Better integration of citizen science into professional science is a growing consideration at the UW and elsewhere.
October 10, 2014
The latest news from the UW
October 9, 2014
University of Washington fifth worldwide, top US public institution in ranking of achievements in scientific research
Measuring universities on their scientific research productivity, impact and excellence, National Taiwan University named the University of Washington fifth best in the world, and the top public institution in the United States, in its 2014 Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities released Thursday. The NTU Ranking is based on the production and impact of universities’ scientific papers, intended to objectively measure their contributions in the advancement of scientific innovation. “This is yet another international ranking that places the…
Welcome to the new UW Today blog
It’s impossible not to make this awkward, but here’s our best shot: Welcome to the new UW Today blog. For years, UW Today in various incarnations has provided the news of the University of Washington – from groundbreaking scientific research and awe-inspiring student projects, to ranking updates, awards and roundups of arts events that can be found on campus. So, why start a blog now? To put it simply: Because there’s just too much good stuff happening at the UW…
Migrating animals’ pee affects ocean chemistry
Tiny animals migrating from the ocean’s surface to the sunless depths helps shape our oceans. During the daylight hours below the surface the animals release ammonia, the equivalent of our urine, that plays a significant role in marine chemistry, particularly in low-oxygen zones.
October 8, 2014
Arts Roundup: Drama, music — and Anne Hamilton’s ‘The Common S E N S E’
Fall is a busy time for the arts on campus, with a dizzying array of performances and exhibitions to take advantage of.
Jackson School centers receive $16 million for international education
The University of Washington’s Jackson School of International Studies has received funding from the U.S. Department of Education for all eight of its Title VI centers — with grants of more than $16 million to be awarded over four years.
Renowned dances meticulously restaged for Chamber Dance Company’s ‘On the Edge’
The UW Chamber Dance Company presents restaging of well-known dances by choreographers Nacho Duato, Susan Marshall, Danial Shapiro and Joanie Smith in “On the Edge,” Oct. 9-12 in Meany Hall.
UW fusion reactor concept could be cheaper than coal
University of Washington engineers have designed a concept for a fusion reactor that, when scaled up to the size of a large electrical power plant, would rival costs for a new coal-fired plant with similar electrical output.
October 7, 2014
Toddlers regulate behavior to avoid making adults angry
UW researchers have found that children as young as 15 months can detect anger in other people’s social interactions and then modify their own behavior.
October 3, 2014
University of Washington and Washington State University announce Memorandum of Understanding on medical education expansion
SPOKANE, Wash. – Leadership at the University of Washington and Washington State University today announced they have reached an agreement that will mutually dissolve their WWAMI partnership and provide a pathway to pursue separate solutions to address the state’s medical education needs and physician shortage. In order to provide the greatest benefit to the state and to meet the significant demand for more physicians, leaders from both universities agree that UW and WSU will independently pursue their respective proposals to…
Board of Regents — Oct. 9 meeting
The Board of Regents will hold meetings Thursday, Oct. 9, in the UW Tower Board Room, 22nd floor. The full schedule and agendas are available online.
Not stuff of musty museums: Enlist evolutionary biology against modern threats
Using evolutionary biology is one way to try to outwit evolution where it is happening too quickly and to perhaps find accommodations when evolution occurs too slowly.
October 2, 2014
Jackson School director discusses goals of new International Policy Institute
Resat Kasaba, director of the Henry M. Jackson School director, discusses goals and mission of the school’s new International Policy Institute.
UW’s Jeffrey Heer wins award to support data visualization research
Jeffrey Heer, a University of Washington associate professor of computer science and engineering, has received an award from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to develop new theories, tools and techniques for data visualization that help scientists see and understand big data.
October 1, 2014
News digest: New schedules for Health Sciences Express/shuttle, flu clinics underway
Compiled by the Office of News and Information.
Arts Roundup: Music, The Big Draw — and Chamber Dance Company
Fall quarter has started, which means the weekly arts roundup is back in action. This week, the Burke is hosting The Big Draw and Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Branford Marsalis performs at Meany Hall on Oct. 4.
Northwest ‘anarchist utopia’ explored in ‘Trying Home’
Justin Wadland of the UW Tacoma Library discusses his book “Trying Home: The Rise and Fall of an Anarchist Utopia on Puget Sound.”
September 30, 2014
UW students to build hybrid-electric muscle car in EcoCAR 3 contest
The UW is one of 16 schools invited to participate in the U.S. Department of Energy and General Motors Co. EcoCAR 3 competition that spans four years with stand-alone contests each spring. Their challenge in this next competition is to convert a Chevrolet Camaro into a hybrid-electric car.
September 24, 2014
Citizenship, women in tech, taboo language, psychology of superheroes among UW’s new fall class lineup
From exploring American citizenship to encouraging women in technology, the 2014-15 school year brings a wealth of new classroom experiences for UW students.
September 23, 2014
Don’t ignore looming Metro bus cuts, check your options now
The UW in August introduced a Commute Concierge service to help riders with personalized commute plans.
Dying brain cells cue new brain cells to grow in songbird
Using a songbird as a model, scientists have described a brain pathway that replaces cells that have been lost naturally and not because of injury.
‘Celebrity and its Discontents’: The 2014 Performing Arts Lecture Series
Celebrities have fascinated the public for centuries — but why? And how does the spotlight affect those on whom it shines? This year’s Performing Arts Lecture Series, presented by the School of Drama, explores the power of celebrity from unique perspectives in three evening lectures.
September 22, 2014
Snail shells show high-rise plateau is much lower than it used to be
Geologists have long debated when and how the Tibetan Plateau reached a 14,000-foot-plus elevation, but new UW-led research shows it once was probably even higher.
New degree programs aplenty starting with school year
Through new degree programs starting this fall, students will learn architecture from a liberal arts perspective, complete social sciences degrees online, become expert in the teaching of science, and much more.
New RFID technology helps robots find household objects
The University of Washington and Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a new search algorithm that improves a robot’s ability to find and navigate to tagged objects.
September 19, 2014
Join expedition online: UW students help install cabled deep-sea observatory
UW students have had a unique experience off the coast of Washington and Oregon helping scientists and engineers complete construction of the world’s largest deep-ocean observatory.
Reflected smartphone transmissions enable gesture control
University of Washington engineers have developed a new form of low-power wireless sensing technology that lets users “train” their smartphones to recognize and respond to specific hand gestures near the phone.
September 18, 2014
Poverty, income inequality increase in Washington state
The number of Washingtonians living in poverty jumped by more than 50,000 from 2012 to 2013, and the state poverty rate rose as well, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data released Thursday.
World population to keep growing this century, hit 11 billion by 2100
A study by the UW and the United Nations finds that the number of people on Earth is likely to reach 11 billion by 2100, about 2 billion higher than widely cited previous estimates.
September 16, 2014
Health Sciences Digest: Wearable Artificial Kidney, worker wellness, chromosome sort safeguard
Health Sciences Digest: Wearable Artificial Kidney safety testing to begin, low-wage workers value employer wellness initiatives, cells simply avoid chromosome errors
Freshman Convocation opens UW’s 2014-15 school year
UW President Michael Young will be the featured speaker at the 31st annual Freshman Convocation Sept. 21 in the Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.
September 15, 2014
Correcting the record: WSU consultant’s medical school study deeply flawed
The study prepared by Washington State University consultant MGT of America to make the case for a WSU medical school contains a number of deep flaws. Many of the key justifications cited for starting, funding, and accrediting a second public medical school in Washington are based upon faulty assumptions, omissions, and erroneous data that draw into question many of the report’s central conclusions. These flaws raise significant concern about the actual feasibility of a WSU medical school and are important…
September 12, 2014
‘Mad Campus’: Art here, there, everywhere
The University of Washington is being transformed into a vast art gallery for a six-week exhibition called “Mad Campus.”
September 11, 2014
Questions of race, state violence explored in ‘The Rising Tide of Color’
Moon Ho Jung, associate professor of history, discusses the book he edited, “The Rising Tide of Color: Race, State Violence and Radical Movements across the Pacific,” published by University of Washington Press.
UW-built sensors to probe Antarctica’s Southern Ocean
Floating sensors built at the UW will be central to a new $21 million effort to learn how the ocean surrounding Antarctica influences climate.
September 9, 2014
Board of Regents — Sept. 11 meeting
The Board of Regents will hold meetings Thursday, Sept. 11. The Regular meeting will take place in the Petersen Room of the Allen Library 10:45 a.m. The full schedule and agendas are available online.
Documents that Changed the World: The Star Spangled Banner turns 200
Information School Professor Joe Janes takes a look at “The Star Spangled Banner” for his Documents that Changed the World series.
September 8, 2014
Geneticist Mary-Claire King to receive Lasker Foundation Award
Mary-Clare King, a world leader in cancer genetics and the application of genetics to justice for human rights violations, will be honored by the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation.
September 5, 2014
News digest: Waas to lead aeronautics and astronautics; Climate science conference Sept. 9-10
Compiled by the Office of News and Information.
California blue whales rebound from whaling; first of their kin to do so
The number of California blue whales has rebounded to near historical levels and, while the number of blue whales struck by ships is likely above allowable U.S. limits, such strikes do not immediately threaten that recovery.