UW News
The latest news from the UW
November 28, 2017
UW students win Amazon’s inaugural Alexa Prize for most engaging socialbot
A team of University of Washington students and faculty has won Amazon’s inaugural Alexa Prize, a university competition designed to produce an artificial intelligence agent capable of coherent and sustained conversation with humans.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering • Mari Ostendorf • Noah Smith • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering • Yejin Choi
Two UW professors elevated to IEEE Fellows
Two faculty members in the University of Washington College of Engineering have been elected as 2018 fellows of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Tom Furness, professor of industrial and systems engineering, was honored for “leadership in virtual and augmented reality” and Siddhartha “Sidd” Srinivasa, professor in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, was recognized for “contributions to robotic manipulation and human-robot interaction.”
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering • Siddhartha Srinivasa • Tom FurnessNovember 27, 2017
Less life: Limited phosphorus recycling suppressed early Earth’s biosphere
The amount of biomass – life – in Earth’s ancient oceans may have been limited due to low recycling of the key nutrient phosphorus, according to new research by the University of Washington and the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
Tag(s): Astrobiology Program • College of the Environment • Department of Earth and Space Sciences • Eva Stüeken • Michael Kipp • NASA Astrobiology Institute • Roger Buick • Victoria Meadows • Virtual Planetary Laboratory
UW’s Doorway Project kicks off services for homeless youth
Seattle’s homeless crisis isn’t confined to one part of town – nor does it hinge on one solution. The University District community includes as much as one-third of King County’s homeless youth over any given year. It’s a neighborhood where a food bank and youth shelter are available, and where young people on the…
Tag(s): Carlson Leadership and Public Service Center • Charlotte Sanders • Josephine Ensign • Lisa Kelly • School of Law • School of Nursing • School of Social Work • Thaisa Way • Urban@UWNovember 22, 2017
AAAS names 8 UW researchers as fellows in 2017
Eight University of Washington researchers are among the 396 new fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, announced this week.
Tag(s): Adam Geballe • Gail Jarvik • James J. Champoux • James Riley • Lisa M. Frenkel • Matt Kaeberlein • Stanley C. Froehner • Usha Varanasi
Two UW professors named to the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare
Edwina Uehara, dean of the University of Washington School of Social Work, and social work professor Karen Fredriksen Goldsen have been named fellows of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare. The two are among 14 new fellows to be inducted by the organization, which honors scholarship, leadership and high-impact work in the…
Tag(s): Edwina S. Uehara • Karen Fredriksen-Goldsen • School of Social WorkNovember 21, 2017
Pitch imperfect? How the brain decodes pitch may improve cochlear implants
Picture yourself with a friend in a crowded restaurant. The din of other diners, the clattering of dishes, the muffled notes of background music, the voice of your friend, not to mention your own – all compete for your brain’s attention. For many people, the brain can automatically distinguish the noises, identifying the…
Tag(s): Bonnie Lau • I-LABSNovember 17, 2017
When to fish: Timing matters for fish that migrate to reproduce
A new University of Washington study points to yet another human factor that is hampering the ability of fish to reproduce: the timing of our fishing seasons. The study considers how the timing of fishing efforts might disproportionately target certain fish and change the life history patterns of entire populations.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences • Tom QuinnNovember 16, 2017
UW receives top honors from CleanTech Alliance for research and support in energy innovation, industry partnerships
The CleanTech Alliance has presented the University of Washington with the organization’s 2017 CleanTech Achievement Award. The honor recognizes the UW’s dedication to research and development of transformative clean energy technologies, facilities, pipelines for startups and industry partnerships. The award was announced on Nov. 8 at the annual meeting and 10th anniversary of the CleanTech…
Tag(s): awards • Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship • Clean Energy Institute • clean or renewable energy • College of Arts & Sciences • College of Engineering • Foster School of Business • Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institute • Molecular Engineering Materials CenterNovember 15, 2017
Arts Roundup: Monstrosity, an epic play; Jonty Harrison’s Voyages and performances by the Chamber Singers and University Chorale
This week in the arts; watch an epic play, Monstrosity, where girls are the heroes; experience new works of sonic and visual art through Jonty Harrison’s “Voyages,” enjoy student piano performances in Brechemin Auditorium, and listen to the UW’s top auditioned choir perform in their fall quarter concert.
Tag(s): DXARTS • School of Art + Art History + Design • School of Drama • School of Music
Salt pond in Antarctica, among the saltiest waters on Earth, is fed from beneath
One of the saltiest bodies on Earth, an analog to how water might exist on Mars, shows signs of being one piece of a larger aquifer.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • Department of Earth and Space Sciences • geology • Jonathan Toner • polar science
Are petite poplars the future of biofuels? UW studies say yes
A University of Washington team is trying to make poplar a viable competitor in the biofuels market by testing the production of younger poplar trees that could be harvested more frequently — after only two or three years — instead of the usual 10- to 20-year cycle.
Tag(s): Bioresource Science and Engineering Program • College of the Environment • Fernando Resende • Renata Bura • Rick Gustafson • School of Environmental and Forest Sciences
What counts as nature? It all depends
Think, for a moment, about the last time you were out in nature. Were you in a city park? At a campground? On the beach? In the mountains? Now consider: What was this place like in your parents’ time? Your grandparents’? In many cases, the parks, beaches and campgrounds of today are surrounded…
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Psychology • Peter Kahn • Thea WeissNovember 14, 2017
2 UW engineering students make Forbes ’30 under 30 in Energy’ list
Two University of Washington engineering students were selected by Forbes magazine for its list of the top 30 people in the world under age 30 working in energy.
Tag(s): Clean Energy Institute • College of Engineering • Department of Chemical Engineering • Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
With launch of new night sky survey, UW researchers ready for era of ‘big data’ astronomy
The first astronomers had a limited toolkit: their eyes. They could only observe those stars, planets and celestial events bright enough to pick up unassisted. But today’s astronomers use increasingly sensitive and sophisticated instruments to view and track a bevy of cosmic wonders, including objects and events that were too dim or distant for their…
Tag(s): astronomy & astrophysics • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Astronomy • DIRAC Institute • Eric Bellm • Mario JuricNovember 13, 2017
New tool quantifies power imbalance between female and male characters in Hollywood movie scripts
UW researchers who used machine learning tools to analyze language in 800 Hollywood movie scripts found subtle but widespread gender bias in the way male and female characters are portrayed.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering • Yejin ChoiNovember 7, 2017
With climate change, Mount Rainier floral communities could ‘reassemble’ with new species relationships, interactions
An unseasonably warm, dry summer on Mount Rainier in 2015 caused subalpine wildflowers to change their bloom times and form ‘reassembled’ communities, with unknown consequences for species interactions among wildflowers, pollinators and other animals.
Tag(s): climate change • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Biology • ecology • Janneke Hille Ris LambersNovember 6, 2017
‘Smart’ paper can conduct electricity, detect water
A University of Washington team wants to simplify the process for discovering detrimental water leaks by developing “smart” paper that can sense the presence of water.
Tag(s): Anthony Dichiara • College of the Environment • School of Environmental and Forest SciencesNovember 2, 2017
Washington Sea Grant receives $1.1 million in federal funding for aquaculture research
Three federal grants announced this week will provide total funding of $1.1 million to Washington Sea Grant, based at the University of Washington’s College of the Environment, for research that will sustainably further shellfish and finfish aquaculture in the state
Tag(s): Washington Sea Grant
Frances McCue meditates on changing city in new poem collection ‘Timber Curtain’
Frances McCue, a senior lecturer in the UW Department of English, has a new book of poetry out, “Timber Curtain,” published by Seattle’s Chin Music Press.
Tag(s): books • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of English • Frances McCue
How air pollution clouds mental health
There is little debate over the link between air pollution and the human respiratory system: Research shows that dirty air can impair breathing and aggravate various lung diseases. Other potential effects are being investigated, too, as scientists examine connections between toxic air and obesity, diabetes and dementia. Now add to that list psychological distress,…
Tag(s): Anjum Hajat • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Epidemiology • Department of Sociology • Kyle Crowder • School of Public Health • Victoria SassOctober 31, 2017
Arts Roundup: ‘Amazing Animals’ at the Burke, voice division recital and — Concerto Competition
This week: Have a fuzzy, slimy, cuddly and crawly fun time at the Burke; hear the School of Music’s Voice Division Recital; feel the competition heat up as strings students compete for an incredible opportunity; hear jazz students perform original compositions; see a special art history lecture on “highly staged repository of works” from the Mughal era;…
Tag(s): School of Art + Art History + Design
How to store information in your clothes invisibly, without electronics
UW computer scientists have created fabrics and fashion accessories that can store data — from security codes to identification tags — without needing any on-board electronics or sensors.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering • Shyam GollakotaOctober 26, 2017
Serious study of comic art: International conference comes to UW Nov. 2-4
Comics and graphic can be serious business. Scholars, critics, historians, teachers, curators of comic art and graphic publications will gather at the UW and locations in Seattle Nov. 2-4 for the 2017 International Comic Arts Forum.
Tag(s): Department of Slavic Languages and Literature • Jose AlanizOctober 25, 2017
UW among top 10 in US News Best Global Universities ranking; No. 2 among US public institutions
The University of Washington climbed to the No. 10 spot on the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Global Universities rankings, tied with Johns Hopkins University and Yale University. The UW is now second among American public institutions — an improvement from last year’s No. 3 slot. “I am proud to see the University of…
Tag(s): Rankings
Arts Roundup: Littlefield Halloween organ concert; By the Way, Meet Vera Stark; Habib Koité and more
This week in the arts, hear the harrowing sounds of the Littlefield Organ Series’ Halloween show; see the first performance of the School of Drama’s 2017-18 season; enjoy a guest recital from a “leading champion of contemporary American piano music”; experience a special collaboration between the UW Symphony and Seattle Symphony Orchestra; and catch performer…
October 24, 2017
Vintage maps, books and more in UW Libraries Special Collections exhibit ‘All Over the Map’
UW Libraries Special Collections’ new exhibit, “All Over the Map: From Cartographs to (C)artifacts” — organized by UW Book Arts and Rare Book Curator Sandra Kroupa — is on display in Allen Library until Jan. 31, 2018.
Tag(s): exhibits & exhibitions • John Bolcer • Lisa Oberg • Nicolette Bromberg • Sandra Kroupa • UW LibrariesOctober 23, 2017
50 simulations of the ‘Really Big One’ show how a 9.0 Cascadia earthquake could play out
The largest number yet of detailed simulations for how a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake might play out provides a clearer picture of what the region can expect when the fault unleashes a 9.0 earthquake.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • Department of Earth and Space Sciences • earthquakes & seismologyOctober 20, 2017
Mountain glaciers shrinking across the West
A satellite technique provides a new way to monitor the status of more than 1,200 mountain glaciers in the lower 48 states.
Tag(s): Applied Physics Laboratory • College of the Environment • David Shean • Department of Earth and Space Sciences • glaciersOctober 18, 2017
For $1000, anyone can purchase online ads to track your location and app use
New University of Washington research finds that for a budget of roughly $1000, it is possible for someone to track your location and app use by purchasing and targeting mobile ads. The team hopes to raise industry awareness about the potential privacy threat.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Franziska Roesner • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering • Tadayoshi KohnoOctober 17, 2017
Flexible ‘skin’ can help robots, prosthetics perform everyday tasks by sensing shear force
UW and UCLA engineers have developed a flexible sensor “skin” that can be stretched over any part of a robot’s body or prosthetic to accurately convey information about shear forces and vibration, which are critical to tasks ranging from cooking an egg to dismantling a bomb.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Department of Mechanical Engineering • Jonathan PosnerOctober 16, 2017
UW jumps 2 spots to No. 25 on Center for World University Rankings 2017 list
The University of Washington is No. 25 in the world — No. XX among U.S. public institutions — according to a new list released Monday by the Center for World University Rankings.
Tag(s): Rankings
Tweeting rage: How immigration policies can polarize public discourse
Before a border wall became a budget bargaining chip, before the presidential pardon of a controversial sheriff and before federal policies were announced on social media, there was Arizona Senate Bill 1070, the “show me your papers” law. And of course, there was Twitter. To René D. Flores, an assistant professor of sociology at…
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Sociology • Rene Flores
UW researchers mark first detection of gravitational waves from collision of two neutron stars
For the first time, scientists have detected gravitational waves from the merger of two neutron stars.
Tag(s): astronomy & astrophysics • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Physics • Jens Gundlach • Joey Key • Krishna Venkateswara • UW BothellOctober 12, 2017
Arts Roundup: Blue Nights and Night Flowers, MFA Exhibition, a Faculty Recital, the Chamber Dance Concert, and more
This week in the arts, the School of Art + Art History + Design second year MFA show continues at the Jacob Lawrence Gallery; dance and social activism take the stage at the Chamber Dance Concert; Creative Research Fellow Daniel Alexander Jones meditates on nearly a quarter century of performance art and theatre; “a true theatrical original”…
UW names second CSE building the Bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science & Engineering
The University of Washington Board of Regents on Thursday approved the naming of the new computer science building under construction on the Seattle campus as the Bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science & Engineering. The naming of the building was made possible by gifts from Microsoft Corp. and a group of local business and philanthropic leaders who are longtime friends and colleagues of the couple.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering
Using Facebook data as a real-time census
Determining how many people live in Seattle, perhaps of a certain age, perhaps from a specific country, is the sort of question that finds its answer in the census, a massive data dump for places across the country. But just how fresh is that data? After all, the census is updated once a…
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Sociology • Emilio ZagheniOctober 11, 2017
In Seattle, cost of meeting basic needs up $30,000 in a decade
A Seattle family of four must bring in $75,000 annually to pay for basic housing, food, transportation and health and child care – an increase of 62 percent since 2006, based on a new report from the University of Washington. The city’s escalating cost of living may not be a surprise. But across the state,…
Tag(s): Center for Women's Welfare • Diana Pearce • Lisa Manzer • School of Social WorkOctober 9, 2017
Paul Bodin named interim director of Pacific Northwest Seismic Network
Paul Bodin, a UW seismologist and manager of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, has been named interim director of the network that monitors earthquakes and volcanoes in Washington and Oregon.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • Department of Earth and Space Sciences • earthquakes & seismology • Pacific Northwest Seismic Network • Paul Bodin • ShakeAlert
Dance meets social justice in Chamber Dance Company’s ‘The Body Politic’ Oct. 12 – 15
Eight dance pieces on the themes of inequity and injustice comprise the UW Chamber Dance Company’s concert “The Body Politic,” Oct. 12-15 at Meany Theater.
Tag(s): Chamber Dance Company • Department of Dance • Hannah Wiley« Previous Page Next Page »
