UW News
The latest news from the UW
June 14, 2018
‘Teachers are brain engineers’: UW study shows how intensive instruction changes brain circuitry in struggling readers
The early years are when the brain develops the most, forming neural connections that pave the way for how a child — and the eventual adult — will express feelings, embark on a task, and learn new skills and concepts. Scientists have even theorized that the anatomical structure of neural connections forms the…
Tag(s): Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences • Elizabeth Huber • I-LABS • Jason Yeatman
Key ocean fish can prevail with changes to farmed fish, livestock diets
Anchovies, herring, sardines and other forage fish play an essential role in the food web as prey for seabirds, marine mammals and larger fish like salmon. When ground into fishmeal and oil, they are also a key food source for farmed seafood and land-based livestock such as pigs and poultry. As seafood consumption outpaces the…
Tag(s): College of the Environment • School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences • Tim EssingtonJune 12, 2018
Anthropology professor focuses book on the bonds between humans, animals
Radhika Govindrajan’s book “Animal Intimacies” started attracting attention before it was even available to readers. A University of Washington assistant professor of anthropology since 2015, Govindrajan specializes in animal studies, and in the politics and culture of the Central Himalayas, where much of the research for this book was conducted. “Animal Intimacies,” published in May…
Tag(s): books • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Anthropology • Radhika GovindrajanJune 11, 2018
Warmer climate will dramatically increase the volatility of global corn crops
A study of global maize production in 2100 shows dramatic increases in the variability of corn yields from one year to the next under climate change, making simultaneous low yields across multiple high-producing regions more likely, which could lead to price hikes and global shortages.
Tag(s): climate change • College of the Environment • David Battisti • Department of Atmospheric and Climate Science • food production
Choice matters: The environmental costs of producing meat, seafood
A new study led by the University of Washington considers which food type is more environmentally costly to produce: livestock, farmed seafood or wild-caught fish.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • Ray Hilborn • School of Aquatic and Fishery SciencesJune 6, 2018
GIX team competes for $1 million XPRIZE for women’s safety
A team from the University of Washington’s GIX program are competing to win the $1 million Anu & Naveen Jain Women’s Safety XPRIZE.
Tag(s): GIX • University of Washington
Distinguished pediatrician Dr. Benjamin Danielson to speak at UW’s 143rd commencement Saturday
About 5,900 graduates, along with 50,000-plus family members, friends, faculty and other observers, are expected to attend the 143rd University of Washington commencement ceremonies at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 9, at Husky Stadium.
Tag(s): University of Washington
Washington state Supreme Court takes up court-fee reform, considers UW data at sold-out Wednesday symposium
African-Americans in Washington state are 2.3 times more likely than whites to be sentenced to fines and fees, and carry about three times the debt in unpaid monetary sanctions. In all, said University of Washington sociology professor Alexes Harris, legal financial obligations represented nearly $2.5 billion in debt in Washington in 2014, the most…
Tag(s): Alexes Harris • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of SociologyJune 5, 2018
UW’s Allen School to expand direct freshmen admissions in computer science
In an effort to improve the student experience and provide certainty for prospective computer science majors, the University of Washington’s Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering is expanding its direct to major admissions program for incoming freshmen. Beginning with the class of fall 2019, direct admission from high school will be the primary pathway into computer science for the majority of UW undergraduates.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering • University of Washington
Ocean warming, ‘junk-food’ prey cause of massive seabird die-off, study finds
A new University of Washington-led paper pinpoints starvation as the cause of death for hundreds of thousands of Cassin’s auklet seabirds in late 2014 to early 2015.
Tag(s): COASST • College of the Environment • Julia Parrish • School of Aquatic and Fishery SciencesJune 4, 2018
Polar scientist Kristin Laidre documents perspectives of polar bear hunters in East Greenland
Twenty-five polar bear hunters in East Greenland were interviewed before the first formal assessment of this subpopulation, one of 19 subpopulations of polar bears in a changing Arctic.
Tag(s): anthropology • Applied Physics Laboratory • College of the Environment • Kristin Laidre • polar science • Polar Science Center • School of Aquatic and Fishery SciencesJune 1, 2018
Art, design provide eclectic mix for annual graduate show at Henry Art Gallery
Art and design can amaze, inform, entertain, challenge or even gently baffle the viewer — and the annual thesis exhibition for Master of Fine Arts and Master of Design at the Henry Art Gallery reliably offers a little of each.
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • Denzil Hurley • Henry Art Gallery • Jamie Walker • Jes Gettler • School of Art + Art History + DesignMay 29, 2018
Global rankings put UW at No. 4 among US public universities
Two renowned global rankings released this week place the University of Washington fourth among U.S. public institutions.
Tag(s): RankingsMay 25, 2018
UW statement regarding ongoing negotiations with academic student employees – May 25, 2018
The academic student employees (ASEs) at the University of Washington have announced a strike to begin June 2, despite the fact that two bargaining sessions are scheduled before that date. The UW is working with deans, chancellors and department chairs to avoid disruption or delay in grades or graduation should the ASEs strike.
Class of ’68 reflects and looks ahead
Assassinations. War in Vietnam. Racial clashes. Far more than simply the generation who lived the Summer of Love, the Class of 1968, which celebrates its 50th reunion next week, recalled their college years during a turbulent time in the nation’s history.
Tag(s): University of Washington
Broccoli in space: How probiotics could help grow veggies in microgravity
Astronauts at the International Space Station are spending more time away from Earth, but they still need their daily serving of vegetables. In the quest to find a viable way for crew to grow their own veggies while orbiting — and possibly one day on the moon or Mars — student researchers are sending broccoli…
Tag(s): College of the Environment • School of Environmental and Forest Sciences • Sharon Doty
Anthropologist explores China’s changing art scene in ‘Experimental Beijing’
On a two-year stint teaching English in Beijing, Sasha Welland got her first glimpse of contemporary Chinese art. Not the antiquities so common in Western museums of Asian art, or the scroll paintings or ceramics or Buddhist sculptures, explains Welland, an associate professor in the University of Washington departments of anthropology and gender, women and…
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Anthropology • Sasha Welland • Select Department of Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies Department of Gender, Women & Sexuality StudiesMay 24, 2018
Remaking a reef: UW landscape architecture students to present design for new artificial reef at Redondo dive site
What makes a good artificial reef, for divers, and for marine life? University of Washington landscape architecture students have done designs for a state-funded project to replace the artificial reef at the Redondo Beach dive site. They will present and discuss their work in a public meeting May 30, in Des Moines. The landscape architecture…
Tag(s): Brooke Sullivan • College of Built Environments • Department of Landscape Architecture • Iain RobertsonMay 23, 2018
Arts Roundup: An Evening of Shakespeare, Design Show, and more
This week in the arts, attend a hilarious and surprising play, celebrate the start of summer with an evening of Shakespeare, visit the Burke for free at First Thursday, and go to a graduation design show. Goldie, Max and Milk May 22 – June 3 | Glen Hughes Penthouse Theater Max, a single lesbian, just…
Tag(s): ArtsUW • Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • College of Arts & Sciences • School of Art + Art History + Design • School of Drama
A promising target in the quest for a 1-million-year-old Antarctic ice core
The oldest ice core so far provides 800,000 years of our planet’s climate history. A UW field survey in Antarctica has pinpointed a location where an entire million years of undisturbed ice might be preserved intact.
Tag(s): climate change • College of the Environment • Department of Earth and Space Sciences • Howard Conway • polar scienceMay 21, 2018
Designed for evil: How to make bad technologies better
Through Alexis Hiniker’s Designing for Evil course, which is unique to the UW, students have identified “emerging evil” technologies and redesigned them so that they are more likely to enhance — not detract from — users’ lives.
Tag(s): Alexis Hiniker • Information SchoolMay 18, 2018
UW Faculty Senate celebrates its 80-year history
Eight decades ago to the day, the Faculty Senate met for the first time at the University of Washington.
Tag(s): George Sandison • Joe Janes • Thaisa Way • University of Washington • UW Faculty Senate
Memorial Day events focus on veteran mental health, suicide
For the past three years, a striking visual statement has marked Memorial Day on the University of Washington campus: thousands of miniature flags dotting the HUB lawn. The first year, student veterans placed hundreds of flags as a solemn gesture to underscore the significance of the holiday. The next year, the office of…
Tag(s): Forefront • Sam Powers • Student Veteran LifeMay 17, 2018
Want to help your child succeed in school? Add language to the math, reading mix
Research shows that the more skills children bring with them to kindergarten – in basic math, reading, even friendship and cooperation – the more likely they will succeed in those same areas in school. Hence, “kindergarten readiness” is the goal of many preschool programs, and a motivator for many parents. Now it’s time…
Tag(s): Amy Pace • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences
Washington Research Foundation grant brings on four new biology faculty just in time for new Life Sciences Building
With the grand opening of the new $171 million Life Sciences Building just months away, it’s time to fill the building with faculty. That was the idea behind a $3 million Washington Research Foundation (WRF) grant to hire four biology professors. It’s called a cluster hire and will help maintain the University of Washington’s leading reputation in primary research and life sciences.
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Biology • Toby Bradshaw • University of Washington • Washington Research FoundationMay 16, 2018
Arts Roundup: Percussion Ensemble, UW Sings, and more
This week in the arts, attend a hilarious and surprising play, join in on the Percussion Studio’s and Choir’s end of year performances, and attend a Seattle-based ensemble’s innovative chamber music concert. Goldie, Max and Milk May 22 – May 27 | Glen Hughes Penthouse Theater Max, a single lesbian, just gave birth. She’s unemployed,…
Tag(s): ArtsUW • College of Arts & Sciences • Ethnomusicology Program • School of Drama • School of MusicMay 15, 2018
Forest loss in one part of US can harm trees on the opposite coast
If an entire forest dies, new research shows, it has ricocheting effects in the atmosphere that can affect vegetation on the other side of the country.
Tag(s): Abigail Swann • climate • College of Arts & Sciences • College of the Environment • Department of Atmospheric and Climate Science • Department of Biology
Chemist Karen Goldberg elected to the National Academy of Sciences
Karen Goldberg, an affiliate professor of chemistry at the University of Washington, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences.
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Chemistry • Karen Goldberg
Born of protest: Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity celebrates a half-century
It was spring 1968. A group of students occupied the University of Washington administration building calling for change: justice, diversity, agency for Blacks on campus.
Tag(s): Alexes Harris • Emile Pitre • Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity • Rickey Hall • University of Washington
STEM for All Video Showcase features six UW projects
Family-focused science lessons, robotics for young children and touch-based programming for the visually impaired are among the University of Washington research videos featured in the STEM for All Video Showcase, funded by the National Science Foundation. The weeklong online event, in its fourth year, highlights more than 200 projects from universities around the country…
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • College of Education • College of Engineering • Department of Psychology • I-LABS • Information School • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering
The first wireless flying robotic insect takes off
Engineers at the University of Washington have created RoboFly, the first wireless flying robotic insect. This might be one small flap for a robot, but it’s one giant leap for robot-kind.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering • Department of Mechanical Engineering • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering • Sawyer Fuller • Shyam Gollakota • Vikram IyerMay 14, 2018
UW statement regarding ongoing negotiations with academic student employees – May 14, 2018
ASEs have called on the University of Washington to address trans-affirming medical procedures, mental health coverage, sexual harassment prevention training and wages – and the latest proposal the UW offered Monday addresses each outstanding issue.
Orbital variations can trigger ‘snowball’ states in habitable zones around sunlike stars
Aspects of an otherwise Earthlike planet’s tilt and orbital dynamics can severely affect its potential habitability — even triggering abrupt “snowball states” where oceans freeze and surface life is impossible, according to new research from UW astronomers.
Tag(s): astronomy & astrophysics • Benjamin Charnay • Cecilia Bitz • College of Arts & Sciences • David Fleming • Department of Astronomy • Rory Barnes • Russell Deitrick • Thomas Quinn • Victoria Meadows • Virtual Planetary Laboratory
Seattle-area universities and colleges declare Affordable Housing Week, May 14-18
The presidents of four Seattle-area universities and colleges have joined forces to declare May 14-18, 2018 as Affordable Housing Week on their campuses. Dr. Jeff Wagnitz, interim president of Highline College; Dr. Daniel J. Martin of Seattle Pacific University; Steven V. Sundborg, S.J., president of Seattle University; and Ana Mari Cauce, president of University of Washington, have signed proclamations or otherwise affirmed the importance of safe, healthy, affordable homes in communities of opportunity. The higher-education institutions join King County and 20 King County cities, including Seattle, in recognizing the benefits of affordable housing to everyone in the community.
Tag(s): Highline College • Seattle Pacific University • Seattle University • University of Washington
Jackson School’s Taso Lagos pens ‘American Zeus,’ biography of theater mogul Alexander Pantages
It’s a challenge to write a biography of a man who was functionally illiterate and whose papers were mostly destroyed, but UW lecturer Taso Lagos has achieved it with his new book, “American Zeus: The Life of Alexander Pantages, Theater Mogul.”
Tag(s): books • College of Arts & Sciences • Jackson School of International Studies • Taso LagosMay 10, 2018
New UW vessel, RV Rachel Carson, will explore regional waters
The UW School of Oceanography has a new vessel, named after marine biologist, author and conservationist Rachel Carson. It will explore Puget Sound and nearby coasts.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • oceanography • RV Rachel Carson • School of OceanographyMay 9, 2018
Arts Roundup: A Conversation with artist Shirin Neshat, Gospel Choir, Photomedia Exhibit Reception, and more
This week in the arts, six MFA candidates in dance invite you to see the premiere of their work, attend a conversation with contemporary Iranian visual artist Shirin Neshat, listen to a 100-voice gospel choir, and more. MFA Dance Concert May 16 – 20 | Meany Studio Theater Six MFA candidates in dance invite you…
Tag(s): ArtsUW • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Dance • Henry Art Gallery • MFA Dance Concert • School of Art + Art History + Design • School of Drama • School of MusicMay 8, 2018
UW researchers will survey Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier as part of major international effort
UW glaciologist Knut Christianson is part of a massive collaboration that will collect on-the-ground data about a key Antarctic glacier that shows signs it could be collapsing into the sea.
Tag(s): climate change • College of the Environment • Department of Earth and Space Sciences • Knut Christianson • polar scienceMay 7, 2018
Stomata — the plant pores that give us life — arise thanks to a gene called MUTE, scientists report
New research in plants shows that a gene called MUTE is required for the formation of stomata — the tiny pores that are critical for gas exchange, including releasing the oxygen gas that we breathe.
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Biology • genetics & DNA • Keiko Torii • plant science
Author Charles Johnson — with new story collection ‘Night Hawks’ out — discusses the anatomy of a short story
Charles Johnson, UW professor emeritus of English, has released his fourth book of short stories, “Night Hawks.” He discusses his creative process for short story-writing.
Tag(s): books • Charles Johnson • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of English« Previous Page Next Page »
