UW News
The latest news from the UW
October 12, 2015
UW remains fifth in global ranking of university achievements in scientific research
Continuing a recent string of noteworthy accolades, the University of Washington held its place at No. 5 in the world on the National Taiwan University Ranking of Scientific Papers, which was released Friday. The ranking is based on performance of scientific papers in three major categories — research productivity, research impact and research excellence. “One…
Tag(s): Rankings
New UW School of Law group to study marijuana regulation for state of Washington
A new group at the UW School of Law will spend the academic year studying existing and emerging markets for marijuana, to assist and inform the state as it prepares to blend current medical and recreational markets for cannabis.
Tag(s): Cannabis Law and Policy Project • School of Law • Sean O'ConnorOctober 11, 2015
UW physicists celebrate contribution to Nobel-winning neutrino discoveries
At 2:45 a.m. on Oct. 6, bleary-eyed Nobel Prize enthusiasts on the West Coast were treated to an unexpected lesson about fundamental particles and forces in our universe. Across the globe in Stockholm, a panel of scientists announced that the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics would honor two scientists who led international collaborations to understand…
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Physics • Hamish Robertson • Jason Detwiler • Jeffrey WilkesOctober 9, 2015
Puget Sound Fact Book offers fun factoids, major research results for lay readers
How long would it take to walk the entire shoreline of Puget Sound? Which species are at risk here, and to what depths can the most adept bird and mammal divers reach? How much population growth can we expect in the next decade? A new resource published this week explores these questions and many more…
Tag(s): books • Puget Sound
Arctic, cybersecurity — even outer space — covered in Oct. 16 Jackson School conference
Academics and policymakers will gather at the UW’s Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies Oct. 16 for a conference to address cybersecurity and geopolitical concerns from the Pacific Northwest to the Arctic and even outer space.
Tag(s): Canadian Studies Center • College of Arts & Sciences • Donald Hellmann • International Policy Institute • Jackson School of International Studies • Jennifer Butte-Dahl • Nadine Fabbi • Resat Kasaba • Saadia Pekkanen • Sara Curran
College of Environment lectures focus on natural hazards
A lecture series presented by the UW College of the Environment will focus on “Surviving Disaster: Natural Hazards & Resilient Communities.” The five evening lectures will explore the latest developments in social and natural sciences that are helping people prepare for and respond to environmental disasters. Q&A with David Montgomery, who presents the first lecture…
UW summit highlights poverty, eroding middle class in state
Poverty rates in Washington dropped between 2013 and 2014 for the first time in six years, but many people are increasingly struggling to get by, particularly in Seattle. Poverty in King County and around the state was the focus of the West Coast Poverty Center’s first annual summit Sept. 29. The University of Washington-based group…
October 8, 2015
UW announces plan for expanded campus child-care services
The University of Washington is shifting $3 million to expand child care facilities on campus as part of a major initiative to enhance the culture of service in UW’s central administration, interim Provost Jerry Baldasty announced this week. The need for child care was one of several needs brought to light over the summer in…
October 7, 2015
Arts Roundup: Jazz, modern dance – and birds at the Burke
There’s something for everyone this week: catch a world premiere at the UW World Series, explore the Burke’s world-renowned collection of birds, or enjoy the sounds of 1962 jazz with the School of Music. The Chamber Dance Company celebrates 25 years with four performances at Meany Hall and the Jacob Lawrence Gallery hosts an exhibition…
Tag(s): ArtsUW • Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • Henry Art Gallery • Jacob Lawrence Gallery • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • Meany Hall for the Performing Arts • School of Art + Art History + Design • School of Music
Public notice: Determination of significance and request for comments on scope of Environmental Impact Statement (Campus Master Plan update)
Project Name: University of Washington Seattle Campus Master Plan Update Proponent: University of Washington Description of Proposal: The University of Washington Seattle Campus Master Plan Update will guide development on the Seattle Campus, building on and updating the 2003 Campus Master Plan and extending the continuity of planning developed over the last century. The Campus…
Public notice: Availability of a draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DEIS) — CSE II Project
Pursuant to the provisions of WAC 197-11-455 Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and WAC 478-324-140, the University of Washington hereby provides public notice of the availability of a draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DEIS)
Student collaboration leads to first results describing sick sea star immune response
A group of young marine-disease researchers from around the country has contributed key information about sea stars’ immune response when infected with a virus that is thought to cause a deadly wasting disease. It’s the first time researchers have tracked how genes behave when encountering this naturally occurring pathogen, which could help explain how sea stars attempt to fight the virus and why they develop lesions and appear to melt.
Tag(s): Carolyn Friedman • College of the Environment • Friday Harbor Laboratories • School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences • Steven Roberts
New UW report paints sobering picture of urban education in the US
A groundbreaking new report provides a sobering picture of the state of urban education in America, especially when it comes to educational opportunities for poor students and students of color, who now make up the majority of America’s public school students nationwide. The report provides the first citywide assessment of the changing and complex public…
Tag(s): Center on Reinventing Public Education • Michael DeArmond • Robin Lake
‘Human Right to Family Planning Conference’ Oct. 9-11 at School of Law
The UW School of Law will be the location for the three-day Human Right to Family Planning Conference, Oct. 9-11. Lawmakers, researchers, academics and health care professionals will gather for this first-of-its-kind event to explore the relationship between the right to health and family planning, including abortion, and improving access to that care, locally and…
October 6, 2015
UW climbs to No. 11 in U.S. News Global University Rankings
The University of Washington moved up three spots to No. 11 overall in the second edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Global University Rankings.
Tag(s): Ana Mari Cauce • Rankings
Documents that Changed the World: Alfred Nobel’s will, 1895
Alfred Nobel is remembered for the annual prizes given in his name. But were it not for his confused but effective will, we might remember him as the inventor of dynamite, who grew rich inventing and developing lethal explosives.
Tag(s): Documents that Changed the World • Information School • Joe Janes
UW holds public meetings on Seattle Campus Master Plan update
Meeting schedule 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14 at the University Temple Church, 1415 NE 43rd St. Noon to 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15 at the Husky Union Building, Room 340, on the UW campus. For more information, check the Campus Master Plan FAQ The University of Washington is inviting students, staff, faculty and…
UW study finds LGBTQ older adults in Seattle/King County face higher health risks
The number of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) older adults in Seattle and King County is expected to double by 2030, and they face higher risks of disability, poor health, mental distress and isolation — along with a social service sector unequipped to deal with their needs. That’s the conclusion of a study…
Tag(s): aging • Karen Fredriksen-Goldsen • LGBTQ • School of Social WorkOctober 5, 2015
UW workshop basis of national climate-science training for tribes
A workshop on climate science, developed at the University of Washington and delivered for five years to scientists in this region, will become the framework for a new national workshop for early-career tribal members from across the country. The program, announced in September by the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Idaho, will be…
Where to look for life? UW astronomers devise ‘habitability index’ to guide future search
Astronomers with the University of Washington’s Virtual Planetary Laboratory have created the “habitility index for transiting planets” to rank exoplanets to help prioritize which warrant close inspection in the search for life beyond Earth.
Tag(s): Department of Astronomy • Rory Barnes • Victoria Meadows • Virtual Planetary LaboratoryOctober 2, 2015
UW Dept. of Construction Management, Skanska launch new certificate program in ‘building information modeling’
The University of Washington’s Department of Construction Management and Skanska, one of the world’s leading construction and development firms, have partnered to offer a new certificate for Building Information Modeling. The new program was created to fill a current gap in the field of people trained to use data-rich virtual-reality modeling tools in building design….
October 1, 2015
Simulating path of ‘magma mush’ inside an active volcano
The first simulation of the individual crystals in volcanic mush, a mix of liquid magma and solid crystals, shows the mixing to help understand pressure buildup deep inside a volcano.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • Department of Earth and Space Sciences • George Bergantz • volcanoes
UW professor emeritus Cheryl Richey shows abstract art in solo exhibit
As an academic, Cheryl Richey was empirical and analytical, dogged in her insistence on backing up practice with evidence. So it’s perhaps not surprising that as an artist, the University of Washington professor emeritus of social work lets her spontaneous, experimental side loose. “I think that absence of control is what I needed, because my…
Freshman application period for Fall 2016 opens today
While the rest of campus celebrates the beginning of autumn quarter and welcomes a record freshman class, the Office of Admissions is already focused on recruiting and admitting the class of 2016. The freshman application for Fall 2016 opens today, and the deadline is Dec. 1. Applicants will be notified March 15 through 31, 2016….
September 30, 2015
Arts Roundup: Photography, a world premiere – and the acoustics of books
This week, UW World Series begins its 2015-2016 season at Meany Hall with Japanese butoh ensemble Sankai Juku, and continues with a collaboration between string quartet ETHEL and Native American flutist Robert Mirabal. Just across Red Square, acoustical engineer Zackery Belanger explores the acoustics of books in a Henry Art Gallery talk, where visitors will…
Tag(s): ArtsUW • Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • Henry Art Gallery • Meany Center for the Performing Arts
UW scientists talk earthquakes, landslides in NSF series on natural hazards
Two University of Washington scientists are featured in a new series — created by the National Science Foundation, NBC Learn and The Weather Channel — that focuses on natural hazards. Each of the short videos features an NSF-supported scientist who studies one of ten types of natural disasters. Two of them are from the UW’s…
Engineering lecture series focuses on privacy in the age of smart technology
In the age of “smart” technology, the devices we use — from phones that enable banking and shopping to personal robots and driverless cars — will leave a trail sharing who we are, where we go and what we consume. Over the next month, the University of Washington College of Engineering’s fall lecture series will…
Ballmers’ support for UW School of Social Work reaches $32 million
The University of Washington will help more social work graduate students pay for their studies and start their careers without staggering debt loads, thanks to significant support from Connie and Steve Ballmer. The Ballmers’ contributions include a new gift of $20 million, bringing the couple’s support for the UW School of Social Work to $32…
Tag(s): School of Social Work
3-D printing techniques help surgeons carve new ears
A UW otolaryngology resident and bioengineering student have used 3-D printing techniques to create lifelike models to help aspiring surgeons – who currently practice on soap, apples, and vegetables – learn to perform ear reconstruction surgeries.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Department of Bioengineering • School of Medicine
Known fish species living in the Salish Sea increases in new report
A new report published Tuesday documents all of the fishes that live in the Salish Sea. In total, 253 fish species have been recorded, and that’s about 14 percent more than in the last count.
Tag(s): Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • College of the Environment • School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences • Ted Pietsch
Math and me: Children who identify with math get higher scores
How strongly children identify with math (their math “self-concept”) can be used to predict how high they will score on a standardized test of math achievement, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Washington.
Tag(s): Andrew Meltzoff • Dario Cvencek • I-LABSSeptember 29, 2015
UW computer science alumnus wins a MacArthur Foundation ‘genius grant’
Computer scientist and University of Washington alumnus Christopher Ré is one of 24 recipients of “genius” grants this year from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the organization announced Sept. 28. Ré, an assistant professor of computer science at Stanford University, pursues new approaches to help computers analyze large, complex datasets. The diverse…
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Dan Suciu • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering
Arsenic found in many U.S. red wines, but health risks depend on total diet
A new UW study that tested 65 wines from America’s top four wine-producing states — California, Washington, New York and Oregon — found all but one have arsenic levels that exceed what’s allowed in drinking water. But health risks from that toxic element depend on what else a person is eating.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Denise Wilson • Department of Electrical & Computer EngineeringSeptember 28, 2015
Diverse group of universities form coalition to improve college admission process
A diverse coalition of public and private colleges and universities including the University of Washington is coming together with the goal of improving the college admission application process for all students. The Coalition is developing a free platform of online tools to streamline the experience of planning for and applying to college. The initial iteration…
Four UW-related books finalists for 2015 Washington Book Awards
Four University of Washington-related books are finalists for 2015 Washington Book Awards. The awards are chosen by the Washington Center for the Book, at the Seattle Public Library. “Mary Randlett Portraits,” a book of photos of Northwest artists, writers and arts advocates taken by a photographer nearly as well-known as her subjects, was published in…
Tag(s): books
UW to raise minimum wage for workers to $15 an hour
The University of Washington announced today that, consistent with its earlier commitment to Seattle’s minimum wage law, it intends to raise the minimum wage of its workers — including student workers in Seattle — to $15 an hour. Subject to the successful conclusion of on-going negotiations with its unions, the increase will take effect in…
Earth-like planets around small stars likely have protective magnetic fields, aiding chance for life
Earth-like planets orbiting close to small stars probably have magnetic fields that protect them from stellar radiation and help maintain surface conditions that could be conducive to life, according to research by UW astronomers.
Tag(s): Department of Astronomy • Rory Barnes • Virtual Planetary Laboratory
A new single-molecule tool to observe enzymes at work
A team of scientists at the University of Washington and the biotechnology company Illumina have created an innovative tool to directly detect the delicate, single-molecule interactions between DNA and enzymatic proteins. Their approach provides a new platform to view and record these nanoscale interactions in real time. As they report Sept. 28 in Nature Biotechnology, this tool should provide fast and reliable characterization of the different mechanisms cellular proteins use to bind to DNA strands — information that could shed new light on the atomic-scale interactions within our cells and help design new drug therapies against pathogens by targeting enzymes that interact with DNA.
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Physics • Jens GundlachSeptember 25, 2015
Forefront hosts state’s first higher education suicide prevention conference
Each year, around 1,100 undergraduate students around the United States die by suicide; in the last six years alone, 18 University of Washington students have taken their own lives. “That number sounds horrific, and it is, but it’s also squarely in line with the national average,” said Lauren Davis, director of school and campus programs…
September 24, 2015
Cooled down and charged up, a giant magnet is ready for its new mission
The Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory — or Fermilab — announced that a 680-ton superconducting magnet is secure in its new home and nearly ready for a new era of discovery in particle physics. This achievement follows the delicate, 3,200-mile transport of the magnet’s 17-ton, 50-foot-wide housing ring to the U.S. Department of Energy facility outside Chicago two years ago. The fully assembled magnet will drive high-energy particle experiments as part of an international partnership among 34 institutions, of which the University of Washington is a leading contributor.
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • David Hertzog • Department of Physics« Previous Page Next Page »
