September 2, 2012
The latest news from the UW
August 31, 2012
‘Mobile Moms’ to boost health of women in Timor-Leste
To improve the odds for mothers and their newborns in the new nation of Timor-Leste, a non-profit affiliated with the UW School of Public Health has launched a first-ever mobile phone project.
Lost and Found Films: Taking a survey in 1956
Can you help identify this old bit of film from the library archives?
August 30, 2012
Official Notice: Financial Conflict of Interest Policy
GIM-10 and GIM-7 are now revised to ensure compliance with the new Public Health Service financial conflict of interest regulations. Investigators are expected to be in full compliance of the revised GIM-10 as of Aug. 24. Implementation systems and processes, such as the financial interest disclosure system and financial conflict of interest training, can be accessed through the financial conflict of interest website. While the revision of UW policies and development of a new disclosure system were required for the…
New program joins computer science and design experts at UW, Tsinghua University
This summer the UW hosted the first World Lab Summer Institute, which brings together computing and design students from the UW and Beijing’s Tsinghua University. The students spent seven weeks devising ways that technology could be used to address global issues in health, environment and education.
August 29, 2012
From UW to Mars, sundial has an important role
With the recent landing of NASA’s Curiosity rover on Mars, for the third time a timepiece assembled at the University of Washington has found a home on the Red Planet.
August 28, 2012
Documents that Changed the World podcasts: John Snow’s cholera map, 1854
One well meant life, the other death by cholera. this Documents that Changed the World podcast is about a map used to unlock the mystery of plague contagion.
News Digest: Franklin is plenary speaker, patent and trademark pilot launched, Honor: Ed Lazowska, financial conflict of interest regs in effect
Franklin gives plenary at ecological society meeting || Law launches pilot project in patent, trademark law || Ed Lazowska receives Vollum Award || Official notice: New financial conflict of interest regulations in effect
UW professor tracking down elephant poachers
August 27, 2012
Alaska cruise passenger airlifted to Harborview for blood clot treatment
Sarah Davis took an unexpected side trip during an Alaskan cruise last week. While the Beaufort, S.C., resident was admiring the rugged scenery with her family, she developed debilitating pain in her leg. In the middle of the night,the ship’s physician diagnosed a dangerous blood clot. At 2:30 a.m. Aug. 21 in Seattle, UW Medicine vascular surgeon Dr. Benjamin Starnes consulted by phone with the cruise physician. Starnes advised on the impending need for a type of treatment not available…
UW ranked eighth nationally by Washington Monthly
Washington Monthly, which ranks universities based upon social mobility, research production and commitment to service, has ranked the University of Washington eighth among national universities for 2012.
August 24, 2012
UW’s Formula Motorsports race car finishes strong
August 23, 2012
Arts Roundup: Special Collections library exhibits
Two thoughtfully produced Special Collections library displays lead an otherwise sleepy summer week in arts at the UW.
August 22, 2012
Inside the Botany Greenhouse
Low-dose sedative alleviates autistic-like behavior in mice with Dravet syndrome mutation
UW researchers have found that a low dose of the sedative clonazepam alleviated autistic-like behavior in mice with a mutation that causes Dravet syndrome in humans.
August 21, 2012
66th field season underway in world’s longest-running effort to monitor salmon
The UW’s Alaska Salmon Program, now in its 66th field season, focuses not just on fisheries management, but on ecology and evolution as well, and has just won a top fisheries prize.
August 20, 2012
Model shows dramatic global decline in ratio of workers to retired people
A new statistical model predicts that by 2100 the number of people older than 85 worldwide will increase more than previously estimated.
Molecular and protein markers predict liver transplant failure in hepatitis C patients
Researchers have discovered molecular and protein signatures that predict rapid onset of liver damage in hepatitis C patients following a liver transplant. The markers appeared soon after transplant and well before clinical evidence of liver damage. Such early detection of susceptibility to hepatitis C virus-induced liver injury could lead to more personalized monitoring and treatment options after a transplant. Also, because the markers stem from an underlying pathology occurring at a very basic level, they might reveal why hepatitis C…
God as a drug: The rise of American megachurches
American megachurches use stagecraft, sensory pageantry, charismatic leadership and an upbeat, unchallenging vision of Christianity to provide congregants with a powerful emotional religious experience, according to research from the University of Washington.
UW faces potential cut fo federal research funding
Experiment would test cloud geoengineering as way to slow warming
A University of Washington scientist has proposed an experiment to test cloud brightening, a geoengineering concept that alters clouds in an effort to counter global warming.
August 17, 2012
Wearable art youth class is a perfect fit for summer
Wings, paper dresses, a cape — students design clothes and then make them in this innovative summer class.
Longer time to find new job, less pay for moms laid off during recession
A 2010 national survey of laid-off workers shows married moms spent more time between jobs, were less likely to find new jobs and eventually were paid less than married dads.
August 16, 2012
Arts Roundup: Art — and the artist — at UW Tower
Artist and UW employee Kathryn Sharpe will exhibit her work at UW Tower — a highlight in an otherwise sleepy summer week in UW arts.
Back to school tips for parents from UW psychologists
When kids go back to school in a few weeks, it can be a mixed bag of challenges including adjusting to school routines and worries over academics, bullies and fitting in with other peers.
August 15, 2012
Detection dogs spot northern spotted owls, even those alarmed by barred owls
Forest searches using specially trained dogs improved the probability of finding spotted owls by nearly 30 percent over traditional vocalization surveys.
News Digest: UW ranked 16th in the world, society elects 3 from UW as senators, Ratner among plenary speakers
UW again ranked 16th in the world The UW again ranked 16th among universities around the world in a recent study by the Center for World-Class Universities of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China. The study ranked universities on quality of education, quality of faculty, research output and per capita performance. The UW ranked 14th among U.S. universities. It was fourth among American public universities behind University of California, Berkeley, UCLA and University of California, San Diego. All but three of…
Documents that Changed the World: The Nineteenth Amendment
For the second podcast in his “Documents that Changed the World” series, Joe Janes explores aspects of a document Americans may not know as well as they think: The United States Constitution. Documents that Changed the World A podcast series by Joe Janes UW Information School An introduction “President Obama’s Birth Certificate” “The Nineteenth Amendment” These podcasts are also available on iTunes. Transcripts and podcasts also available at the Information School website. More specifically, the Nineteenth Amendment, which was ratified…
August 14, 2012
How do they do it? Predictions are in for Arctic sea ice low point
University of Washington researchers used some new techniques this year in hopes of improving the accuracy of their annual prediction of the low point of Arctic sea ice.
New book explores Noah’s Flood; says Bible and science can get along
David Montgomery, a University of Washington geologist, is the author of a new book that explores the long history of religious thinking on matters of geological discovery, particularly flood stories such as the biblical account of Noah’s ark.
UW named America’s fourth ‘coolest’ school by Sierra magazine
The University of Washington again has been ranked among the coolest schools in America, placing fourth this year, according to Sierra Magazine.
August 13, 2012
Taking out the trash
August 10, 2012
Student-built rocket with experimental motor blasts to 1st-place finish
A team of University of Washington students designed a unique rocket motor and launched it 5 miles up to claim first prize this summer in the Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition. The UW students built a new type of motor powered by a combination of solid paraffin and liquid nitrous oxide. So-called hybrid propulsion systems are a nontoxic, safer alternative to space agency rockets that use hazardous liquid propellants such as hydrazine, nitrogen tetroxide and fuming nitric acid. Safe but powerful…
August 9, 2012
Arts Roundup: Seattle Print Arts at the Jacob Lawrence Gallery
Most arts at the UW are having a little midsummer quiet time and regrouping for the fall, but there are still some interesting things to see on campus if you know where to look. Work by members of the Seattle Print Arts collective will fill the Jacob Lawrence Gallery, exhibits continue at the Henry Art Gallery and Burke Museum, and the Dance Department’s summer Integrated Dance program holds an open community session. Seattle Print Arts exhibit, Aug. 9-17. An…
Crowd funding on campus: UW scientists raise money for research online
When Rachel Aronson travels this month to Alaska, she and a local research assistant will interview people who are in danger of being displaced by climate change. She will also send about 100 postcards to her funders. Aronson is among a growing number of University of Washington students, faculty and staff who are using online campaigns to pay for their research. Crowdsourcing uses the Internet to broadcast a question and pool the answers; crowd funding uses the Internet to post…
Housing market improving despite second-quarter dip in home sales
Washington state’s housing market continued to improve during the second quarter of 2012 despite a slight drop in existing home sales, according to the Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies at the University of Washington. Existing home sales during the second quarter of 2012 increased 10.4 percent compared with a year ago, however the seasonally adjusted annual rate dropped 2.6 percent from the first quarter. “The market is clearly stronger than a year ago, but it eased off a bit…
August 7, 2012
Study to identify best blood transfusion practices for trauma patients
UW medical researchers are launching a study to help determine which of the two most common blood product combinations provide the best outcomes for trauma patients who require massive blood transfusions. Dr. Eileen Bulger, UW professor of surgery and chief of trauma at Harborview Medical Center, is the principal investigator for the clinical study. The study will be conducted at 12 Level I trauma centers across the United States, including UW Medicine’s Harborview Medical Center. Bulger and her team will…
A million little pieces
South African Olympic runner’s struggle shines a spotlight on country’s ongoing sexual violence
South African track athlete Caster Semenya carried her country’s flag in the opening ceremony at the London Olympics. The 21-year-old former 800-meter world champion, for years the subject of speculation around her gender, was chosen over male athletes including a swimmer, a long jumper and a double-amputee runner. The choice was of interest to a University of Washington researcher familiar with the controversies the athlete has faced as well as the ongoing sexual violence endured by women in South Africa….
Gov. Gregoire selects Christopher Jordan as UW student regent
Christopher M. Jordan, a first-year law student at the University of Washington, has been selected by Gov. Chris Gregoire as the UW student regent for the coming academic year. Jordan earned a master’s degree in public administration from the UW’s Evans School of Public Affairs in 2012. He also received a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2010. Jordan has worked as an outreach coordinator for the Economic Opportunity Institute and as a legislative intern in the office of Sen….