An intensive two week field course helped 20 University of Washington students learn firsthand about the challenges of managing dry, fire-prone forests of the Pacific Northwest.
November 8, 2013
The latest news from the UW
November 7, 2013
Cost-effective method accurately orders DNA sequencing along entire chromosomes
The method may help overcome a major obstacle that has delayed progress in designing rapid, low-cost — but still accurate — ways to assemble genomes from scratch. It also may validate certain types of chromosomal abnormalities in cancer.
Arts Roundup: Music, lectures — and the School of Drama’s ‘Fifth of July’
This week there is a smattering of events with a highlight being the School of Drama’s “Fifth of July,” directed by Professor Valerie Curtis-Newton. Also, if Mongolian music suits your fancy, you’re in luck because the vibrant young ensemble, AnDa Union makes their Seattle debut on the Meany stage. JewDub Talks 7 p.m., Nov. 7 | UW Tower Auditorium Short lectures on big ideas in Jewish history and culture. This year’s faculty speakers will discuss: “Are you Jewish or are…
November 6, 2013
Floods didn’t provide nitrogen ‘fix’ for earliest crops in frigid north
Floods didn’t make floodplains fertile during the dawn of human agriculture in the Earth’s far north. Turns out early human inhabitants can mainly thank cyanobacteria. It raises the question of whether modern farmers might reduce fertilizer use by taking advantage of cyanobacteria that occur, not just in the floodplains studied, but in soils around the world.
News Digest: TEDx talk on brainy crows, Town Hall ‘rocks’ tonight
Brainy crows subject of TEDx talk Saturday || Town Hall talk “Stories from My Pet Rocks” tonight
Washington home sales surged, affordability declined in third quarter
Washington state’s housing market continued to strengthen in the July-September quarter, registering the fifth consecutive quarterly improvement in home sales activity, according to the UW’s Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies.
Brain may play key role in blood sugar metabolism and diabetes development
Future diabetes treatment approaches might target regulatory systems in both the brain and the pancreas to achieve better blood glucose control, or even put the disease into remission.
UW scholars offer short takes on Shakespeare Nov. 14 at ACT Theatre
Ten Shakespeare scholars, students and actors, most from the University of Washington, will discuss the Bard’s life and work at Seattle’s ACT Theatre on Nov. 14 — and verily, they’ll be quick about it.
A shot in the dark: Detector at UW on the hunt for dark matter
Physicists are using a detector at the UW to search for a particle called an axion, which would be the first physical evidence of the universe’s dark matter.
November 5, 2013
‘Music is an infinite thing’: Jazz great Bill Frisell joins School of Music
The School of Music has lured Bill Frisell, one of modern jazz’s premier guitarists, to a position on the faculty.
November 4, 2013
More wildfires, earlier snowmelt, coastal threats top Northwest climate risks
A new comprehensive report co-authored by the UW’s Climate Impacts Group looks at what climate change will mean for Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
UW Bothell prof, students present crowd-funded study of coal train emissions
Atmospheric scientist Dan Jaffe tonight will present the first results of a crowd-funded study of train emissions, conducted with four undergraduates from the Seattle and Bothell campuses and funded by public donations.
November 1, 2013
Documents that Changed the World: The Rosetta Stone
The latest installment of Information School Professor Joe Janes’ podcast series takes a look at the 2,200-year-old Rosetta Stone.
UW surgical robot featured in 2013 movie ‘Ender’s Game’
A University of Washington surgical research robot appears in the sci-fi movie “Ender’s Game” starring Harrison Ford. Two UW students operated the robot during the filming of the movie, which opens Nov. 1 in theaters across the country.
October 31, 2013
Epilepsy film to be screened Nov. 9 at Harborview Medical Center
Independent film producer Louis Stanislaw will present “Living on the Edge” at 10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 9, in the Harborview Medical Center Research & Training Building. The showing will be followed by a panel discussion of individuals living with epilepsy and UW Medicine professionals who treat seizure disorders.
October 30, 2013
Arts Roundup: Faculty performances — and the Earshot Jazz Festival
As we head into November, the UW offers an array of events to get you out of the rain and into a museum or performance. If jazz is your flavor, make sure to check out the Earshot Jazz Festival with special performances by UW music professors and other local jazz favorites.
A first step in learning by imitation, baby brains respond to another’s actions
Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery for adults, but for babies it’s their foremost tool for learning. Now researchers from the University of Washington and Temple University have found the first evidence revealing a key aspect of the brain processing that occurs in babies to allow this learning by observation.
Institute of Medicine issues report today on youth concussions
UW injury expert Dr. Fred Rivara was vice chair of the committee. Its report recommends actions to reduce the occurrence and consequences of youth concussions in sports and in the military, and stresses the need to better understand their nature and treatment.
October 29, 2013
Crashing rockets could lead to novel sample-return technology
This year, in an annual trek to the Nevada desert, UW students deliberately launched rockets from altitude directly into a dry lakebed. These were early tests of a concept that eventually could be used to collect and return samples from an erupting volcano, a melting nuclear reactor or even an asteroid in space.
John Schaufelberger appointed dean of the UW College of Built Environments
University of Washington President Michael K. Young and Provost Ana Mari Cauce have announced that they are appointing interim dean John E. Schaufelberger to be the next dean of the UW College of Built Environments.
Redwood trees reveal history of West Coast rain, fog, ocean conditions
Scientists found a way to use coastal redwood trees as a window into historic climate, using oxygen and carbon atoms in the wood to detect fog and rainfall in previous seasons.
October 28, 2013
Much of rural India still waits for electricity
UW work contributes to largest international study of Alzheimer’s genes
Eleven regions of the human genome have been newly discovered to influence the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. The UW was one of 145 academic centers worldwide participating in this research, which involved analyzing genes from more than 74,000 people.
New musical theater degree begins with outreach, talent search
The first order of business for the UW’s new degree in musical theater is not greasepaint or tap shoes but public outreach and finding talented, committed students.
UW hosts series of events for Veterans Appreciation Week Nov. 5 to 11
The University of Washington is planning a number of events that will be held during the week preceding Veterans Day.
Columnist: Crowdfund UW computer-science expansion
October 25, 2013
Patient case takes health care students on an interprofessional learning journey
Students from the various health sciences schools worked together on a fictional case to solve the patient’s list of problems from different perspectives.
New UW-Pacific NW National Lab computing-research institute holds first public workshop
Based at the University of Washington, the Northwest Institute for Advanced Computing’s first public event on Oct. 30 will feature speakers from the UW, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and industry, as well as breakout sessions that explore various aspects of science and engineering technologies.
October 24, 2013
Arts Roundup: Music, exhibits, women’s festival — and a Halloween concert
It’s a big week for the arts on campus featuring dance, music, lectures, and a festival. From the annual Halloween Organ Concert to the ISIS: Women Arts Festival at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture — take your pick or pick them all.
Panel to discuss making a difference during health-care reform
UW faculty, staff and students are invited to attend a panel discussion on the “Affordable Care Act: How You Can Make a Difference,” from 5 to 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 29, in Hogness Auditorium at the UW Health Sciences Center.
October 23, 2013
Stephen Boyd: Making the best decisions in smart systems, products
Stephen Boyd of Stanford University is the speaker at this year’s Lytle Lecture Series hosted by the UW’s Department of Electrical Engineering. He will give a free public talk at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28.
October 22, 2013
Dogs in dawg regalia, class of 2033 in diapers – vote now for W Day photos
A Husky Spirit Photo Contest is part of the runup to this year’s W Day, Friday, Oct. 25.
Study: Quake-triggered landslides a significant hazard in Seattle
The next big earthquake on the Seattle fault could trigger destructive landslides in the city, potentially affecting a much larger area than previously thought, and in areas outside those currently considered to be landslide prone, a new UW-led study shows.
News Digest: Mercer Court grand opening, iSchool lecture Nov. 7, Honor: David Shields
Mercer Court Apartments grand opening Oct. 24 || UW iSchool presents author Jack Gantos Nov. 7 || David Shields honored by Artist Trust
Survey asks, ‘How do you use campus spaces?’
A new online survey will help develop a Campus Landscape Framework, a step toward updating the campus master plan.
October 21, 2013
Caryn G. Mathes selected as general manager for KUOW
Caryn G. Mathes, who has been general manager of WAMU in Washington, D.C., since 2005, has been selected as the general manager of KUOW, effective Jan. 2, 2014.
Native American longhouse breaks ground Oct. 25
A public, groundbreaking ceremony for the University of Washington Native American longhouse-style facility, Wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ (Intellectual House), will take place Friday, Oct. 25, 3-5:30 p.m.
‘Pushback’: Resisting the life of constant connectivity
Researchers at the University of Washington have studied and named a trend lots of people can identify with: the desire to resist constant connectivity and step back from the online world.
Three UW faculty members elected to Institute of Medicine
Blood disease specialist Dr. Janis Abkowitz and drug safety expert Dr, Bruce Psaty today were named new members of the prestigious Institute of Medicine, an honorary and national advisory group.
October 20, 2013
Global ocean currents explain why Northern Hemisphere is the soggier one
A new study in Nature Geoscience explains a major feature of global precipitation, and shows how a current originating from the poles influences tropical rainfall in Africa and southern India.