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UW News blog

December 6, 2023

Social media highlights: UW News in 2023

This year, the UW News social media team shared the inspiring stories of work being done by the University of Washington community with reporters, news outlets and our social media followers. These included stories about new biodegradable plastics that break down at the same rate as a banana and efforts to make technology more accessible. And announcements of recognition on the work being done by UW researchers and on the University itself. UW News used social media to highlight important…

Health and medicine | News releases | Research

December 5, 2023

Sleep experts, physicians address effects of increased travel on student-athletes, offer recommendations

With several university athletic programs around the country — including the University of Washington — announcing moves to new conferences that will likely increase travel for student-athletes, a group of sleep and circadian scientists and physicians have published a white paper describing the significance of repeated, chronic jet lag on student-athlete health and performance — both in academics and in sports, and suggesting strategies to reduce the consequences of travel across time zones.

Arts and entertainment | UW Notebook

ArtSci Roundup: WinterFest, Ladino Day with Author Elizabeth Graver, Talk with Joss Whittaker, and more

This week, tune in to Kantika writer Elizabeth Graver’s discussion, Joss Whittaker’s recount on life in the Aru Islands, and the WinterFest presented by the Chamber Singers, University Chorale, University Singers, Treble Choir, Gospel Choir, and UW Glee Club, and more. Dec. 3, 10 a.m. | Ladino Day 2023: ‘Kantika’, a Sephardic Novel by Author Elizabeth Graver, Zoom Join author Elizabeth Graver in conversation with Isaac Alhadeff Professor of Sephardic Studies Devin E. Naar for a discussion of “Kantika,” a moving,…

Administrative affairs | Official notices | Uncategorized

Annual notification: Anti-kickback, Conflict of Interest, Whistleblower Act, Hotlines

Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR 52.203-7) require the University of Washington to implement procedures designed to prevent and detect violations of the Anti-Kickback Act of 1986 (41 USC 51-58). In addition, state regulations (RCW 42.40) require the university to provide annual notification to employees of the procedures and protections under the Whistleblower Act. These articles are published as a reminder of the policies and procedures in place at the University of Washington. Kickback Defined. “Kickback” as defined by the FAR means…

Engineering | News releases | Technology

November 29, 2023

AI image generator Stable Diffusion perpetuates racial and gendered stereotypes, study finds

University of Washington researchers found that when prompted to make pictures of “a person,” the AI image generator over-represented light-skinned men, failed to equitably represent Indigenous peoples and sexualized images of certain women of color.

Administrative affairs | For UW employees | News releases

November 28, 2023

Dr. Tim Dellit named CEO of UW Medicine, dean of the University of Washington School of Medicine

Following a national search, Dr. Timothy H. Dellit has been appointed to lead UW Medicine and the University of Washington School of Medicine, UW President Ana Mari Cauce and Provost Tricia Serio announced today. 

Research | UW News blog

Authentic or ethical? UW study shows best leadership style for inclusive hiring depends on manager’s racial identity

New research from Andrew Hafenbrack, associate professor of management and organization in the University of Washington School of Business, and other institutions examines the impact of leadership style on prospective Black employees who apply for jobs in less-diverse companies.

Health and medicine | News releases | Public Health | Research | Science

UW research finds that mailing HPV test kits directly to patients increases cervical cancer screening rates

Currently, more than half of all cervical cancers diagnosed in the United States are in people who are overdue for screening or have never been screened. In a new study, researchers report that mailing HPV test kits significantly increased cervical cancer screening rates.

Environment | Global | In the field | Research | Science | UW News blog

November 16, 2023

In the Field: Tracking seismic clues in one of the driest places on Earth

Two University of Washington geophysicists will travel to the Atacama Desert in Chile this month to study a fault system that’s similar to the Seattle Fault in Puget Sound, but in a much different climate that makes it easier to monitor its effects on the landscape.

Arts and entertainment | UW Notebook

ArtSci Roundup: Baroque Ensemble, Duwamish November Native Art Market, Book Talks, and more

This week, attend the Baroque Ensemble led by Tekla Cunningham, head to the Duwamish November Native Art Market, engage in a discussion on P. Sainath’s book: The Last Heroes: Foot Soldiers of Indian Freedom, and more. November 19, 3:00pm | Baroque Ensemble, Brechemin Auditorium Tekla Cunningham, Artist in Residence and Director for the UW Baroque Ensemble, leads the Baroque Ensemble to perform the “Baroque Pearls from Venice,” a program of works by Merula, Castello, Rosenmüller, Marini, Uccellini, as well as…

Engineering | Environment | News releases | Research | Science | Technology

November 15, 2023

WhaleVis turns more than a century of whaling data into an interactive map

A team at the University of Washington has created an interactive dashboard called WhaleVis, which lets users map data on global whale catches and whaling routes from 1880 to 1986. Scientists can compare this historical data and its trends with current information to better understand whale populations over time.

UW News blog

November 13, 2023

UW Department of Atmospheric Sciences maintains No. 1 global ranking; more than two dozen UW subjects in top 50

Six University of Washington subjects ranked in the top 10, and atmospheric sciences maintained its position as No. 1 in the world on the Global Ranking of Academic Subjects list for 2023. The ranking, released at the end of October, was conducted by researchers at the ShanghaiRanking Consultancy, a fully independent organization dedicated to research on higher education intelligence and consultation.

Environment | Research | Science | UW News blog

North Atlantic’s marine productivity may not be declining, according to new study of older ice cores

To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of declining phytoplankton in the North Atlantic may have been greatly exaggerated. Analysis of a Greenland ice core going back 800 years shows that atmospheric chemistry, not dwindling phytoplankton populations, explains the recent ice core trends.

UW News blog

November 10, 2023

UW honors veterans in ceremony

The University of Washington’s annual Veterans Day ceremony, held on Friday at the Medal of Honor Memorial near Red Square, honored those who have served and featured music by the Husky Marching Band. UW alum Dr. John Hess, ’72, was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Veteran Award by President Ana Mari Cauce. While serving in the Army, he transformed the way the medical world treats trauma patients, specifically in kids with congenital heart disease. UW Magazine spoke with Hess about…

For UW employees | News releases | UW and the community

November 9, 2023

‘Pull Together’ campaign launches ahead of ‘The Boys in the Boat’ theatrical release

Ahead of the Dec. 25 release of “The Boys in the Boat,” the University of Washington — joined by The Seattle Times, Microsoft and additional community partners — is launching a six-week “Pull Together” campaign to support young people and celebrate the civic spirit of our city and region. 

Administrative affairs | Environment | Population Health | Science | UW News blog

New York Climate Exchange, on which UW is a core partner, names first CEO

The New York Climate Exchange, a first-of-its-kind organization working to implement innovative climate solutions in New York City and across the globe, on Nov. 9 announced Stephen Hammer as its founding chief executive officer. The University of Washington is a core member of the exchange.

Engineering | News releases | Research | Technology

New AI noise-canceling headphone technology lets wearers pick which sounds they hear

A team led by researchers at the University of Washington has developed deep-learning algorithms that let users pick which sounds filter through their headphones in real time. Either through voice commands or a smartphone app, headphone wearers can select which sounds they want to include from 20 classes, such as sirens, baby cries, speech, vacuum cleaners and bird chirps.

Arts and entertainment | UW Notebook

November 8, 2023

ArtSci Roundup: Diversity Lecture Series, Jacob Lawrence Gallery Reopening, Sacred Breath, and more.

This week, attend the Diversity Lecture Series “Unveiling Maternal Morbidity and Mortality in the United States”, celebrate the Jacob Lawrence Gallery Reopening, listen to Indigenous storytellers at Sacred Breath, and more. November 13, 3:00 – 4:30pm | Diversity Lecture Series: “Unveiling Maternal Morbidity and Mortality in the United States: Disparities and Challenges in Women’s Health”, Online In this Diversity Lecture Series, Denova Collaborative Health’s executive director, Angela Roumain, will explore the maternal rate of illness and rate of death in…

Arts and entertainment | UW Notebook

November 2, 2023

ArtSci Roundup: UW Pandemic Project Radical Listening Session, National First-Generation College Celebration, and more

This week, attend the UW Pandemic Project’s Radical Listening Session to honor each individual’s lived pandemics experiences, head to Meany Hall for Garrick Ohlsson’s piano performance, celebrate Diwali with the Burke Museum, and more. November 7, 4:30 – 6:00pm | Sharon Stein, “The University and Its Responsibility for Repair: Confronting Colonial Foundations and Enabling Different Futures” | A Worlds of Difference lecture, Communications Building This presentation by Sharon Stein asks how universities can navigate the complexity of confronting the colonial…

Engineering | News releases | Research | Technology

Can AI help boost accessibility? These researchers tested it for themselves

Seven researchers at the University of Washington conducted a three-month autoethnographic study — drawing on their own experiences as people with and without disabilities — to test AI tools’ utility for accessibility. Though researchers found cases in which the tools were helpful, they also found significant problems.

Administrative affairs | For UW employees | News releases

October 31, 2023

University takes action after faculty hiring process inappropriately used race as a factor

Late last academic year, concerns were reported about a faculty hiring process in the University of Washington’s Department of Psychology. A review was requested by Dianne Harris, Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, after she learned of these potential issues. The review was completed in September and indicates that race was inappropriately considered and used in a way that is inconsistent with University policy in the hiring process for an assistant professor position in the department.

Arts and entertainment | UW Notebook

October 26, 2023

ArtSci Roundup: Grammy-winning vocal group Roomful of Teeth, Labor Studies Annual Awards Celebration, and more

This week, check out Grammy-winning vocal group Roomful of Teeth’s performance, an ingenious dark comedy written by Jen Silverman, attend the Labor Studies Annual Awards Celebration Banquet, and more. November 2, 7:30pm | Roomful of Teeth with Gabriel Kahane, Meany Hall  The Grammy-winning vocal group Roomful of Teeth continue to expand the capabilities of the human voice, unburdened by physical limitations. By engaging collaboratively with artists, thinkers, and community leaders from around the world, the group seeks to uplift and…

Research | Science | UW News blog

Fruit, nectar, bugs and blood: How bat teeth and jaws evolved for a diverse dinnertime

There are more than 200 species of noctilionoid bats, mostly in the American tropics. And despite being close relatives, their jaws evolved in wildly divergent shapes and sizes to exploit different food sources. A paper published Aug. 22 in Nature Communications shows those adaptations include dramatic, but also consistent, modifications to tooth number, size, shape and position. For example, bats with short snouts lack certain teeth, presumably due to a lack of space. Species with longer jaws have room for more teeth — and, like humans, their total tooth complement is closer to what the ancestor of placental mammals had.

Global | Public Health | UW and the community | UW Notebook | Video

October 23, 2023

Video: Familiar ingredients make Afghan Food Guide easy to swallow

Unfamiliar foods can get in the way of following a recommended diet. For the Afghan community seeking health care in the U.S., a nutrition handbook created by UW School of Public Health graduate student Priyasha Maharjan works to solve this problem, using Afghan food examples to educate patients and care providers on the nutritional content of their meals.

Arts and entertainment | UW Notebook

October 19, 2023

ArtSci Roundup: Fall Concert with DXARTS, Dance Graduate Research Symposium and more

This week, check out the Fall Concert hosted by DXARTS (Department of Digital Arts and Experimental Media), attend the Dance Graduate Research Symposium, listen to guest composer concerts, and more. October 25, 7:30pm | DXARTS FALL CONCERT: Ritual-Entropy-Storm, Meany Hall  Join the Department of Digital Arts and Experimental Media (DXARTS) as they host a Fall Concert with the Henry Art Gallery, Mini Mart City Park, Method Gallery, Gallery 4Culture, Jack Straw Cultural Center, Georgetown Steam Plant, and Meany Hall at…

Research | UW News blog

Q&A: UW expert on rise of younger, less experienced bosses in the workplace

Supervisors are traditionally associated with higher status markers such as age, education and tenure than their subordinates. But it’s increasingly common to see those dynamics reversed, which is the focus of a new study from Jessica Huisi Li, University of Washington assistant professor of management and organization.

Environment | Research | Science | UW News blog

October 18, 2023

DNA shows where Washington culvert replacements helped spawning salmon

A project led by the UW used genetic sleuthing to study how salmon were affected by two major culvert replacements near the city of Bellingham. One project, a major upgrade under Interstate-5, had a big impact, while the other old culvert may have been less of a barrier to fish. Authors from the UW and NOAA are studying the use of eDNA in future environmental impact reporting.