UW News
The latest news from the UW
July 8, 2022
Sweetened beverage taxes produce net economic benefits for lower-income communities
New research led by University of Washington professors James Krieger and Melissa Knox found that sweetened beverage taxes redistributed dollars from higher- to lower-income households.
Tag(s): Center for Studies in Demography & Ecology • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Economics • Department of Urban Design and Planning • Deven Hamilton • Health Systems and Population Health • Jessica Jones-Smith • Jim Krieger • Lina Walkinshaw • Melissa Knox • Philip Hurvitz • School of Public HealthJuly 5, 2022
Determination of non-significance: Site W27 Project
Pursuant to the provisions of WAC 197-11-340 and WAC 478-324-140, the University of Washington hereby provides public notice of: Determination of non-significance
Tamara F. Lawson named dean of the School of Law
Tamara F. Lawson has been named to the next Toni Rembe Endowed Deanship of the University of Washington’s School of Law, Provost Mark A. Richards announced today. Her appointment, set to begin Aug. 16, is subject to approval by the UW Board of Regents.
Tag(s): Elizabeth Porter • Mark Richards • School of Law • Tamara LawsonJune 30, 2022
André Ritter named dean of the School of Dentistry
Dr. André Ritter has been named the next dean of the University of Washington’s School of Dentistry, Provost Mark A. Richards announced today. His appointment, set to begin Sept. 16, is subject to approval by the UW Board of Regents.
Tag(s): Andre Ritter • Gary Chiodo • Mark Richards • School of DentistryJune 29, 2022
‘Safety in numbers’ tactic keeps Pacific salmon safe from predators
A new University of Washington study that leverages historical data has found unique support for a “safety in numbers” hypothesis by showing that Pacific salmon in larger groups have lower risk of being eaten by predators. But for some salmon species, schooling comes at the cost of competition for food, and those fish may trade safety for a meal.
Tag(s): Andrew Berdahl • College of the Environment • salmon • School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences • Tom QuinnJune 27, 2022
Top predators could ‘trap’ themselves trying to adapt to climate change, study shows
A study led by University of Washington researchers shows that over a 30-year period, African wild dogs shifted their average birthing dates later by 22 days, an adaptation that allowed them to match the birth of new litters with the coolest temperatures in early winter. But as a result of this significant shift, fewer pups survived their most vulnerable period because temperatures during their critical post-birth “denning period” increased over the same time period, threatening the population of this already endangered species. It is the first study to show that large mammalian carnivores are making major changes to their life history in response to a changing climate.
Tag(s): Briana Abrahms • Center for Ecosystem Sentinels • climate change • conservation • Department of Biology • ecologyJune 24, 2022
‘Folks on the ground have been activated and ready’: UW expert on reproductive justice and the U.S. Supreme Court
Bettina Judd, associate professor of gender, women and sexuality studies at the University of Washington, discusses the U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.
Tag(s): Bettina Judd • College of Arts & Sciences • Select Department of Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies Department of Gender, Women & Sexuality StudiesJune 22, 2022
Q&A: New book from UW professor examines history, consequences of fifth columns
A new book co-edited by Scott Radnitz, associate professor in the University of Washington Jackson School of International Studies, features original papers on the roots and implications of the politics surrounding real and imagined fifth columns.
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • Jackson School of International Studies • Scott Radnitz • Simpson Center for the HumanitiesJune 21, 2022
New study: 2021 heat wave created ‘perfect storm’ for shellfish die-off
A team led by the UW has produced the first comprehensive report of the impacts of the 2021 heat wave on shellfish.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • Environmental Studies • Friday Harbor Laboratories • Megan Dethier • P. Sean McDonald • School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences • Teri King • Washington Sea Grant • Wendel RaymondJune 17, 2022
Q&A: New children’s book shows how natural world inspired inventor to create medieval robots
“Robots and Other Amazing Gadgets Invented 800 Years Ago,” a children’s book by the UW’s Faisal Hossain and Qishi Zhou, shares the inventions of Ismail Al-Jazari, a 12th-century polymath considered by many to be the “father of robotics.”
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering • Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering • Faisal Hossain • Qishi ZhouJune 16, 2022
Q&A: Healthier soil leads to more-nutritious food, argues new book by UW geomorphologist David Montgomery
David Montgomery, a UW professor of Earth and space sciences, discusses soil health, food nutrients and human health. He is co-author of “What Your Food Ate,” being published this month.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • David Montgomery • Department of Earth and Space Sciences
Newly documented population of polar bears in Southeast Greenland sheds light on the species’ future in a warming Arctic
A new population of polar bears documented on the southeast coast of Greenland use glacier ice to survive despite limited access to sea ice. This small, genetically distinct group of polar bears could be important to the future of the species in a warming world.
Tag(s): Applied Physics Laboratory • biology • climate change • College of the Environment • Kristin Laidre • polar science • Polar Science Center • School of Aquatic and Fishery SciencesJune 15, 2022
Video: Improvised Music Project Festival’s new format focuses on recording process
This year, the School of Music’s Improvised Music Project focused on audio recording, inviting acclaimed recording engineer David Boucher for a weeklong workshop. The new format allowed students and faculty to gain experience with UW’s new mobile recording system while teaching fundamental recording and audio skills.
Tag(s): Improvised Music Project • School of Music • Ted PoorJune 14, 2022
UW, Seattle Public Library, Seattle Public Utilities collaboration uses VR goggles to visualize sea level rise in Seattle
The Our Future Duwamish project, available to community groups through The Seattle Public Library, uses an Oculus Quest 2 virtual reality headset to help viewers imagine rising seas from a vantage point along the South Seattle waterway.
Tag(s): climate change • Climate Impacts Group • College of the Environment • EarthLab • Reality LabJune 13, 2022
Is there snow in that tree? Citizen science helps unpack snow’s effect on summer water supplies
To investigate what happens to snow intercepted by trees, UW researchers created a citizen science project called Snow Spotter.
Tag(s): Cassie Lumbrazo • College of Engineering • Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering • Jessica LundquistJune 12, 2022
Video: Classes of 2020, 2021 and 2022 honored in weekend graduation celebrations
On Saturday, for the first time since 2019, the UW held in-person Commencement ceremonies at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium where the University conferred degrees on the Class of 2022. On Sunday, it welcomed alumni from the 2020 and 2021 school years for a Return to Husky Stadium Graduation Celebration.
Tag(s): Commencement • UW Bothell • UW TacomaJune 10, 2022
Q&A: Amy Snover, outgoing director of the UW Climate Impacts Group
Amy Snover, the retiring director of the UW Climate Impacts Group, reflects on her past decade of leadership and on how the groundbreaking climate preparedness group has evolved over more than a quarter century of existence.
Tag(s): Amy Snover • climate change • Climate Impacts Group • College of the Environment
Early investors can forecast future of startup companies
New research from Emily Cox Pahnke, University of Washington associate professor of management and organization, shows that early investors often predict the future of startup companies.
Tag(s): Emily Cox Pahnke • Foster School of BusinessJune 9, 2022
Scientists seek to grow the field of eDNA research ‘without squelching creativity’
A new effort at the University of Washington aims to accelerate eDNA research by supporting existing projects and building a network of practitioners to advance the nascent field.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • eDNA Collaborative • Ryan Kelly • School of Marine and Environmental Affairs
Faculty Field Tour resumes Monday after COVID pause, connecting faculty from all three UW campuses with Washington state
In the fall of 2020, amid the COVID pandemic, Kara Wells began her career as an assistant professor of accounting at the University of Washington Bothell’s business school.
Tag(s): Ana Mari Cauce • Ed Taylor • Faculty Field Tour • Kara Wells • Patrick M. Boyle • Ruben Casas • Seba Bishu • UW Bothell • UW TacomaJune 8, 2022
UW doctoral student leads effort to change diploma name policy, demonstrating power of trans community
In 2021, UW registrar Helen Garrett announced that, for the first time, the UW would allow graduates to use a chosen first name for their diplomas. The policy change was the result of efforts led by Vern Harner, a UW doctoral student in social work, and a change.org petition that earned over 30,000 signatures, demonstrating the power of the trans community.
Tag(s): School of Social Work • Vern HarnerJune 7, 2022
ArtSci Roundup: Monsen Photography Lecture: Paul Mpagi Sepuya, Dino Lecture: The Last of the Dinosaurs, and Celebrating Pride Month
Through public events and exhibitions, connect with the UW community every week! Monsen Photography Lecture: Paul Mpagi Sepuya June 17, 6:00 – 7:00 PM | Henry Art Gallery The Henry Art Gallery is excited to welcome Paul Mpagi Sepuya as this year’s Monsen Photography Lecture speaker. This annual lecture brings key makers and thinkers in photographic…
Tag(s): ArtsUW • Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • College of Arts & Sciences • Henry Art Gallery • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • Meany Hall for the Performing Arts • School of Art + Art History + Design
Burke Museum receives national award
The Burke Museum at the University of Washington in Seattle today announced it is one of six recipients of the 2022 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities. The award is given by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Burke Museum is the only institution in Washington to be selected.
Tag(s): Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • College of Arts & Sciences • Gabriela ChavarriaJune 6, 2022
Including all types of emissions shortens timeline to reach Paris Agreement temperature targets
Looking beyond CO2 to include other human-generated pollutants increases the amount of warming that humans have already committed to by past emissions. Earth will continue to warm even if all emissions cease, and the planet is committed to reaching peak temperatures about five to 10 years before experiencing them.
Tag(s): climate change • College of the Environment • Department of Atmospheric and Climate Science • Kyle ArmourJune 3, 2022
UW graduation celebrations include 147th Commencement and Return to Husky Stadium festivities
Cue the band: It’s time for “Pomp and Circumstance.”
There will be flowing robes and purple-and-gold tassels. The gonfalons, symbols of the 16 colleges and schools that make up the University of Washington, have been unfurled and prepared. Campus is being adorned and the iconic Drumheller Fountain soon will again be cast in a purple glow.
Tag(s): Commencement • UW Bothell • UW TacomaJune 2, 2022
ArtSci Roundup: 2022 Awards of Excellence recipients, Undergraduate Composers Concert
Through public events and exhibitions, connect with the UW community every week! 2022 Awards of Excellence recipients June 9, 3:30 – 5:30 PM | Meany Hall This year’s Awards of Excellence recipients are being recognized for achievements in teaching, mentoring, public service and staff support. The winners will be honored from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on June…
Tag(s): ArtsUW • Baltic Studies Program • Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Scandinavian Studies • Henry Art Gallery • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • Meany Hall for the Performing Arts • School of Art + Art History + Design • School of MusicJune 1, 2022
Narcissistic bosses stymie knowledge flow, cooperation inside organizations
New research from University of Washington associate professor of management Abhinav Gupta shows that narcissism can cause knowledge barriers within organizations. Narcissists hinder cooperations between units due to a sense of superiority.
Tag(s): Abhinav Gupta • Foster School of Business
VoxLens: Adding one line of code can make some interactive visualizations accessible to screen-reader users
VoxLens users can gain a high-level summary of the information described in a graph, listen to a graph translated into sound or use voice-activated commands to ask specific questions about the data, such as the mean or the minimum value.
Tag(s): Ather Sharif • College of Engineering • Information School • Jacob Wobbrock • Katharina Reinecke • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & EngineeringMay 31, 2022
UW-developed, cloud-based astrodynamics platform to discover and track asteroids
A novel algorithm developed by University of Washington researchers to discover asteroids in the solar system has proved its mettle. The first candidate asteroids identified by the algorithm — known as Tracklet-less Heliocentric Orbit Recovery, or THOR — have been confirmed by the International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center, according to a May 31 announcement by the B612 Foundation.
Tag(s): astronomy & astrophysics • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Astronomy • DIRAC Institute • eScience Institute • Mario JuricMay 27, 2022
Critical race theory at center of UW study of unequal access to treatment for opioid addiction
Opioid use disorder is an addiction crisis in the United States that has become increasingly lethal during the COVID-19 pandemic. To preserve access to life-saving treatment during the pandemic, federal drug agencies loosened requirements on physicians for treating these patients, including moving patient evaluations away from in-person exams to telemedicine. This federal policy change focused…
Tag(s): Emily Williams • Health Systems and Population Health • Jessica Chen • population health • School of Medicine • School of Public HealthMay 26, 2022
With EcoCAR, UW students experience post-COVID camaraderie under the hood of a hybrid vehicle
With the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge, UW students modified a 2019 Chevrolet Blazer to use electrification, advanced propulsion systems and automated vehicle technology. It’s an opportunity for students — across four years — to take a car from design to a consumer-ready product.
Tag(s): College of Engineering
Video: Alexes Harris draws attention to low representation of people of color in bone marrow registry
In 2016, Alexes Harris was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer. But a search for a bone marrow donor turned up only five matches, and none ended up being a donor. People of color are underrepresented in the bone marrow registry; according to Be The Match, the nation’s largest bone marrow registry, white people have a 79% chance of finding a match. But a Black person’s potential match is only 29%, and Asian and Latinx people both have about a 47% chance. People of Native American ancestry have a 60% chance of finding a match.
Tag(s): Alexes Harris
ArtSci Roundup: DinoFest, UW Symphony and Concerto Competition Winners, and More
Through public events and exhibitions, connect with the UW community every week! DinoFest June 5, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Burke Museum Put on your pith helmets and head to the home of Washington’s only dinosaur discovery for the Burke Museum’s annual festival of fossils. During this museum-wide event, hear about groundbreaking research from…
Tag(s): ArtsUW • Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • College of Arts & Sciences • Henry Art Gallery • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • Meany Hall for the Performing Arts
Seattle democracy vouchers increase donations, number of candidates in city elections
A new study from Alan Griffith, assistant professor of economics at the University of Washington, shows that Seattle’s democracy voucher program has increased the number of voters donating to city elections and the number of candidates in those elections.
Tag(s): Alan Griffith • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of EconomicsMay 24, 2022
Video: Experts collaborate to troubleshoot necessary fires and harmful smoke
Forest fire smoke can make you sick, and we’re experiencing more them. In terms of public health, it seems logical to reduce forest fires to limit unhealthy air pollution, but forest managers are increasingly seeing prescribed burning as an essential tool to reduce explosive wildfires. How should we plan to deal with the impacts of these fires?
Tag(s): Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences • Savannah D'EvelynMay 23, 2022
Social cohesion found to be key risk factor in early COVID infections
A study by the University of California, Irvine, and the University of Washington shows how social connectedness in San Francisco neighborhoods was associated with COVID-19 infection rates.
Tag(s): Center for Studies in Demography & Ecology • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Sociology • Zack Almquist
‘I don’t even remember what I read’: People enter a ‘dissociative state’ when using social media
Researchers at the University of Washington wondered if people enter a state of dissociation when surfing social media, and if that explains why users might feel out of control after spending so much time on their favorite app.
Tag(s): Alexis Hiniker • Amanda Baughan • College of Engineering • Information School • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & EngineeringMay 20, 2022
UW Fitness Day aims to strengthen community and bone marrow registry
The annual University of Washington Fitness Day returns as an in-person event on Monday, May 23. This year’s Fitness Day includes a fundraising and registration goal for Be The Match, the nation’s largest marrow-donor registry.
Tag(s): The Whole UMay 19, 2022
Q&A: Why discriminatory bias is a public health problem
Tony Greenwald, emeritus professor of psychology at the University of Washington and creator of the Implicit Association Test, explains how public health strategies can help address unintended discrimination.
Tag(s): Anthony Greenwald • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Psychology
ArtSci Roundup: Ethnomusicology Visiting Artist: Heri Purwanto, School of Art + Art History + Design Graduation Exhibition & More
Through public events and exhibitions, connect with the UW community every week! Gospel Choir May 23, 7:30 PM | Meany Hall Phyllis Byrdwell leads the 100-voice gospel choir in songs of praise, jubilation, and other expressions of the Gospel tradition. $10 | Buy tickets & more info Astronomy on Tap: Technology in Earth Orbit and…
Tag(s): ArtsUW • Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • College of Arts & Sciences • Henry Art Gallery • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • Meany Hall for the Performing Arts« Previous Page Next Page »
