UW News
The latest news from the UW
March 4, 2021
Video: UW students join the front lines of the vaccination effort
By the end of February, around 350 UW students had signed up to be volunteer vaccinators in clinics from Tacoma to Marysville.
Tag(s): COVID-19 • Jane Jacobson • Jocelyn Ludlow • School of Dentistry • School of Medicine • School of Nursing • School of Pharmacy • School of Public Health • School of Social Work
Can’t solve a riddle? The answer might lie in knowing what doesn’t work
With the help of about 200 human puzzle-takers, a computer model and functional MRI images, University of Washington researchers have learned more about the processes of reasoning and decision making, pinpointing the brain pathway that springs into action when problem-solving goes south.
Tag(s): Andrea Stocco • Chantel Prat • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Psychology • Lauren GrahamMarch 3, 2021
The UW is a Fulbright top producer
The University of Washington is proud to be included on the list of U.S. colleges and universities that produced the most 2020-2021 Fulbright students.
Tag(s): Fulbright ProgramMarch 2, 2021
UW Center for an Informed Public co-authors report on mis- and disinformation surrounding the 2020 U.S. election
The Election Integrity Partnership, a nonpartisan coalition of research institutions, including the University of Washington, that identified, tracked and responded to voting-related mis- and disinformation during the 2020 U.S. elections, released its final report, “The Long Fuse: Misinformation and the 2020 Elections” on Tuesday, March 2. The report is the culmination of months of collaboration among approximately 120 people working across four organizations: the UW Center for an Informed Public, Stanford Internet Observatory , Graphika and the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab.
Tag(s): Center for an Informed Public • College of Engineering • Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering • Kate Starbird
ArtSci Roundup: UW Museums Reopen, Uncharted Waters, UW Dance Presents, and More
During this time of uncertainty and isolation, find solace in digital opportunities to connect, share, and engage. Each week, we will share upcoming events that bring the UW, and the greater community, together online. Many of these online opportunities are streamed through Zoom. All UW faculty, staff, and students have access to Zoom Pro via UW-IT. 2021…
Tag(s): ArtsUW • Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Communication • Department of Dance • Department of History • Henry Art Gallery • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • Meany Hall for the Performing Arts • School of Drama • School of Music • UW Drama
Rating tornado warnings charts a path to improve forecasts
A new method to rate tornado warnings shows that nighttime tornadoes in the U.S. have a lower probability of detection and a higher false-alarm rate than other events. Summertime tornadoes, occurring in June, July or August, also are more likely to evade warning.
Tag(s): Alexandra Anderson-Frey • College of the Environment • Department of Atmospheric and Climate Science • weather
Faculty/staff honors: Field research grant, staffer’s play streams, cartoon remembrance
Recent honors and achievements by UW faculty and staff include a grant for field research in the Middle East, a staffer’s play being streamed by a Seattle theater and a professor’s cartoon remembrance of a relative lost to COVID-19.
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Cinema & Media Studies • Department of Slavic Languages and Literature • Holly Arsenault • Jackson School of International Studies • Jose Alaniz • School of Drama • Stroum Center for Jewish StudiesFebruary 26, 2021
Video: You’ve heard of garage bands — now you can hear the ‘UW garage chorale’
The University of Washington Chorale has found an unlikely place to practice. Once a week, 8 of the 60 member singing group meets, standing 6 feet apart, in a campus parking garage for 30 precious minutes. Despite the sounds of passing cars and some machinery whirring nearby, the sound they can make together – in person – is wonderful.
Tag(s): Giselle Wyers • School of Music • University of Washington ChoraleFebruary 25, 2021
Q&A: Race, medicine and the future power of genetic ancestry
Writing in the New England Journal of Medicine that they “do not believe that ignoring race will reduce health disparities” but rather that “such an approach is a form of naive ‘color blindness’ that is more likely to perpetuate and potentially exacerbate disparities,” five Black geneticists set out to explain the pitfalls of leaving race…
Tag(s): COVID-19 • Department of Biostatistics • population health • School of Public Health • Timothy ThorntonFebruary 24, 2021
Record-high Arctic freshwater will flow through Canadian waters, affecting marine environment and Atlantic ocean currents
The Arctic Ocean’s Beaufort Sea has increased its freshwater content by 40% over the past two decades. When conditions change this freshwater will travel to the Labrador Sea off Canada, rather than through the wider marine passageways that connect to seas in Northern Europe. This has implications for local marine environments and global ocean circulation.
Tag(s): Applied Physics Laboratory • College of the Environment • Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean and Ecosystem Studies • oceanography • polar science • Polar Science Center
Scientists describe earliest primate fossils
A new study published Feb. 24 in the journal Royal Society Open Science documents the earliest-known fossil evidence of primates. These creatures lived less than 150,000 years after the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction event that killed off non-avian dinosaurs and saw the rise of mammals.
Tag(s): Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Biology • evolution • Gregory Wilson Mantilla • paleontologyFebruary 23, 2021
ArtSci Roundup: Fermented Face with Candice Lin, After Democracy: A Conversation with Zizi Papacharissi, and More
During this time of uncertainty and isolation, find solace in digital opportunities to connect, share, and engage. Each week, we will share upcoming events that bring the UW, and the greater community, together online. Many of these online opportunities are streamed through Zoom. All UW faculty, staff, and students have access to Zoom Pro via UW-IT. Fermented…
Tag(s): African Studies Program • ArtsUW • Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Asian Languages & Literature • Department of Communication • Department of History • Department of Political Science • Environmental Studies • Henry Art Gallery • Jackson School of International Studies • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • Meany Hall for the Performing Arts • School of Art + Art History + Design • School of Drama • Simpson Center for the Humanities
Logging change in Puget Sound: Researchers use UW vessel logbooks to reconstruct historical groundfish populations
To understand how Puget Sound has changed, we first must understand how it used to be. But unlike most major estuaries in the U.S., long-term monitoring of Puget Sound fish populations did not exist until 1990. Now researchers have discovered an unconventional method to help fill in gaps in the data: old vessel logbooks.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • Puget Sound Institute • School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences • Tessa Francis • Tim Essington • UW Tacoma • Washington Sea GrantFebruary 22, 2021
UW launches Faculty Diversity Initiative
The University of Washington today announced an initiative to further the UW’s goals for diversity, equity and inclusion, including $5 million in funding for faculty hiring in the next two years. The initiative builds upon and supports efforts University wide and aims to accelerate and benchmark progress on an annual basis.
Tag(s): Ed Taylor • Mark Richards • Mary Lidstrom • Race • Robin Angotti
Effective treatment for insomnia delivered in a few short phone calls
Insomnia — trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up too early — is a common condition in older adults. Sleeplessness can be exacerbated by osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis causing joint pain. While there are effective therapies for treating insomnia in older adults, many people cannot get the treatment they need because…
Tag(s): Michael V Vitiello • School of Medicine • School of Nursing • Susan M. McCurryFebruary 19, 2021
‘Small moon’ shapes allow DNA devices to attach in precise orientations
A team of engineers, including one at the University of Washington, has developed a technique that allows for the precise placement of molecules formed from folded DNA in not only a specific location but also in a specific orientation
Tag(s): Chris Thachuk • College of Engineering • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering
UW partners in new postdoctoral program to diversify the science and engineering faculty at America’s research universities
At our nation’s research universities, including the University of Washington, underrepresented minorities make up less than 6% of the faculty across non-medical science, technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. This severe underrepresentation among faculty has persisted for decades and comes, in part, from a lack of diversity among the doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars in these fields who elect to pursue faculty positions.
Tag(s): Joy Williamson-Lott • Julia Parrish • Mark Richards
Vice Provost for Research Mary Lidstrom stepping down after 15 years
After more than 15 years serving as Vice Provost for Research, Mary Lidstrom will step down from her position on Aug. 31, 2021, with plans to return full time to the faculty, concentrate on her research, and establish mentoring and diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Department of Chemical Engineering • Mary Lidstrom • Office of ResearchFebruary 18, 2021
Faculty/staff honors: Polymer Physics Prize, anthropology dissertation award
The Polymer Physics Prize from the American Physical Society and a dissertation award from the Society for American Archaeology.
Tag(s): archaeology • College of Arts & Sciences • College of Engineering • Department of Anthropology • Department of Chemical Engineering • Department of Chemistry • Ian Kretzler • Samson JenekheFebruary 17, 2021
Q&A: ShakeAlert earthquake early warning system arriving in Pacific Northwest
After years in development, an earthquake early warning system known as ShakeAlert is on the cusp of being released in Oregon and Washington. Harold Tobin, director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, answers questions about the coming rollout.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • Department of Earth and Space Sciences • earthquakes & seismology • Harold Tobin • Pacific Northwest Seismic Network • ShakeAlert
ArtSci Roundup: Katz Distinguished Lecture: Ruth Wilson Gilmore, Contemporary Environmental Issues In Taiwan, Global Perspectives on Restorative Justice & Race, and More
During this time of uncertainty and isolation, find solace in digital opportunities to connect, share, and engage. Each week, we will share upcoming events that bring the UW, and the greater community, together online. Many of these online opportunities are streamed through Zoom. All UW faculty, staff, and students have access to Zoom Pro via UW-IT. Joff…
Tag(s): ArtsUW • Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • College of Arts & Sciences • College of the Environment • Comparative History of Ideas Program • Department of Dance • Department of English • Department of Geography • Environmental Studies • Henry Art Gallery • Jackson School of International Studies • Jazz • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • Meany Hall for the Performing Arts • School of Art + Art History + Design • School of Law • School of Music • Select Department of Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies Department of Gender, Women & Sexuality StudiesFebruary 16, 2021
UW books in brief: Historian Anand Yang explores British ‘penal transportation’; world music textbooks by Patricia Shehan Campbell
Historian Anand Yang writes about the British history of shipping of convicted criminals to other continents; and new world music education books from ethnomusicologist Patricia Shehan Campbell.
Tag(s): Anand Yang • College of Arts & Sciences • Jackson School of International Studies • Patricia Campbell • School of Music
UW chemist and oceanographer named Sloan Fellows
Two faculty members at the University of Washington have been awarded early-career fellowships from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The new Sloan Fellows, announced Feb. 16, are Ashleigh Theberge, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Jodi Young, an assistant professor in the School of Oceanography.
Tag(s): Ashleigh Theberge • Jodi YoungFebruary 10, 2021
Online tool displays Pacific Northwest mountain snow depth
How’s the snow on Northwest mountains this year? Overall a little deeper than normal, but it depends where you look. A new collaboration between the University of Washington, the Northwest Avalanche Center lets you see how the current snow depth compares to past years for nine sites in Washington and two in Oregon.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • Karin Bumbaco • Office of the Washington State Climatologist • weather
List of 1,000 inspiring Black scientists includes seven from UW
Seven University of Washington scientists are included in Cell Mentor’s list of 1,000 inspiring Black scientists, published in December 2020. Cell Mentor is a collaborative resource between Cell Press and Cell Signaling Technology.
Tag(s): Ayokunle Olanrewaju • Bobby Wilson • College of Arts & Sciences • College of Engineering • Franck Kalume • James Carothers • Jessica Ray • School of Medicine • Tam'ra-Kay Francis • UW Bothell • Warren BuckFebruary 9, 2021
ArtSci Roundup: Monsen Photography Lecture, Meany On Screen: Martha Graham Dance Company, and More
During this time of uncertainty and isolation, find solace in digital opportunities to connect, share, and engage. Each week, we will share upcoming events that bring the UW, and the greater community, together online. Many of these online opportunities are streamed through Zoom. All UW faculty, staff, and students have access to Zoom Pro via UW-IT. Monsen…
Tag(s): ArtsUW • Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Dance • Department of Germanics • Department of Political Science • Henry Art Gallery • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • Meany Hall for the Performing Arts • School of Music
Faculty/staff honors: Holocaust commemoration, new compositions, a top local album of 2020
Recent honors and achievements by UW faculty include a keynote address at a national Holocaust commemoration event, an album of new compositions and a best-of-2020 musical nod from the Seattle Times.
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • Devin Naar • Jackson School of International Studies • Melia Watras • School of Music • Sephardic Studies Program • Stroum Center for Jewish Studies • Ted Poor
Limiting warming to 2 C requires emissions reductions 80% above Paris Agreement targets
Even if all countries meet their Paris Agreement goals for reducing emissions, Earth has only a 5% chance of staying below 2 C warming this century, a previous study showed. But reductions about 80% more ambitious, or an average of 1.8% drop in emissions per year rather than 1% per year, would be enough to meet the Paris Agreement’s temperature goal.
Tag(s): Adrian Raftery • climate change • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of StatisticsFebruary 8, 2021
UW physicist pens math-free tour of quantum mechanics and technology
Morales has authored a seven-part series for Ars Technica on quantum mechanics for a general audience. One article in the series is rolling out each week from Jan. 10 to Feb. 21. Morales sat down with UW News to talk about the series, quantum mechanics and what he hopes the public can learn about this seemingly odd and possibly intimidating realm of science.
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Physics • Miguel Morales • Q&AFebruary 5, 2021
To counter health impacts of racism, UW School of Nursing establishing Center for Antiracism in Nursing
Systemic racism has for generations undermined the health of individuals and communities across America, a public health crisis that has made the pandemic even more deadly and destructive for people of color. Recognizing that nurses play a central role in and hold major responsibility for the health of individuals and communities hit hard by historic…
Tag(s): Ana Mari Cauce • Azita Emami • Butch de Castro • Center for Antiracism in Nursing • population health • School of Nursing
New nationwide survey shows MAGA supporters’ beliefs about the pandemic, the election and the insurrection
New data from the University of Washington, collected just before and after the Capitol riot, reveals fervent Trump voters’ opinions about race, gender, the pandemic and the 2020 election.
Tag(s): Christopher Parker • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Political ScienceFebruary 4, 2021
‘Audeo’ teaches artificial intelligence to play the piano
A UW team created Audeo, a system that can generate music using only visual cues of someone playing the piano.
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • College of Engineering • Department of Applied Mathematics • Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering • Eli Shlizerman
Global warming found to be culprit for flood risk in Peruvian Andes, other glacial lakes
Human-caused warming is responsible for increasing the risk of a glacial outburst flood from Peru’s Lake Palcacocha, threatening the city below. This study is the first to directly link climate change with the risk of flooding from glacial lakes, which are growing in number and size worldwide.
Tag(s): climate change • College of the Environment • Department of Earth and Space Sciences • Gerard Roe • glaciersFebruary 3, 2021
Public hearing notice: Rule-making hearing for Chapter 478-121 WAC
Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, via a Zoom conference meeting. The details of the hearing are available on the University Policy and Rules Office website.
February 2, 2021
ArtSci Roundup: Patty Hayes – The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Impacts of Systemic Racism, Book Launch: Union by Law, and More
During this time of uncertainty and isolation, find solace in digital opportunities to connect, share, and engage. Each week, we will share upcoming events that bring the UW, and the greater community, together online. Many of these online opportunities are streamed through Zoom. All UW faculty, staff, and students have access to Zoom Pro via UW-IT. In…
Tag(s): ArtsUW • Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • College of Arts & Sciences • Comparative History of Ideas Program • Department of Anthropology • Department of Cinema & Media Studies • Department of Classics • Department of English • Department of History • Department of Political Science • Department of Sociology • Henry Art Gallery • Jackson School of International Studies • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • Meany Hall for the Performing Arts • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering • Simpson Center for the Humanities • Stroum Center for Jewish Studies
‘Making Amends’ podcast explores remorse, intention among men at Oregon prison
“Making Amends,” a new podcast by University of Washington professor Steve Herbert, explores themes of atonement among men incarcerated at the Oregon State Penitentiary.
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • Law Societies & Justice Department • Steve HerbertFebruary 1, 2021
Marine organisms use previously undiscovered receptors to detect, respond to light
Single-celled organisms in the open ocean use a diverse array of genetic tools to detect sunlight, even in tiny amounts, and respond. The discovery of these new genetic “light switches” could also aid in the field of optogenetics, in which a cell’s function can be controlled with light exposure.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • Ginger Armbrust • marine microbiology • oceanography • School of Oceanography
UW books in brief: African American political theory, philosophy and migration, data science for health
Notable recent books written or edited by UW faculty include an exploration of African American political theory, a book on philosophy and migration and a textbook on health data science.
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Philosophy • Department of Political Science • Jack Turner • Michael Blake • Michael McCann • Ruth EtzioniJanuary 31, 2021
Bleeding gums may be a sign you need more vitamin C in your diet
Current advice from the American Dental Association tells you that if your gums bleed, make sure you are brushing and flossing twice a day because it could be a sign of gingivitis, an early stage of periodontal disease. And that might be true. So if you are concerned, see your dentist. However, a new University…
Tag(s): Department of Oral Health Sciences • Phillipe Hujoel • population health • School of DentistryJanuary 28, 2021
Official notice: UW determination of non-significance adoption of existing document
The UW Bothell Husky Village Redevelopment project is being proposed in Development Area D of the campus to provide residence halls, apartments, dining, gathering and office space.
« Previous Page Next Page »