March 8, 2013
The latest news from the UW
March 7, 2013
Tracking sediments’ fate in largest-ever dam removal
Any day now, the world’s largest dam-removal project will release a century’s worth of sediment . For geologists, it’s a unique opportunity to study natural and engineered river systems.
Arts Roundup: Music, opera, drama — and dinosaurs
Lots of music this week, plus “Cyrano” continues and the Burke Museum holds Dino Day, a family-friendly event 65 million years in the making.
March 6, 2013
UW nautilus expedition may have spied new species
A University of Washington research team has captured color photographs of what could be a previously undocumented species of chambered nautilus, a cephalopod mollusk often classified as a “living fossil,” in the waters off American Samoa in the South Pacific. “This is certainly a new taxon, but we are not sure if it is a new species, subspecies or variety,” said UW paleontologist Peter Ward, who led the expedition to Samoa and Fiji. “The Samoan nautiluses are large for the…
Kate Starbird’s new path leads to UW
Crow slumber party at UW Bothell
March 5, 2013
News Digest: UW students speak at Town Hall, nominations due, celebrate Philosophy in Schools program, tobacco cessation help
UW Science Now kicks off at Town Hall tonight || Celebrating UW Women nominations due March 11 || Nominations sought for fourth annual Husky Green Awards || Grade-school students take on philosophy in panel discussion || Hall Health Center expands tobacco cessation program
March 4, 2013
United States lags behind many developed countries on key health measures
A public symposium on the Global Burden of Diseases study will be held on campus Monday, March 11.
Lost and Found Films: The Tacoma Narrows Bridge and more, 1940
“Governor’s Day 2,” a six-minute montage of colorful campus scenes, is the latest in the Lost and Found Films series, where readers help identify snippets of UW footage.
‘True grit’ erodes assumptions about evolution
New work in Argentina where scientists had previously thought Earth’s first grasslands emerged 38 million years ago, shows the area at the time covered with tropical forests rich with palms, bamboos and gingers. Grit and volcanic ash in those forests could have caused the evolution of teeth in horse-like animals that scientists mistakenly thought were adaptations in response to emerging grasslands.
February 28, 2013
Arts Roundup: Dance, art, music, lectures — and students stage ‘Cyrano’
This week the Undergraduate Theater Society stages the Cyrano de Bergerac story and the School of Drama performs “Pentecost.” There’s also the 2013 Dance Majors Concert.
Changes in cloud distribution explain some weather patterns
Regional cloud changes may be as important for climate change as the overall amount of cloud cover.
February 27, 2013
Tusk tracking will tackle illegal trade
UW biologist to push for more forensic testing of seized ivory to help track down poachers, slow elephant slaughter.
Women Who Rock (un)conference, launch of oral history archive – with video
The Women Who Rock Project, a collaboration between University of Washington and the community organizers, will hold its third “unconference” combined with the launch of its oral history archive March 9.
Contaminated diet contributes to phthalate and bisphenol A exposure
People are exposed to these endocrine-disrupting chemicals even if they eat an organic diet and do not store, prepare or cook in plastic containers.
Bundle up for Polar Science Weekend at Pacific Science Center
The annual Polar Science Weekend, featuring many UW students and faculty, takes place tomorrow through Sunday at Pacific Science Center.
February 26, 2013
Michael B. Bragg selected as dean of UW College of Engineering
Michael B. Bragg, professor and interim engineering dean at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, has been selected as dean of the UW College of Engineering.
February 25, 2013
Eric Ames’ new book focuses on filmmaker Werner Herzog
Eric Ames, UW associate professor of Germanics, discusses his new book about filmmaker Werner Herzog.
UW undergraduates embark on three-week research cruise off Japan
Eleven UW undergraduates leave today on an unusually ambitious research and teaching expedition to study the Kuroshio Current off Japan.
February 22, 2013
News Digest: Flower and garden show winner, RecycleMania under way, Honor: Michael Gelb and František Tureček
Part-time UW gardener designs winning display garden || RecycleMania a chance to increase recycling, composting || Newborn screening test brings chemical society honor to Gelb, Tureček
February 21, 2013
Drugs to slow aging are a matter of when, not if
Evidence suggests it will someday be possible to slow down aging and delay the onset of diseases common in the elderly.
Using amount of fish caught as measure of fisheries health is misleading
Do changes in the amount of fish caught necessarily reflect the number of fish in the sea? “No,” say UW researchers in a “Counterpoint” commentary in Nature.
Changes in undergraduate teaching are continuous and pervasive, new research finds
Conventional wisdom says that faculty at research universities focus mostly on research and not so much on their teaching skills. Not so, according to a new book based on interviews with University of Washington faculty.
Arts Roundup: Drama, art, music, lectures — and the Dance Majors Concert
Dance and drama lead this busy week of UW Arts, with the School of Drama’s production of “Pentecost,” the visiting Black Grace dance company and later, the 2013 Dance Majors concert.
MyPlan enhances student academic advising, planning
A powerful new online academic planning tool enhances the advising experience for both students and advisers. MyPlan makes it easier for students to find courses, develop an academic plan, track progress, and receive adviser input. Advisers have the ability to review and comment on academic plans electronically and view easy-to-read (html-enhanced) degree audits. Released this academic year, MyPlan was developed by UW-IT in partnership with students, advisers, and central partners in the Office of the Registrar, Graduate School, and Undergraduate…
Documents that Changed the World: A papal resignation
A new episode in the podcast series about the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, and other famous resignations.
February 20, 2013
Searchable by cell phone or GPS unit, interactive map for arboretum being created
UW Botanic Gardens is digitizing 55 years of handwritten plant records and creating an interactive GIS map for the Washington Park Arboretum.
UW researcher finds new scorpion species
February 19, 2013
UW selects Jeffrey Riedinger as vice provost for global affairs
Jeffrey Riedinger has been named vice provost for global affairs at the University of Washington
Mutant champions save imperiled species from almost-certain extinction
Species facing widespread and rapid environmental changes can sometimes evolve quickly enough to dodge the extinction bullet. UW scientists consider the genetic underpinnings of such evolutionary rescue.
Three faculty members named Sloan Research Fellows
Three faculty members named Sloan Research Fellows
UW study: Some TV can ease kids’ aggression
February 18, 2013
Mussels cramped by environmental factors
The fibrous threads helping mussels stay anchored are more prone to snap when ocean temperatures climb higher than normal.
February 15, 2013
Flu researcher whose findings met U.S. biosecurity review to speak at UW
The review generated public debate on publishing legitimate biological science findings that could pose a threat to public health or national security,
Firing range lead exposure reduced with UW workplace health expertise
UW’s Field Research and Consultation Group in Environmental and Occupational Health assess ventilation systems and airborne lead levels in firing ranges, and offer advice on lowering exposure.
Arts Roundup: Art, drama, dance — and McCabe, Larionoff celebrate Beethoven
In arts this week, the School of Drama opens “Pentecost,” Robin McCabe and Maria Larionoff kick off their Beethoven Project, and the dance company Black Grace visits campus.
February 13, 2013
Digital learning
Psychology in the real world: Public lecture series begins
The eighth annual Allen L. Edwards Psychology Lecture Series will spotlight “The Science of Psychology in the Real World,” exploring psychological aspects of the natural world, adolescence and the law.
UW scientist explains weird shiny thing on Mars
European satellite confirms UW numbers: Arctic Ocean is on thin ice
New satellite observations confirm a University of Washington analysis that for the past three years found accelerated declines in the volume of Arctic sea ice.