UW News
The latest news from the UW
September 20, 2024
Determination of non-significance: Laurel Village
Pursuant to the provisions of WAC 197-11-340 and WAC 478-324-140, the University of Washington hereby provides public notice of adoption of an existing document, the UW 2018 Seattle Campus Master Plan Final EIS, and DETERMINATION OF NON-SIGNIFICANCE. The adopted document is available at: https://facilities.uw.edu/files/media/uw-cmp-final-eis-volume-1.pdf Project Name: Laurel Village Proponent/Lead Agency: University of Washington–Seattle Campus Comment…
ArtSci Roundup: Kicking the school year off with gallery exhibitions, a faculty comedy show, filming screening, and more!
Through public events and exhibitions, connect with the UW community every week. This week, attend gallery exhibitions, and more. As the UW community returns to campus, consider taking advantage of campus perks available to UW employees and students: Free admission to the Henry Art Gallery and Burke Museum Discounted tickets to performances by Meany Center,…
Tag(s): ArtsUW • Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Asian Languages & Literature • Department of Geography • Jacob Lawrence Gallery • School of Art + Art History + Design • Select Department of Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies Department of Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies • Simpson Center for the Humanities
UW’s incoming class welcomed at New Student Convocation
The University of Washington will welcome its incoming classes and their families on Sunday, Sept. 22 at the University’s annual New Student Convocation, which will be held in Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.
Tag(s): Louisa Mackenzie • UW convocationSeptember 19, 2024
Determination of non-significance: Blakeley Village
Pursuant to the provisions of WAC 197-11-340 and WAC 478-324-140, the University of Washington hereby provides public notice of adoption of an existing document, the UW 2018 Seattle Campus Master Plan Final EIS, and DETERMINATION OF NON-SIGNIFICANCE. The adopted document is available at: https://facilities.uw.edu/files/media/uw-cmp-final-eis-volume-1.pdf Project Name: Blakeley Village Proponent/Lead Agency: University of Washington–Seattle Campus Comment…
Over 8 years, UW Population Health Initiative has turned ideas into impact
In just eight years, the UW Population Health Initiative has funded 227 innovative, interdisciplinary projects. With the Initiative now a third of the way into its 25-year vision, UW News checked in with three projects that recently received funding to scale their efforts.
Tag(s): Amy Hagopian • Ana Mari Cauce • Andrea Stocco • Bethany Gordon • BJ Cummings • Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • Celina Balderas Guzman • Center for Studies in Demography & Ecology • Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering • Department of Landscape Architecture • Department of Psychology • Department of Sociology • Department of Statistics • Hans Rosling Center for Population Health • Health Systems and Population Health • Nicole Errett • Paul Hebert • Population Health Initiative • Sameer Shah • School of Environmental and Forest Sciences • School of Public Health • Thomas Grabowski • Zack Almquist
What’s for dinner? Scientists unearth key clues to cuisine of resident killer whales
Scientists have discovered the cuisine preferences of two resident killer whale populations, also known as orcas: the Alaska residents and the southern residents, which reside primarily in the Salish Sea and off the coast of Washington, British Columbia, Oregon and northern California. The two populations show broad preference for salmon, particularly Chinook, chum and coho. But they differ in when they switch to hunting and eating different salmon species, as well as the other fish species they pursue to supplement their diets. This information could aid conservation efforts for southern resident killer whales, which remain critically endangered due to pollution, loss of salmon habitat and other human-caused factors that disrupt their hunting and reproductive capabilities.
Tag(s): Amy Van Cise • College of the Environment • conservation • School of Aquatic and Fishery SciencesSeptember 18, 2024
Video: UW welcomes incoming fall students to on-campus housing
Mild fall temperatures this week helped welcome the first group of students who moved into University of Washington residence halls and apartments. More than 10,000 students are expected to live in UW housing this year, including more than 77.5% of the freshman class. This year’s incoming class is expected to be around 7,150, according to preliminary information.
Tag(s): Move-in day
Explaining dramatic planetwide changes after world’s last ‘Snowball Earth’ event
Some of the most dramatic climatic events in our planet’s history are “Snowball Earth” events that happened hundreds of millions of years ago, when almost the entire planet was encased in ice up to 0.6 miles thick. New research from the University of Washington provides a more complete picture for how the last Snowball Earth event ended, and suggests why it preceded a dramatic expansion of life on Earth, including the emergence of the first animals.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • David Catling • Department of Earth and Space SciencesSeptember 17, 2024
AI researcher discusses the new version of ChatGPT’s advances in math and reasoning
Niloofar Mireshghallah, a UW postdoctoral scholar, discusses why math and reasoning have so challenged artificial intelligence models and what the public should know about OpenAI’s new release.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Niloofar Mireshghallah • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & EngineeringSeptember 13, 2024
In the Field: Understanding the impact of Arctic militarization on Indigenous communities
Mia Bennett, University of Washington assistant professor of geography, will spend a week this month in Norway as part of the orientation for the Fulbright Arctic IV Initiative. Bennett is one of 20 scholars selected to collaborate on multi-disciplinary research over the next 18 months.
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Geography • In the Field • Mia BennettSeptember 12, 2024
Determination of non-significance: ASUW Shell House Renovation
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 Project Name: ASUW Shell House Renovation Proponent/Lead Agency: University of Washington–Seattle Campus Comment Period Closes: September 26, 2024 Description of Proposal: The proposed University of Washington ASUW Shell House project is intended to…
Statement on UW Board of Regents meeting disruption and adjournment
The following is a statement from outgoing UW Board of Regents Chair David Zeeck and Incoming Board of Regents Chair Blaine Tamaki on today’s meeting disruption and adjournment: The UW Board of Regents adjourned its meeting today after disruptions made orderly conduct of the meeting impossible. Speakers addressing labor issues and those calling for divestment…
UW’s Ashleigh Theberge receives Schmidt Sciences Polymath honors for ‘boundary-pushing work’ in cell signaling, communication
Ashleigh Theberge, associate professor of chemistry at the University of Washington, has been named to the Schmidt Sciences Polymath Program, entitling her to grants of up to $2.5 million over five years to “pursue risky, novel theories that would otherwise be difficult to fund,” according to a Sept. 10 announcement from Schmidt Sciences. Theberge — one of six awardees this year — was selected from an applicant pool of 117, and is the first UW faculty member selected for the program, which is in its third year.
Tag(s): Ashleigh Theberge • awards • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of ChemistrySeptember 10, 2024
UW researchers develop a stretchable, wearable device that lights up an LED using only the warmth of your skin
UW researchers have developed a flexible, durable electronic prototype that can harvest energy from body heat and turn it into electricity that can be used to power small electronics, such as batteries, sensors or LEDs. This device is also resilient — it still functions even after being pierced several times and then stretched 2,000 times.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Department of Mechanical Engineering • Mohammad Malakooti
Thanks to humans, Salish Sea waters are too noisy for resident orcas to hunt successfully
New research led by the University of Washington and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has revealed how underwater noise produced by humans may help explain why southern resident orca populations have not recovered from historic lows. In a paper published Sept. 10 in Global Change Biology, the team reports that underwater noise pollution — from both large and small vessels — forces northern and southern resident orcas to expend more time and energy hunting for fish. The din also lowers the overall success of their hunting efforts. Noise from ships likely has an outsized impact on southern resident orca pods, which spend more time in parts of the Salish Sea with high ship traffic.
Tag(s): Center for Ecosystem Sentinels • College of Arts & Sciences • conservation • Department of Biology • Jennifer TennessenSeptember 9, 2024
COVID-19 lockdowns prematurely aged teenage brains, UW study shows
New research from the University of Washington found lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in unusually accelerated brain maturation in adolescents. This maturation was more pronounced in girls. When measured in terms of the number of years of accelerated brain development, the mean acceleration was 4.2 years in females and 1.4 years in males.
Tag(s): Ariel Rokem • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Psychology • Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences • Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences • Neva Corrigan • Patricia KuhlSeptember 6, 2024
Statement from UW President Cauce on killing of recent UW graduate in West Bank
A statement from University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce on the killing of recent UW graduate Aysenur Eygi in the West Bank.
August 30, 2024
New discoveries about how mosquitoes mate may help the fight against malaria
An international team led by researchers at the University of Washington has uncovered surprising details about mosquito mating, which could lead to improved malaria control techniques and even help develop precision drone flight. In a paper published Aug. 30 in the journal Current Biology, the team revealed that when a male Anopheles coluzzii mosquito hears the sound of female-specific wingbeats, his eyes “activate” and he visually scans the immediate vicinity for a potential mate.
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Biology • Jeffrey RiffellAugust 29, 2024
Scientists will study nearby galaxies to uncover galactic formation history and dark matter
NASA’s upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will look for “fossils” of galaxy formation by conducting high-resolution imaging studies. Through a grant from NASA, astronomers are designing a set of possible observations called RINGS — the Roman Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey — that would collect these images, and the team is producing publicly available tools that the astronomy community can use once Roman launches and starts collecting data.
Tag(s): astronomy & astrophysics • Benjamin Williams • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of AstronomyAugust 28, 2024
Large language models can help detect social media bots — but can also make the problem worse
A team led by University of Washington researchers found that large language models, such as ChatGPT, can make social media bots more sophisticated at evading detection. But these models can also improve systems that detect bots.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering • Shangbin Feng • Yulia TsvetkovAugust 21, 2024
Human-wildlife overlap expected to increase across more than half of Earth’s land by 2070
The overlap between humans and animals will increase substantially across much of the planet in less than 50 years due to human population growth and climate change, according to a collaborative study by scientists at the University of Michigan, the University of Washington and University College London. By 2070, the overlap between humans and more than 22,000 vertebrate species will rise across nearly 57% of Earth’s land, according to the team.
Tag(s): Briana Abrahms • Center for Ecosystem Sentinels • College of Arts & Sciences • conservation • Department of BiologyAugust 20, 2024
New independent venture capital fund accelerates and enhances innovation ecosystem at the UW
Pack Ventures, a new venture capital fund that is collaborating with the University of Washington, aims to help entrepreneurs launch new innovations and grow startups that emerge across the UW, while also giving Husky alumni access to investment opportunities.
Tag(s): CoMotion • Francois BaneyxAugust 16, 2024
Why isn’t Colorado’s snowpack ending up in the Colorado River? New research suggests the problem might be the lack of spring rainfall
The Colorado River and its tributaries provide water for hydropower, irrigation and drinking water in seven U.S. states and Mexico. But since 2000, water managers have struggled to predict how much water will come from the snowpack. The problem lies with the lack of rainfall in the spring, according to new research from the UW.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Daniel Hogan • Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering • Jessica Lundquist • snowAugust 14, 2024
Galaxies in dense environments tend to be larger, settling one cosmic question and raising others
A new study has found galaxies with more neighbors tend to be larger than their counterparts that have a similar shape and mass, but reside in less dense environments. In a paper published Aug. 14 in the Astrophysical Journal, the team, which used a machine-learning algorithm to analyze millions of galaxies, reports that galaxies found in denser regions of the universe are as much as 25% larger than isolated galaxies. The findings resolve a long-standing debate among astrophysicists over the relationship between a galaxy’s size and its environment, but also raise new questions about how galaxies form and evolve over billions of years.
Tag(s): Aritra Ghosh • astronomy & astrophysics • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Astronomy • DIRAC InstituteAugust 13, 2024
Q&A: Using marijuana can worsen outcomes for young adults with psychosis – how can mental health professionals help them stop?
Young adults with psychosis tend to use cannabis at extremely high rates, and their symptoms can be exacerbated by long-term marijuana use. A team of University of Washington researchers is focused on this particular group.
Tag(s): Denise Walker • Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences • Maria Monroe-DeVita • Marijuana • Ryan Petros • School of Medicine • School of Social WorkAugust 12, 2024
Report describes the barriers Pacific Northwest coastal Tribes face in adapting to climate change
The University of Washington, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians and others held collaborative listening sessions with Northwest coastal Tribes to hear their experiences in adapting to climate change. A new report summarizes those experiences, while an upcoming grant program hopes to help address barriers identified in the report.
Tag(s): climate change • Climate Impacts Group • College of the Environment • EarthLab • Meade Krosby • Washington Sea GrantAugust 8, 2024
Many survey respondents rated seeking out sexually explicit ‘deepfakes’ as more acceptable than creating or sharing them
In a survey of 315 people conducted by researchers at the University of Washington and Georgetown University, respondents largely found creating and sharing sexually explicit “deepfakes” unacceptable. But far fewer respondents strongly opposed seeking out these media. Previous research has shown that other people viewing non-AI image-based abuse harms the victims significantly.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Miranda Wei • Natalie Grace Brigham • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering • Tadayoshi KohnoAugust 7, 2024
Using photos or videos, these AI systems can conjure simulations that train robots to function in physical spaces
Two new studies introduce AI systems that use either video or photos to create simulations that can train robots to function in the real world. This could significantly lower the costs of training robots to function in complex settings.
Tag(s): Abhishek Gupta • College of Engineering • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering • Zoey ChenAugust 5, 2024
Randy Hodgins, vice president of the Office of External Affairs, to retire in June 2025
After more than two decades with the University of Washington, Vice President Randy Hodgins announced today that he will step down from his role leading the UW Office of External Affairs and retire at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year. During his upcoming final year as Vice President, Hodgins said he will remain committed to advancing the University’s mission and ensuring a smooth transition.
August 1, 2024
15 UW professors among new class of members to the Washington State Academy of Sciences
Fifteen faculty members at the University of Washington have been elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences for 2024. They are among 36 scientists and educators from across the state announced Aug. 1 as new members. Selection recognizes the new members’ “outstanding record of scientific and technical achievement, and their willingness to work on behalf of the academy to bring the best available science to bear on issues within the state of Washington.”
Tag(s): Ali Rowhani-Rahbar • Aseem Prakash • Clean Energy Institute • College of Arts & Sciences • College of Education • College of Engineering • College of the Environment • Daniel Kirschen • Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics • Department of Atmospheric and Climate Science • Department of Bioengineering • Department of Chemistry • Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering • Department of Emergency Medicine • Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences • Department of Epidemiology • Department of Global Health • Department of Medicine • Department of Ophthalmology • Department of Pediatrics • Department of Political Science • Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences • Department of Radiology • Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center • Jeremy Hess • Juliana McElrath • Katherine Comtois • Kristi Morgansen • Michael Spencer • Paul Kinahan • Philip Bell • Qiang Fu • Ruikang Wang • School of Medicine • School of Nursing • School of Public Health • School of Social Work • Seattle Children's Hospital • Stefan Stoll • Tumaini Rucker Coker • Valerie Daggett • Washington State Academy of Sciences • Wendy BarringtonJuly 29, 2024
UW model shows cortical implants like Elon Musk’s Blindsight unlikely to ‘exceed normal human vision’
New research from Ione Fine and Geoffrey Boynton, UW professors of psychology, shows Elon Musk’s projection for the latest Neuralink project rests on the flawed premise that implanting millions of tiny electrodes into the visual cortex, the region of the brain that processes information received from the eye, will result in high-resolution vision.
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Psychology • Geoffrey Boynton • Ione FineJuly 25, 2024
How iBuyers are changing real estate racial disparities and individual homeownership rates in one major city
University of Washington researchers investigated how iBuyers — companies that use automated algorithms to quickly buy and sell homes — have affected the well-documented racial bias against Black home sellers. Looking at Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, they found that on average iBuyers paid more equal prices to Black and white home sellers than individual buyers, largely because iBuyers paid white sellers significantly less on average than an individual buyer. They also discovered that iBuyers were significantly more likely to resell homes to institutions, such as large rental companies that’ve been tied to high eviction rates and rent-gouging.
Tag(s): Information School • Isaac Slaughter • Nicholas Weber
Q&A: Nail salon air is filled with fragrance chemicals — could they harm workers’ health?
A study led by UW researcher Diana Ceballos is most comprehensive study to date of the specific fragrance chemical mixtures found in nail salon air, and will allow researchers to further study the potential health risks.
Tag(s): air pollution • Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences • Diana Ceballos • occupational health • School of Public HealthJuly 23, 2024
Q&A: UW researcher aims to understand common women’s sports injuries
Several common injuries seem to haunt women’s sports. Jenny Robinson, a University of Washington assistant professor, is interested in designing better methods to help female athletes train to prevent and recover from injuries.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Department of Mechanical Engineering • Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine • Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine • Jenny Robinson • UW MedicineJuly 17, 2024
New faculty books: Traditional Syrian cuisine, Indigenous ecological knowledge, data science for researchers
Three new faculty books from the University of Washington cover the recipes and culture of the world’s largest Syrian refugee camp, traditional ecological knowledge of Indigenous peoples and data science for neuroimaging researchers. UW News spoke with the authors to learn more. Documenting history and rituals of Syrian cuisine When Karen E. Fisher was invited…
Tag(s): Ariel Rokem • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Psychology • eScience Institute • Information School • Karen Fisher • Michelle Montgomery • UW TacomaJuly 16, 2024
Q&A: The climate change toll on roads — two UW professors weigh in
Two University of Washington researchers are investigating how to mitigate the effects of climate change on common road pavements, such as asphalt and concrete.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering • Nara Almeida • Stephen Muench • UW Tacoma
Even on Instagram, teens mostly feel bored
New research from the University of Washington finds that teens open Instagram because they’re bored. Then they sift through largely irrelevant content, mostly feeling bored, while seeking interesting bits to share with their friends in direct messages. Then, eventually bored with what researchers call a “content soup,” they log off.
Tag(s): Alexis Hiniker • Information School • Katie Davis • Rotem LandesmanJuly 10, 2024
Wolves’ return has had only small impact on deer populations in NE Washington, study shows
Wolves returned to Washington state in 2008. A new study shows that, despite their rising numbers, wolves are not having much of an impact on white-tailed deer, one of their primary prey. In a paper published June 18 in Ecological Applications, scientists from the University of Washington and the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife report that the biggest factor shaping white-tailed deer populations in northeast Washington is the quality of habitat available, which is largely determined by human activity. Cougars were second in their impact. Wolves were a distant third.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • conservation • ecology • Laura Prugh • School of Environmental and Forest SciencesJuly 1, 2024
Q&A: How the H5N1 bird flu outbreak could become humanity’s problem
A major outbreak of a new strain of bird flu — formally named Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 — has killed millions of wild birds and infected poultry, dairy cattle, domestic cats and a small number of humans. UW experts explain how bird flu evolves and what it could mean for humans.
Tag(s): Center for One Health Research • Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences • Department of Epidemiology • infectious disease • Julianne Meisner • Peter Rabinowitz • School of Public HealthJune 27, 2024
UW ranks in the top 10 on a US News & World Report list of best global universities
The University of Washington tied for No. 7 on the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Global Universities rankings, released on Tuesday. The UW maintained its No. 2 ranking among U.S. public institutions.
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