties and fears.

Engineering | News releases | Research | Technology

From accessibility upgrades to a custom cat-food bowl, this mobile 3D printer can autonomously add features to a room

University of Washington researchers created MobiPrint, a mobile 3D printer that can automatically measure a room and print objects onto the floor. The team’s graphic interface lets users design objects in a space that the robot has mapped out. The prototype, which the team built on a modified consumer vacuum robot, can add a range of objects to rooms.

Public Health | Research | UW News blog

October 21, 2024

Sweetened beverage taxes decrease consumption in lower-income households by nearly 50%, UW study finds

New research from the University of Washington investigated responses to sweetened beverage taxes using the purchasing behavior of approximately 400 households in Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland and Philadelphia. Researchers found that after the tax was introduced, lower-income households decreased their purchases of sweetened beverages by nearly 50%, while higher-income households reduced purchases by 18%.

Arts and entertainment | UW Notebook

October 17, 2024

ArtSci Roundup: Frontiers of Physics Lecture, Film Screening, Washin Kai Lecture and more

This week, attend the Frontiers of Physics lecture, join the South Asia Center for a film screening, head to Kane Hall for a Washin Kai lecture, and more. Election & Democracy Events October 22 | State of Trust: Washington’s Political Climate and Voter Priorities, Online What is the current level of trust in our electoral system? What do Washingtonians see as the top priorities for their elected officials? How do they view candidates running for state and federal office? The Seattle…

Administrative affairs | News releases | UW and the community

Antisemitism and Islamophobia task forces issue final reports, findings and recommendations to UW leadership

Final reports from the University of Washington’s task forces on antisemitism and Islamophobia were released Tuesday. The task forces were established by UW President Ana Mari Cauce on March 7, 2024, with the goal of assessing “how students, faculty and staff are experiencing discrimination or harassment because they are Jewish and/or Palestinian, Middle Eastern or Muslim on our campus, and to what degree they feel the climate is supportive and welcoming.”

Politics and government | UW Notebook

Q&A: New book shows how innovation inequality fuels America’s political divide

Victor Menaldo, UW professor of political science, co-authored the forthcoming book, “U.S. Innovation Inequality and Trumpism.” The book focuses on how former President Donald Trump — like other populists that came before him — exploits ‘innovation inequality,” or the divide between areas that are more technologically advanced and those that aren’t.

UW and the community | UW Notebook

October 10, 2024

ArtSci Roundup: Election Events, Meany Hall Performances, Artist Panel and more

This week, attend the Conversation on Race, Gender, & Democracy lecture at Kane Hall, check out performances at Meany Hall, learn from a panel of artists at Henry Art Gallery, and more. Election & Democracy Events October 14, 6:30 – 8:00 pm | The 2024 Election: A Conversation on Race, Gender, & Democracy featuring Dr. Christina Greer, Kane Hall The Washington Institute for the Study of Inequality and Race (WISIR), in conjunction with the Department of Political Science, welcomes award-winning scholar and NPR…

Engineering | Expert quotes | Research | Science | UW News blog

October 4, 2024

Q&A: New dataset provides a robust picture of Hurricane Helene’s destruction — and could help design more resilient communities

UW researchers collaborated with people at multiple institutions to collect pre-storm data and place sensors to measure storm surge levels and wave height during Hurricane Helene’s landfall.

UW and the community | UW Notebook

October 3, 2024

ArtSci Roundup: Democracy Discussions series, Ellison Lecture, Faculty Recital and more

This week, head to Kane Hall for a Conversation on Race, Gender, & Democracy, attend the fall Ellison Lecture featuring the chief foreign-affairs correspondent of The Wall Street Journal, check out a faculty recital, and more. October 7, 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Biology Seminar | Bears in Bathtubs: How Behavior and Life History Shape Predator Responses to Global Change, Hitchcock Hall In this talk, biology professor Briana Abrahms will describe how an understanding of animal behavior and life history…

Research | UW News blog

October 1, 2024

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

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.

Environment | Public Health | Science | UW News blog

September 30, 2024

UW Climate Impacts Group contributes to new WA State Climate Resiliency Strategy

The University of Washington’s Climate Impacts Group has supported a newly released plan for state agencies to address the regional impacts of climate change. The plan, led by the Department of Ecology, includes 10 state agencies’ strategies to address climate impacts.

UW and the community | UW Notebook

September 27, 2024

ArtSci Roundup: Psychology Edwards Seminar, Democracy in Focus lecture series, First Wednesday Concerts and more

This week, attend the Psychology Edwards seminar, check out the First Wednesday Concert Series in the Allen Library, tune into the first lecture of the Democracy in Focus Lecture Series, and more. September 30, 12:00 – 1:20 pm | Psychology Edwards seminar talk with Alex L. White, Ph.D., Columbia University, Kindcaid Hall Can you recognize two written words simultaneously? Join the UW Department of Psychology for the Psychology Edwards seminar with Alex L. White, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor in the Department…