UW in the media

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• A scientist is developing a nasal spray to prevent flu, COVID, and colds | Business Insider21 hours ago
  A prominent researcher has designed a nasal spray that he hopes will protect people from getting sick with COVID-19. For him, it’s an early step toward his ultimate goal of crafting a virus-fighting cocktail that could work against several common infections. David Baker, director of the UW Institute for Protein Design, is featured.
• What does the nation’s commitment to tribal co-stewardship mean for public lands? | High Country News21 hours ago
  The Biden administration’s policies signal a shift in lands management, but a sea change is yet to come. Monte Mills, a UW law professor and director of the Native American Law Center at the UW, is quoted.
• Man in King County dies from infection | KIRO23 hours ago
  A person in Washington state has died from an infection linked to an over-the-counter eye drop. Dr. Courtney Francis, associate professor of ophthalmology at the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• FDA recalls eye drops after King County man dies from infection | KING 523 hours ago
  A King County man has died from a blood infection officials believe was caused by over-the-counter eye drops, according to the Washington State Department of Health. On Thursday the FDA recalled Ezricare Artificial Tears after a "multistate outbreak" of an extensively drug-resistant strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Dr. Courtney Francis, associate professor of ophthalmology at the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Jesse Jones: Victim calls Jesse after bank refuses to reverse $1,200 fraud charge | KIRO 723 hours ago
  When Kris Blondin saw a $1,252 charge on her credit card statement, it was clear to her that she had been squared up by a scammer. After documents showed a fake Square account charged Blondin’s credit card, Bank of America wouldn’t provide a refund. So KIRO 7’s Jesse Jones checked her story. Anita Ramasastry, professor of law at the UW, is quoted.
• Union Gap, Yakima police say public safer if pursuit policies restored | Yakima Herald23 hours ago
  Two years after the Washington Legislature enacted a law requiring police to have probable cause to pursue a fleeing suspect, it is taking up the issue again. Martina Morris, professor emeritus of sociology and of statistics at the UW, is referenced.
• How a grisly historical accident set one neuroscientist on the road to writing a book | Nature Careers2 days ago
  In this Q&A, Chantel Prat, associate professor of psychology at the UW, describes how a psychology class about railway engineer Phineas Gage’s behavioral change after a metal rod speared his brain in 1848 led to her switching disciplines and eventually writing a book, The Neuroscience of You. Andrea Stocco, associate professor of psychology at the UW, and Margaret O’Mara, professor of history at the UW, are mentioned.
• Sending signals without power (almost) | Science without the gobbledygook2 days ago
  A group of engineers from the University of Washington have come up with a way to send signals seemingly without power. This project is featured on a weekly roundup of science news by Sabine Hossenfelder.
• Analysis: Here’s why climate change gets the spotlight but biodiversity doesn’t | Forbes2 days ago
  "Global conferences focus public attention on pressing challenges with the hope that countries will be motivated to collectively address them. Last year, two major global conferences, the Conference of Parties (COP) meetings, took place, focusing on climate change and biodiversity. The climate COP was held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt while the biodiversity COP was in Montreal, Canada. Yet, the response to the two COPs differed in important ways," write the UW’s Nives Dolšak, professor of marine and environmental affairs, and Aseem Prakash, professor of political science.
• Seattle Public Schools blocks ChatGPT on school devices | KING 52 days ago
  If it seems like the world can’t get enough of the viral language tool ChatGPT, which uses Artificial Intelligence to generate essays, poems and even music lyrics, you are not alone. From Microsoft’s multibillion-dollar investment in ChatGPT parent company OpenAI earlier this month to the announcement Wednesday of a $20 monthly premium service, more people are using chatbots like ChatGPT, which, in turn, is making the program smarter. That is causing some concerns about the ways people are using them, including cheating in the classroom. Penelope Adams Moon, director of the UW Center for Teaching and Learning, is quoted.
• Lower your risk for dementia by spending time in nature | The Washington Post2 days ago
  Spending time in nature — even as little as two hours a week — has been linked to several health benefits. It seems to support healthy aging and has been associated with, among other things, improved cognitive function, blood pressure, mental health and sleep. Now, a study of nearly 62 million Medicare beneficiaries suggests that nature may also help protect against the risk of developing certain neurodegenerative disorders. Anjum Hajat, associate professor of epidemiology at the UW, is quoted.
• We asked the new AI to do some simple rocket science — it crashed and burned | NPR2 days ago
  ChatGPT — the recently released chatbot from the company OpenAI – failed to accurately reproduce even the most basic equations of rocketry. Its written descriptions of some equations also contained errors. And it wasn’t the only AI program to flunk the assignment. Others that generate images could turn out designs for rocket engines that looked impressive, but would fail catastrophically if anyone actually attempted to build them. The UW’s Emily Bender, professor of linguistics, and Yejin Choi, professor of computer science and engineering, are quoted.
• Black History Month events to participate in locally | KING 52 days ago
  February is Black History Month, and there are plenty of events and activities in Seattle, Tacoma and across Western Washington for all age groups to celebrate and learn more. Dan Berger, associate professor of interdisciplinary arts and sciences at UW Bothell, is mentioned.
• Group's lawsuit seeks to void Washington transportation law | Associated Press2 days ago
  A conservative legal advocacy organization is suing to halt the nearly $17 billion transportation funding bill passed by the Washington Legislature and signed by Gov. Jay Inslee last year. The organization, the Citizen Action Defense Fund, argued in a filing Tuesday that the 16-year transportation revenue package contains multiple subjects that lack “rational unity,” and because of that, it violates the state constitution. Hugh Spitzer, professor of law at the UW, is referenced.
• Large glacier near Seattle has 'completely disappeared,' researcher says | CNN3 days ago
  Nestled between the snowy ranges of Mount Rainier and Glacier Peak, Washington state’s Hinman Glacier has disappeared, according to Nichols College glaciologist Mauri Pelto, and been replaced by Hinman Lake. David Shean, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at the UW, is quoted.
• Union membership numbers dropping | KNKX3 days ago
  President Joe Biden has repeatedly tried to establish his administration as one that is pro-Union. A Gallup poll from last year showed that 71% of Americans, the highest number since 1965, approve of Unions. And yet this month the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Union membership was down overall, even here in Washington state where unions have historically done well. Rachel Erstad, labor research coordinator at the UW Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies, is interviewed.
• Discovered in the deep: the anglerfish with vampire-like sex lives | The Guardian3 days ago
  Many anglerfish are globular and lumpy in shape. They have a long prong sprouting from their forehead with a glowing tip that lures prey into their enormous, tooth-filled jaws. If their appearance is curious, then the method of reproduction that some species have developed – known as sexual parasitism – is even more so. Ted Pietsch, professor emeritus of aquatic and fishery sciences at the UW, is referenced.
• Vancouver legislator proposes bill to allow optometrists to perform surgery | The Columbian3 days ago
  A proposed bill from state Sen. Annette Cleveland, that would allow optometrists to perform a wider range of services came under fire Tuesday morning during a public hearing before the Senate Health and Long Term Care committee. Dr. Courtney Francis, associate professor of ophthalmology at the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Planting more trees in cities could slash summer heat deaths, study finds | Forbes3 days ago
  Planting more trees in cities could cut the number of people dying from high temperatures in summer, according to a study published in the Lancet medical journal on Tuesday, a strategy that could help mitigate the effects of climate change as it continues to drive temperatures upwards. Kristie Ebi, professor of global health and of environmental and occupational health sciences at the UW, is quoted.
• EDC, UW celebrate housing collaboration, share early progress | Chinook Observer3 days ago
  First announced last November, the Pacific County Economic Development Council and UW’s Livable City Year program have teamed up for a multi-year effort to connect county planning projects with courses from UW’s Department of Urban Design and Planning to advance local livability and economic development goals. Randy Hodgins, vice president for external affairs at the UW, and Branden Born, associate professor of urban planning at the UW, are quoted.

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UW Bothell

Full archive for UW Bothell

• Black History Month events to participate in locally | KING 52 days ago
  February is Black History Month, and there are plenty of events and activities in Seattle, Tacoma and across Western Washington for all age groups to celebrate and learn more. Dan Berger, associate professor of interdisciplinary arts and sciences at UW Bothell, is mentioned.
• UW librarians demand better pay and benefits | Northwest News Radio3 weeks ago
  As University of Washington librarians and staff are calling for a strike later this month, the university says it’s negotiating in good faith but has requested the use of a mediator. Chelsea Nesvig, a librarian at UW Bothell, is interviewed.
• UW librarians announce second strike if deal isn’t reached | The Seattle Times3 weeks ago
  UW librarians and staff are calling for a second strike on Jan. 25 if a contract agreement with the university isn’t reached by then. Members of Service Employees International Union Local 925, which has about 130 librarians and press workers, said at Thursday’s UW Board of Regents quarterly meeting that librarians and staff will strike if negotiations continue to stall. Chelsea Nesvig, a librarian at UW Bothell, and UW spokesperson Victor Balta are quoted.
• Grieving California on the front lines of the climate crisis | Coda Story2 months ago
  A broad movement of activists, artists, psychologists, educators, young people and residents are beginning to center emotions in conversations about climate change. Jennifer Atkinson, an associate professor of environmental humanities at UW Bothell, and a former student in her class, Joe Lollo, are quoted.
• UW to train teachers proper mental health services as demand grows | MyNorthwest3 months ago
  After health officials have been reporting a dire mental health crisis facing schools statewide since before the pandemic, a new program from the University of Washington Bothell aims to better equip educators in helping their struggling students. Robin Fleming, assistant teaching professor of nursing and health studies at UW Bothell, is quoted.
• SPS superintendent introduces new safety initiative following Ingraham High School shooting | KING 53 months ago
  Student safety is an important issue for Seattle Public Schools, especially after last week’s shooting at Ingraham High School. KING 5 asked what the district is doing now to keep its students safe in the classroom. Robin Fleming, assistant teaching professor of nursing and health studies at UW Bothell, is quoted.
• Will this rare butterfly found only on San Juan Island go extinct? | The Seattle Times3 months ago
  The Island Marble butterfly went unseen for 90 years, only to resurface on San Juan and Lopez islands in 1998. Since then, these butterflies have suffered extensive habitat and population loss. Amy Lambert, associate teaching professor of interdisciplinary studies at UW Bothell, is quoted.
• Car buying woes drag on: how to get the best deal when car shopping | KIRO 73 months ago
  Supply chain problems have mostly settled down, but anyone who’s been car shopping knows there are still major challenges. The microchip shortage is still causing trouble, but that’s not the only problem causing car prices to fluctuate — there is still a low inventory problem. It’s all making it a tough time for car shoppers. However, there are key takeaways people who are looking to buy a new or used car should keep in mind. Surya Pathak, professor of business at UW Bothell, is quoted.
• States are mandating Asian American studies — what should the curriculum look like? | Education Week3 months ago
  2022 has been a banner year for Asian American and Pacific Islander, or AAPI, studies: New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island have all passed legislation to mandate the topic in K-12 schools—following the example of Illinois, which in 2021 became the first state to require it. Now, say educators and scholars, the real work begins: Shaping the teaching guidelines and resources that will underpin the efforts and play a huge part in determining their success. Wayne Au, professor of educational studies and acting dean of diversity and equity at UW Bothell, is quoted.
• Seattle breaks heat record as wildfires and smoke spread | The Seattle Times4 months ago
  Seattle broke the record Sunday for the hottest temperature this late in the year, as heat-driven wildfires threatened homes in Southwest Washington. The smoke lingering over Western Washington is unusual for this time of year. Dan Jaffe, professor of environmental chemistry at UW Bothell, is quoted.
• The best high schools in the country for 2023 | The Hill4 months ago
  A site that combines ratings from students, parents and alumni with quantitative data just released its high school rankings for 2023 and found a school in Durham, North Carolina, to be the best public high school in the nation. Wayne Au, professor of educational studies and acting dean of diversity and equity at UW Bothell, is quoted.
• Opinion: Seattle’s town house residents deserve trees, too | The Seattle Times4 months ago
  "The Seattle City Council is poised to increase density in neighborhoods with town house zoning. …We suggest two amendments: Vertically stacking homes, which frees space for trees without sacrificing housing, and requiring the retention or planting of at least one significant tree," write David Moehring, an architect and capital planner at UW Bothell and two co-authors.
• Teen leads effort to paint ‘Save Our Salmon’ murals in Lake Forest Park | The Seattle Times4 months ago
  On an 85-degree September day when the air quality index reached “very unhealthy” levels, more than 190 volunteers gathered near two concrete barriers for a community paint day near Pfingst Animal Acres Park and Brookside Elementary School in the Seattle suburb of Lake Forest Park. A Kirkland 17-year-old with a knack for bringing people together gathered the group. Jeff Jensen, teaching professor of biology at UW Bothell, is quoted.
• Is the pandemic over? We asked an economist, an education expert and a public health scholar their views | The Conversation5 months ago
  President Joe Biden’s declaration that “the pandemic is over” raised eyebrows and the hackles of some experts who think such messaging could be premature and counterproductive. But to many Americans who have long since returned to pre-COVID 19 activities and are now being forced back into the office, the remark may ring true. The problem is that what “back to normal” feels like may differ from person to person, depending on the individual’s circumstances and by what criteria they are judging the pandemic to be over. The Conversation asked three scholars of different parts of U.S. society affected by the pandemic – public health, education and the economy – to evaluate just how “over” the pandemic is in their worlds. Wayne Au, professor of educational studies and acting dean of diversity and equity at UW Bothell, is interviewed.
• Western WA is covered by smoke again — but for how long? | KUOW5 months ago
  There’s smoke in the air again this week, thanks to winds from the east that are bringing smoke from the Bolt Creek fire into the Puget Sound region. And an inversion is trapping that smoke close to the ground. Still, the air quality is not hazardous for most people. Dan Jaffe, professor of environmental chemistry at UW Bothell, is quoted.
• Puget Sound region school districts grapple with long-lasting impact to grades from pandemic | KIRO 75 months ago
  Thousands of students are heading back to school with no requirements on masks or social distancing for the first time in two-and-a-half years, but the pandemic had a major and long-lasting impact on learning and grades. KIRO 7 obtained data on failing and non-complete grades across several school districts, which appeared to show that student engagement is improving, but there is a ways to go. Wayne Au, professor of educational studies and acting dean of diversity and equity at UW Bothell, is quoted.
• Wildfire smoke is here to stay — but critics say our preparations are still 'lackadaisical' | KUOW5 months ago
  August and September in the Pacific Northwest now come with a reliable risk of wildfire smoke. When it rolls in, the sky turns orange and hazy. The air smells like a campfire. And our health — physical and mental — suffers. But local governments are still working out how to protect people from this polluted air. Dan Jaffe, professor of environmental chemistry at UW Bothell, is quoted.
• UW program trains students, teens to provide mental health support for peers | KING 56 months ago
  It’s a problem impossible to ignore. Millions of people visit the emergency room every year with mental disorders as their primary diagnosis. A University of Washington program partnering with community health organizations is getting students and teens involved in providing support, to resounding success. Jody Early, associate professor of nursing and health studies at UW Bothell, is quoted.
• Opinion: Formal apprenticeships would protect grad students | Inside Higher Ed6 months ago
  "When universities significantly expand their enrollment of graduate students, neighboring institutions of higher education exhibit greater use of part-time faculty. That was the conclusion of a recent paper I co-authored with Jon Boyette, titled ‘Supply Side Fantasies and Precarious Part-time Academic Labor,’ published in Education Policy Analysis Archives," writes Dan Jacoby, professor emeritus of interdisciplinary arts and sciences at UW Bothell.
• Food insecurity among college students can have lingering effects | The Seattle Times6 months ago
  Millions of Americans turned to food banks for the first time in 2020 due to pandemic-related job losses and business closures. Who can forget the images of hundreds of cars lined up at food banks? Now, that recent history is repeating itself as more working Americans are overwhelmed by inflation and facing food insecurity. A report from the UW Evans School of Public Policy and Governance is referenced.

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UW Tacoma

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• Opinion: Why Washington's capital gains tax should be upheld | Puget Sound Business Journal2 weeks ago
  "The state’s new capital gains tax is expected to raise $500 million annually for child care, preschool and other education programs, but opponents challenge its constitutionality," writes Katie Baird, professor of economics at UW Tacoma.
• UWT University Book Store closing to operate solely online | Tacoma News Tribune4 weeks ago
  University Book Store serving UW Tacoma is set to close its physical store this week after having an on-campus presence dating back to the ‘90s and the start of UWT. UW Tacoma Chancellor Sheila Edwards Lange, Ben Mauk, associate director of campus planning and retail operations for UW Tacoma, and Trevor Peterson, chief operating officer of the university bookstore, are quoted.
• City, UW Tacoma to partner for homelessness conversations | Tacoma News Tribune1 month ago
  Starting in 2023, the City of Tacoma and UW Tacoma will host community conversations on homelessness. The council approved $20,000 on Dec. 20 from its contingency fund to sponsor the conversations. The conversations will be focused on immediate actions to address homelessness and coming up with solutions to housing and supportive services. UW Tacoma Chancellor Sheila Edwards Lange and John Burkhardt, communications director for UW Tacoma, are mentioned.
• Eight-night lecture series called rodeo night at the museum promises to showcase Ellensburg Rodeo and local hall of fame | Yakima Herald2 months ago
  As the world moves closer to the new year, plans to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Ellensburg Rodeo are underway and the Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame will kick off the festivities with an eight-night lecture series called Rodeo Night at the Museum, starting in January. The series will stick to the 1923 theme and the year of the first rodeo with a series of discussions by people who have walked the trail, sharing the stories that make up the rich history of a rodeo (1923 to 2023) that was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2020. Mike Allen, professor emeritus of history at UW Tacoma, is mentioned.
• What's the best way to parent adopted children? | BBC2 months ago
  While individual experiences of adoption can vary hugely, these underlying traumas can pose long-term risks for the child. According to an analysis of 85 studies on the mental health of adoptees and non-adoptees, the risk of adoptees experiencing psychiatric disorders, having contact with mental health services, or treatment in a psychiatric hospital was approximately double that of non-adoptees. JaeRan Kim, associate professor of social work at UW Tacoma, is quoted.
• Analysis: What's a polycule? An expert on polyamory explains | The Conversation2 months ago
  "With the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, the media shined a spotlight on the personal lives of founder Sam Bankman-Fried and his inner circle. It turns out that Bankman-Fried, his on-and-off girlfriend, Caroline Ellison, who served as CEO of FTX subsidiary Alameda and others involved in the company have dabbled in polyamory. Polyamorous relationships are a form consensual non-monogamy in which partners seek out multiple romantic or sexual relationships," writes Riki Thompson, associate professor of digital rhetoric and writing studies at UW Tacoma.
• Common tire chemical linked to salmon deaths | KING 52 months ago
  Since the 1990s, salmon have been dying at a rapid rate in urban creeks along the West Coast. Just five years ago, scientists started noticing a lot of tire chemicals in the water. Edward Kolodziej, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the UW and of science and mathematics at UW Tacoma, is featured.
• Tacoma police violent crime plan flawed, experts, union say | Tacoma News Tribune3 months ago
  The authors of Tacoma Police Chief Avery Moore’s violent crime plan have painted a rosy picture of their strategy and called its first three months a success, but the union representing the city’s rank-and-file cops alleges top brass is spreading a false narrative and local experts say the plan is fundamentally flawed. Janelle Hawes and Kenneth Cruz, assistant professors of social work and criminal justice at UW Tacoma, are quoted.
• Urgent air quality warning as thick wildfire smoke chokes the Pacific Northwest | KOMO 44 months ago
  Maureen Kennedy, associate professor of sciences and mathematics at UW Tacoma, talks with KOMO 4 about the cause of the smoke in the Seattle area.
• Analysis: Powerful women heading up dating apps are framed as young and sexy | The Conversation4 months ago
  "People are swiping on dating apps in record numbers and roughly half of these individuals identify as women, which may be the reason why the dating app industry recently assigned the top leadership roles to women. Indeed, this past year, the most powerful dating apps in the world — Bumble and Tinder — were both run by women. Whitney Wolfe Herd is at Bumble while Renate Nyborg was running Tinder," write Treena Orchard, professor at Western University, and Riki Thompson, associate professor of digital rhetoric and writing studies at UW Tacoma.
• Hood Canal has the wrong name — a North Kitsap woman wants to change it | Kitsap Sun5 months ago
  A retired educator who lives in view of Hood Canal is on a mission to change the waterway’s name. Parker MacCready, professor of oceanography, and Tarang Khangaonkar, director of the Salish Sea Modeling Center at UW Tacoma, are quoted.
• Food insecurity among college students can have lingering effects | The Seattle Times6 months ago
  Millions of Americans turned to food banks for the first time in 2020 due to pandemic-related job losses and business closures. Who can forget the images of hundreds of cars lined up at food banks? Now, that recent history is repeating itself as more working Americans are overwhelmed by inflation and facing food insecurity. A report from the UW Evans School of Public Policy and Governance is referenced.
• King County hoping to close heat disparity gap in low-income areas | KIRO6 months ago
  Western Washington is preparing for a heat wave but it’s going to hit some harder than others. Earlier this year, King County announced it is developing a heat strategy plan to better handle extreme heat waves. Erica Asinas, research scientist with the UW Climate Impacts Group; and Michelle Montgomery, associate professor of social and historical studies at UW Tacoma, are quoted.
• The race to save Yosemite's giant sequoia trees | Axios7 months ago
  A wildfire in Yosemite National Park has expanded almost 10 times to more than 2000 acres since it started on Friday. Maureen Kennedy, associate professor of sciences and mathematics at UW Tacoma, is interviewed. [Segment starts at 4:58].
• Housing boom around University Village: Will it be a real Seattle neighborhood? | The Seattle Times7 months ago
  There are more than 2,300 new apartments recently completed, currently under construction or planned in the blocks that encircle University Village, a sprawling collection of stores, restaurants, plazas and parking lots located northeast of the University of Washington campus. Rubén Casas, assistant professor of interdisciplinary arts and sciences at UW Tacoma, is quoted.
• The Roe v. Wade decision is 'pushing people into psychological crisis,' mental health expert warns | Fortune7 months ago
  Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision guaranteeing federal protection of abortion rights, experts warn of dire mental health consequences. Carolyn West, professor of social, behavioral and human sciences at UW Tacoma, is quoted.
• UW Tacoma expert: US response to school shootings misses the mark | Tacoma News Tribune8 months ago
  It’s been two weeks since a gunman who legally purchased two assault rifles within days of his turning 18 shot and killed 19 school children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas. While it might be soothing to hold out hope that this time will be different, the stage is already setting in familiar fashion. Eric Madfis, associate professor of social work and criminal justice at UW Tacoma, is quoted.
• Can researchers show that threat assessment stops mass shootings? | The New Yorker8 months ago
  Threat assessment aims to prevent attacks like the Uvalde school shooting. Studies suggest that it’s effective in other ways. Eric Madfis, associate professor of social work and criminal justice at UW Tacoma, is quoted.
• Why so many mass shooters are angry young men | The Washington Post8 months ago
  The Uvalde, Tex., shooter is part of a long list of male perpetrators of similar ages. Some experts think gun laws need to change to address that. Eric Madfis, associate professor of social work and criminal justice at UW Tacoma, is quoted.
• California moves to curb harmful tire pollutant collecting in Bay, threatening wildlife | ABC78 months ago
  If you think about the pollution your car causes, chances are you’re not thinking about the tires. And probably even less about a faraway creek, where a Coho Salmon is dying. But researchers at the University of Washington and elsewhere have spent years documenting the link. Edward Kolodziej, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at the UW and of science and mathematics at UW Tacoma, is interviewed.

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College of Arts & Sciences

Full archive for College of Arts & Sciences

• Union Gap, Yakima police say public safer if pursuit policies restored | Yakima Herald23 hours ago
  Two years after the Washington Legislature enacted a law requiring police to have probable cause to pursue a fleeing suspect, it is taking up the issue again. Martina Morris, professor emeritus of sociology and of statistics at the UW, is referenced.
• How a grisly historical accident set one neuroscientist on the road to writing a book | Nature Careers2 days ago
  In this Q&A, Chantel Prat, associate professor of psychology at the UW, describes how a psychology class about railway engineer Phineas Gage’s behavioral change after a metal rod speared his brain in 1848 led to her switching disciplines and eventually writing a book, The Neuroscience of You. Andrea Stocco, associate professor of psychology at the UW, and Margaret O’Mara, professor of history at the UW, are mentioned.
• Analysis: Here’s why climate change gets the spotlight but biodiversity doesn’t | Forbes2 days ago
  "Global conferences focus public attention on pressing challenges with the hope that countries will be motivated to collectively address them. Last year, two major global conferences, the Conference of Parties (COP) meetings, took place, focusing on climate change and biodiversity. The climate COP was held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt while the biodiversity COP was in Montreal, Canada. Yet, the response to the two COPs differed in important ways," write the UW’s Nives Dolšak, professor of marine and environmental affairs, and Aseem Prakash, professor of political science.
• We asked the new AI to do some simple rocket science — it crashed and burned | NPR2 days ago
  ChatGPT — the recently released chatbot from the company OpenAI – failed to accurately reproduce even the most basic equations of rocketry. Its written descriptions of some equations also contained errors. And it wasn’t the only AI program to flunk the assignment. Others that generate images could turn out designs for rocket engines that looked impressive, but would fail catastrophically if anyone actually attempted to build them. The UW’s Emily Bender, professor of linguistics, and Yejin Choi, professor of computer science and engineering, are quoted.
• From disco days to Seattle dance parties, the hustle brings us together | The Seattle Times4 days ago
  Hustle, a dance form created by Puerto Rican gang members in the South Bronx that spread and peaked during the days of disco, is having a comeback — and carries more political, historical and emotional weight than you might expect. Abdiel Jacobsen, a graduate student in the dance department at the UW, is quoted.
• Harvard museum transfers ownership of rare, culturally significant kayak to Kodiak museum | Anchorage Daily News4 days ago
  The Peabody Museum at Harvard University invited Sven Haakanson Jr., associate professor and department chair of anthropology at the UW, and Ronnie Lind from Karluk to consult on the museum’s repatriation work in 2006. There Haakanson discovered a rare, one-person kayak that had been owned by the Peabody Museum for nearly 150 years. Haakanson is quoted.
• Google, Facebook, and Microsoft want to be scrappy startups again | Vox5 days ago
  Massive technology companies like Meta used to be startups, of course. But that was decades ago when they were much smaller and more agile, and when they were making products that had infinite possibilities for profit. Now these companies are asking their employees to work with “increased intensity” without any near-term payoff — in other words, to act like eager and ambitious startup workers — but in a vastly different scenario. Margaret O’Mara, professor of history at the UW, is quoted.
• Tyre Nichols video puts spotlight on police brutality | KING 55 days ago
  KING 5 news interviews Alexes Harris, professor of sociology at the UW, about how racism and police brutality are intertwined.
• Linking criminology and biology stirs up a racist past | Popular Science5 days ago
  Nearly 2 million people, most of them Black or Latino men, are locked up in the U.S. In October 2021, the National Institute of Justice, the research arm of the U.S. Department of Justice, published a report arguing that correctional officials should examine the biology of imprisoned people — their hormones, their brains, and perhaps even their genes. Oliver Rollins, assistant professor of American ethnic studies at the UW, is quoted.
• A history of innovation: How Seattle changed the world | KOMO5 days ago
  Ever wonder what the world would be like without planes, computer software and online shopping? Thanks to progressive Seattle innovators and change-makers, the world is a much better place to live, work and play. Margaret O’Mara, professor of history at the UW, is quoted. Parse Biosciences, a UW spinout company, is mentioned.
• Big Tech layoffs: what the job cuts at Google, Meta, Amazon and Microsoft mean | NPR1 week ago
  Explosive growth has been the norm in the tech sector for the past decade. When the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the world and moved more of daily life online, tech hiring blazed across Silicon Valley even more. Some major tech companies, like Amazon and Facebook parent company Meta, doubled the number of people they employed to stay apace with new demand. But now, the exuberance is fading. Margaret O’Mara, professor of history at the UW, is quoted.
• New online tool launches to help survivors of sexual assault in King County | KING 51 week ago
  A new resource tool for survivors of sexual assault launched this week in King County. The tool is designed to connect survivors of sexual assault in King County to different resources available in the area. The UW Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the School of Medicine and UW Department of Psychology in the College of Arts & Sciences are mentioned.
• Northwest science news roundup: Really old humans, jellyfish jets, better cookies and winter slumber | Oregon Public Broadcasting1 week ago
  Unscientifically speaking, desire for more and better sleep is pretty much a modern-day human universal. Who doesn’t want more good sleep? Scientifically speaking, researchers at the University of Washington are studying how to make that happen. They tracked the sleep schedules of about 500 UW students and found they went to bed later during the dark winter months than in summer when there’s much more daylight.
• Report lays out a road map for Washington state's quantum industry | GeekWire1 week ago
  A newly issued report says Washington state provides one of America’s best settings for expanding the frontiers of quantum information science — but those frontiers are so strange and new that it’s hard to get a handle on their potential. The UW is mentioned.
• ‘Ask for Jane:’ Who were the pre-Roe underground abortionists? | Crosscut1 week ago
  Half a century ago, Northwest activist Judith Arcana was one of more than 100 women known as ‘Jane’ who aided and abetted illegal abortions. As a member of the activist group Jane, she helped provide clandestine abortions in Chicago in the years before Roe v. Wade. She’s been telling this story in the decades since then, but today it feels especially resonant. A study by James Gregory, professor of history at the UW, is referenced.
• Amazon and Boeing join Northwest Quantum Nexus for 2nd summit | GeekWire2 weeks ago
  Amazon Web Services and Boeing are joining this week’s gathering at the University of Washington that includes nearly 300 academic, business and government representatives. UW research into quantum information science is mentioned, and Xinxin Tang, a doctoral student in physics at the UW, is pictured in a photo.
• Community shaken by Monterey Park shooting | KIRO 72 weeks ago
  This weekend’s mass shooting in southern California on Lunar New Year’s eve has many in the Asian community calling for action to prevent these deadly attacks. Connie So, teaching professor of American ethnic studies at the UW, is interviewed.
• Opinion: King County should not adopt antisemitism definition used to censor speech | The Seattle Times2 weeks ago
  "This week, the Metropolitan King County Council is considering a proclamation adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism. This definition has already been included in a proclamation by the Bellevue City Council and some states and municipalities elsewhere in the country. I wholeheartedly support efforts to understand and combat antisemitism, which has grown sharply amid a resurgence of xenophobia and white nationalism in our country. But I believe that adopting the IHRA definition is the wrong way to assure Jewish communities that our elected officials have our backs," writes Liora Halperin, associate professor of history and of international studies at the UW.
• UW dance pivots toward a more accessible, diverse curriculum | Crosscut2 weeks ago
  The UW dance department is deprioritizing Eurocentric dance forms and opening courses to a wider array of students — no experience necessary. Abdiel Jacobsen, a graduate student at the UW, Rachael Lincoln, associate professor of dance at the UW, and Christina Sunardi, associate professor of ethnomusicology at the UW, are quoted. Juliet McMains, professor of dance at the UW, is mentioned.
• One of the universe’s most iconic nebulas is changing — scientists don’t know why | Inverse2 weeks ago
  The butterfly nebula is changing, and astronomers are puzzled as to why these changes are occurring. Observations of this planetary nebula show dramatic changes in the butterfly’s ‘wings’ in just 11 years. Bruce Balick, professor emeritus of astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

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College of Built Environments

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• EDC, UW celebrate housing collaboration, share early progress | Chinook Observer3 days ago
  First announced last November, the Pacific County Economic Development Council and UW’s Livable City Year program have teamed up for a multi-year effort to connect county planning projects with courses from UW’s Department of Urban Design and Planning to advance local livability and economic development goals. Randy Hodgins, vice president for external affairs at the UW, and Branden Born, associate professor of urban planning at the UW, are quoted.
• Washington legislature debates whether to cap rent increases | Axios Seattle2 weeks ago
  In an attempt to curb what they describe as runaway housing prices statewide, Democrats in Washington’s legislature are debating whether to limit annual rent increases to no more than 7% for most residential buildings. The Washington Center for Real Estate Research at the UW is mentioned.
• Four big housing ideas that could reshape greater Seattle | KUOW1 month ago
  The greater Seattle metro region is a hotbed of housing experimentation right now. In many different cities, people are talking about new approaches to this problem of how to build enough housing without tearing apart vulnerable communities in the process. Rick Mohler, associate professor of architecture at the UW, is quoted.
• UW, Pacific County EDC launch housing partnership | Chinook Observer2 months ago
  The Pacific County Economic Development Council is teaming up with a program from the state’s flagship university to try and knock down existing housing roadblocks. Last month, PCEDC and the University of Washington’s Livable City Year program announced a new partnership that will connect county planning projects with UW Department of Urban Design and Planning courses over a multi-year period to advance local livability and economic development goals. Branden Born, associate professor of urban planning at the UW, is quoted.
• The obvious answer to homelessness | The Atlantic2 months ago
  When someone becomes homeless, the instinct is to ask what tragedy befell them. What bad choices did they make with drugs or alcohol? What prevented them from getting a higher-paying job? Why did they have more children than they could afford? Why didn’t they make rent? Identifying personal failures or specific tragedies helps those of us who have homes feel less precarious—if homelessness is about personal failure, it’s easier to dismiss as something that couldn’t happen to us, and harsh treatment is easier to rationalize toward those who experience it. Work by Gregg Colburn, assistant professor of real estate at the UW, is featured.
• Where's that elephant? | Real Change2 months ago
  The 2020 closure of the Denny Triangle Elephant Car Wash in rainy, car-afflicted Seattle might not have made much of a splash if not for the multi-ton impact of the two large neon signs that marked the property for decades. The news that they would be removed from the site spurred shock, horror and, ultimately, resignation. It was 2020, after all. When it comes to those local icons, it turns out the elephant in the room isn’t the 22-foot, light-up pink one: it’s displacement. The elephants are luckier than many, however. They aren’t going far. Jeffrey Karl Ochsner, professor of architecture at the UW, is quoted.
• Opinion: Density is necessary but insufficient to ease the housing crisis | The Seattle Times2 months ago
  "In his recent Op-Ed, University of Washington Professor Jonathan Warren argues that free market development, not a lack of housing supply, is primarily to blame for the housing crisis. We, as university colleagues engaged in issues of housing affordability and land-use policy, are compelled to respond," write the UW’s Gregg Colburn, assistant professor of real estate, and Rick Mohler, associate professor of architecture.
• Seattle’s cooling real estate market widens budget shortfall | The Seattle Times3 months ago
  Seattle’s cooling housing market is impacting more than just buyers and sellers. With fewer transactions and lower prices on the horizon, key city revenues are expected to fall. City officials had to rework the budget this month after new forecasts showed Seattle will likely bring in tens of millions of dollars less than previously expected over the next two years, including a significant drop in real estate-related tax revenue. Steven Bourassa, professor of real estate at the UW, is quoted.
• Myth Busting: Five misconceptions about homelessness we need to retire | Real Change3 months ago
  Homelessness remains a persistent problem in Seattle and King County. The region that houses some of the wealthiest men on the planet simultaneously has one of the largest populations of homeless people in the country. Gregg Colburn, assistant professor of real estate at the UW, is quoted.
• Washed away, not today — Westport schools participate in tsunami drill | The Daily World4 months ago
  UW, the Washington Department of Emergency Management, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Washington Sea Grant are all heavily involved in efforts along the coasts to help communities prepare for major tsunami events. The last major earthquake to strike the Washington coast was in 1700, which caused devastating damage to the Indigenous communities and ecosystem of the region, according to NOAA. An earthquake of this magnitude is a 300- to 500-year event, putting the coast within the window for a new one. The UW’s Daniel Abramson, associate professor of urban design and planning, and Jackson Holtz, a UW News public information officer, are quoted.
• How will downtowns across America change in the next decade? | Scripps News National4 months ago
  The rise of U.S. economic power during the 19th century helped shape downtowns as we know them. But a look to the past may help predict the future of downtowns. Manish Chalana, a UW associate professor of urban design and planning, is interviewed. [This story appeared in multiple regional outlets]
• Green buildings get a boost in WA, but policy and demand still lag | The Seattle Times4 months ago
  The state has access to some of the cleanest and cheapest electricity in the country and yet its building codes remain strict, customers remain skeptical of upfront costs and state policy efforts have struggled to find traction. Chris Meek, professor of architecture and director of the UW Center for Integrated Design, and Robert Peña, associate professor of architecture at the UW, are quoted.
• What would it take to bring Seattle home prices down to earth? | Crosscut5 months ago
  However you slice it, Seattle homebuying is wildly expensive. The median sale price for all homes is $840,000, according to Redfin. If you look only at stand-alone single-family homes, the median is $975,000. The median condo is selling for over $500,000. Arthur Acolin, assistant professor of built environments at the UW, is quoted.
• Benjamin F. McAdoo’s lasting legacy as an architect and activist | The Seattle Times5 months ago
  The legacy of Benjamin F. McAdoo Jr., the first Black architect registered in the state of Washington, is still recognized to this day. A 1946 graduate of the University of Washington’s architecture program, McAdoo designed his family’s distinctive 1958 Bothell home, along with dozens of other enduring and architecturally significant residences, churches and (mostly later in his career) commercial and industrial buildings. He was an influential architect and activist. Tyler Sprague, associate professor of architecture, is referenced.
• Analysis: Can Vancouver reduce homelessness by handing out cash? | Bloomberg5 months ago
  "Many affluent and dynamic North American cities share a great flaw: high levels of homelessness. But its prevalence in Vancouver, B.C. is especially striking," writes Francis Wilkinson. Gregg Colburn, assistant professor of real estate at the UW, is quoted.
• Vancouver considers 2 new ‘Safe Stay’ sites for homeless people after initial successes | Oregon Public Radio5 months ago
  Less than a year after its launch, Vancouver, Washington officials are expressing optimism about the city’s newest approach to helping unhoused people, and hope to see more of it in the future. A report card released Monday shows Vancouver’s first “Safe Stay Community,” which provides shed-like housing units and around-the-clock case managers, housed 14 of its 46 residents, a roughly 30% rate, in its first six months. Gregg Colburn, assistant professor of real estate at the UW, is quoted.
• One easy fix could shave years off Seattle's affordable housing developments | The Stranger6 months ago
  This month, advocates for affordable housing permit reform accused the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspection of improperly influencing the work of a stakeholder group that the city council convened to recommend fixes to an arguably unnecessary permitting process called design review, which the agency oversees. As conflicts and delays mount, at least four members of the group threatened to resign if the City didn’t address the issues. A book co-written by Gregg Colburn, assistant professor of real estate at the UW, is referenced.
• In searching for answers on homelessness, UW expert says it all comes down to the housing market | KUOW6 months ago
  Why does King County have a larger number of people experiencing homelessness than nearly everywhere else in the U.S.? The answer lies with housing market conditions, according to a new book by Gregg Colburn and Clayton Page Aldern, called Homelessness is a Housing Problem. Colburn, an assistant professor of real estate at the UW, is interviewed.
• The rise of high-tech real estate investing platforms and their effect on housing affordability | GeekWire6 months ago
  Real estate tech startups are making it easier for people to invest in and manage property. But critics argue that these software companies and their business models are gobbling up the limited amount of available housing in the process, driving up costs and pushing out first-time buyers. James Young, director of the Washington Center for Real Estate Research at the UW, is quoted.
• America’s homelessness crisis is getting worse | The New York Times7 months ago
  America’s homelessness problem has the makings of an acute crisis. Shelters across the U.S. are reporting a surge in people looking for help, with wait lists doubling or tripling in recent months. The number of homeless people outside of shelters is also probably rising, experts say. Some of them live in encampments, which have popped up in parks and other public spaces in major cities from Washington, D.C., to Seattle since the pandemic began. Gregg Colburn, assistant professor of real estate at the UW, is quoted.

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College of Education

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• Schools face ticking clock to spend $200B in stimulus money | KOMO2 weeks ago
  The nation’s schools have been given a huge infusion of federal money, but they face a ticking clock to spend it all. Districts have been given $200 billion collectively from pandemic-era stimulus efforts, such as the CARES Act and American Rescue Plan, and they have until the 2023-24 school year to put that money to work. David Knight, professor of education at the UW, is quoted.
• WA kids deserve 45 minutes of recess time, new bill proposes | The Seattle Times2 weeks ago
  Recess could be a powerful answer to the pandemic’s mental health and academic toll on children. The physical and social activity it enables, research shows, can lower stress hormones and help children get the wiggles out so they can be more present in the classroom. But in Washington, the amount of time offered for recess can vary widely and in some cases can be withheld as punishment. Julie McCleery, teaching associate in the UW Center for Leadership in Athletics, is quoted.
• How a big donation is making a difference for one local computer science program | 425 Business4 weeks ago
  Washington recently passed legislation mandating every school district operating a high school in the state to, at minimum, offer one elective computer science class to high school students no later than the 2022-23 school year. One local resource helping address this need is the UW’s recently launched Secondary Teacher Education Program Computer Science Program, a yearlong teacher-education pathway that graduates its students with a Master in Teaching degree with a residency teacher certificate for middle- or high-school computer-science instruction. Amy Ko, professor at the UW Information School, is quoted. Anne Beitlers, associate teaching professor of education at the UW, is mentioned.
• Traumatized by boarding schools, WA tribes chart new path for Native kids | The Seattle Times4 months ago
  Lingering scars caused by residential boarding schools run deep for many Native American families, after decades of targeted efforts by U.S. government and religious leaders to stamp out tribal culture. But more Native people are talking about what they, their parents and grandparents experienced. They hope to break cycles of generational trauma caused by the schools, and explore how current education systems can change to better meet the needs of tribal communities and students. Anthony Craig, professor of practice in the UW College of Education, is quoted.
• Opinion: Students are ready to talk about climate change — are you? | The Seattle Times4 months ago
  "As children across the region head back to school, many teachers are making final decisions about whether to incorporate climate change into their lessons this year — something the vast majority say they were never trained to do. There are concerns about how students will engage with a topic that is complex, entangled with misinformation and a source of anxiety for them," writes Mark Windschitl, professor of science teaching and learning at the UW.
• Opinion: US public education systems facing a crisis point | The Hill4 months ago
  "Districts are fast approaching a deadline to spend what remains of their federal stimulus funds, but schools have not rebounded from the pandemic. Many schools are wrestling with a tight labor market and dealing with staffing challenges, and students and staff are reporting especially high rates of mental health stress and burnout. Schools are still facing safety concerns, and outdated ventilation systems remain in place as funds run out," writes David Knight, professor of education at the UW.
• Unraveling needs of WA students may take more tests and screenings | The Seattle Times4 months ago
  To track how the academic recovery is playing out, the amount of information schools are collecting about students is on a much more dramatic upswing. In the coming weeks, many Seattle students will participate in a districtwide assessment to give educators a better sense of where they are now. Filiberto Barajas-López, associate professor of education and director of UW’s Indigenous Education Initiatives, is quoted.
• Opinion: UW to the Big Ten? What’s on the line isn’t just about football | The Seattle Times5 months ago
  "With the Big Ten announcing its new $7 billion media deal, University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban’s latest contract valued at $94 million, and the College Football Playoff expanding to 12 teams and a projected $2 billion in revenue, the headlines are familiar. Coaching salaries and media revenues are on the rise again. … Any decision by the University of Washington’s athletic program to join the Big Ten or stay in the Pac-12 has implications that will impact the entire campus community," writes Jennifer Hoffman, associate professor of education.
• No school Monday as Seattle teachers strike continues | KUOW5 months ago
  Seattle teachers continue to negotiation their contract with the school district, according to an email the district sent to parents on Sunday afternoon. This means yet another day without school for more than 50,000 Seattle Public School students, including preschool students. David Knight, professor of education at the UW, is quoted.
• Unpacking the complexities of teacher strikes | KUOW5 months ago
  Tens of thousands of Seattle students are getting an extended summer break after Seattle Public Schools educators went on strike Wednesday. It’s the latest in a long line of school interruptions since the beginning of the pandemic, from school closures and remote learning to school bus shortages. David Knight, assistant professor of education at the UW, is quoted.
• Seattle teachers on strike over pay and staffing issues | Associated Press5 months ago
  Red-shirted teachers and staff in Seattle Public Schools took to the picket line instead of the classroom on what was supposed to be the first day of school Wednesday, striking for the first time since 2015 over issues that include pay and educational support for students who have struggled with years of pandemic learning. David Knight, assistant professor of education at the UW, is quoted.
• Landmark PA school funding case may spur — or chill — similar suits nationwide | The 746 months ago
  A Pennsylvania judge’s highly anticipated ruling on a landmark school finance case could encourage similar lawsuits in other parts of the country or prompt firms to back away after a mix of legal victories and losses in other states, experts say. David Knight, assistant professor of education at the UW, is quoted.
• Opinion: Husky, Inc.? The UW’s biggest predicament isn’t about sports | The Seattle Times7 months ago
  Amid this frenzied, take the money and run bonanza that’s sweeping through college sports, a state legislator here suggested this past week that our two big universities, UW and WSU, ought to take a different path, and stick it out together in the same conference instead. Jennifer Hoffman, associate professor of education, is referenced.
• School funding lawsuits are long but crucial for fighting inequality | Vox7 months ago
  A Pennsylvania trial is wrapping up, and billions of dollars for students are on the line. David Knight, assistant professor of education at the UW, is quoted.
• Responding to school safety concerns | FOX 138 months ago
  James Mazza, professor of education at the UW, talks about the trauma students experience during active shooter drills.
• Spike in number of young people dying by suicide | KNKX8 months ago
  James Mazza, professor of education at the UW, says that it’s been hard for kids who are home with a working parent. They want their parents’ attention and are being told to wait.
• Rising number of suicide attempts among young children worries NW physicians, poison centers | The Seattle Times8 months ago
  Use of medications or other poisons to attempt suicide or self-harm are rising among youths as young as 9, and the largest increases are among those ages 10-12. James Mazza, professor of education at the UW, is referenced.
• Tri-Cities student who died will get empty chair at graduation — ‘empty gesture,’ says dad | Tri-City Herald8 months ago
  Jim Chastain lost his 17-year-old son Caelan Chastain to suicide in 2021. He was a junior at Hanford High School and would have graduated this year. The father of six says the school district needs to do more to recognize Caelan and others in his class who didn’t make it to the ceremony — even if its as small a gesture like reading their names aloud. James Mazza, professor of education at the UW, and Forefront Suicide Prevention at the UW, are referenced.
• Why go to graduate school? The best and worst reasons | US News8 months ago
  Wishing you could go back to college is not a good justification for pursuing a graduate education, experts warn. Joy Williamson-Lott, professor of education and dean of the UW’s Graduate School, is quoted.
• How a tumultuous school year for Seattle students sparked a movement to demand change | The Seattle Times9 months ago
  Over the course of the pandemic, Seattle students have endured online classes, missed out on senior-year milestones, scrambled to adjust for last-minute school cancellations, and lived through dramatic spikes in COVID-19 cases at schools. All the uncertainty and fear brought them together. They formed a new group, the Seattle Student Union, to fight for change and equity, organized shortly after winter break ended — when COVID cases were at an all-time high. Ann Ishimaru, associate professor of education at the UW, is quoted.

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College of Engineering

Full archive for College of Engineering

• Sending signals without power (almost) | Science without the gobbledygook2 days ago
  A group of engineers from the University of Washington have come up with a way to send signals seemingly without power. This project is featured on a weekly roundup of science news by Sabine Hossenfelder.
• We asked the new AI to do some simple rocket science — it crashed and burned | NPR2 days ago
  ChatGPT — the recently released chatbot from the company OpenAI – failed to accurately reproduce even the most basic equations of rocketry. Its written descriptions of some equations also contained errors. And it wasn’t the only AI program to flunk the assignment. Others that generate images could turn out designs for rocket engines that looked impressive, but would fail catastrophically if anyone actually attempted to build them. The UW’s Emily Bender, professor of linguistics, and Yejin Choi, professor of computer science and engineering, are quoted.
• Large glacier near Seattle has 'completely disappeared,' researcher says | CNN3 days ago
  Nestled between the snowy ranges of Mount Rainier and Glacier Peak, Washington state’s Hinman Glacier has disappeared, according to Nichols College glaciologist Mauri Pelto, and been replaced by Hinman Lake. David Shean, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at the UW, is quoted.
• Postdocs need raises—But who will foot the bill? | Science3 days ago
  Postdocs—the Ph.D.s who do much of the labor of science—are notoriously underpaid. But the problem has intensified over the past year as postdocs struggle to get by amid soaring inflation and professors report problems recruiting Ph.D. graduates to fill positions. Several institutions and states have recently implemented policies to increase their pay. But these policies haven’t always come with an increase in funding, leaving lab leaders wondering how to cover rising staff costs and what the downstream effects will be. Kelly Stevens, associate professor of bioengineering at the UW, is quoted.
• How MacArthur Fellow Yejin Choi teaches common sense to artificial intelligence | NPR4 days ago
  In the last decade, machines capable of natural language processing have moved into our homes and grown in sophistication. From spell check to spam filters, smart speakers to search autocomplete, machines have come a long way in understanding and interpreting our language. However, these systems lack a quality we humans take for granted: common sense reasoning. Yejin Choi, UW professor of computer science and engineering, is quoted.
• Why is the ocean pink near San Diego? | Popular Science4 days ago
  The water off the coast of San Diego, California has been looking a bit like something out of a Lisa Frank illustration. Don’t worry, it is all in the name of science. Researchers from the University of California, San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the UW are working on an experiment aptly titled PiNC, or Plumes in Nearshore Conditions, that is using pink dye to investigate how small freshwater outflows interact with the surfzone.
• Inside ChatGPT's woke AI problem | New York Post5 days ago
  Scientists have long worried about AI becoming sentient, replacing human workers or even wiping out civilization. But in early 2023, the biggest concern seems to be whether AI has an embarrassingly PC sense of humor. Pedro Domingos, professor emeritus of computer science and engineering at the UW, is quoted.
• Ocean research tickled pink: Scientists color California waves to study coastal interactions | Fox Weather5 days ago
  Researchers at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the UW are using pink-hued dye to study how small freshwater outflows interact with the surfzone. The pink-tinted waves could be seen in January at Torrey Pines State Beach in California.
• Tech Moves: Ex-Amazon VP Babak Parviz joins Madrona; Microsoft CVP Vahé Torossian departs | GeekWire1 week ago
  Babak Parviz, a former director at Google and vice president at Amazon, joined Seattle-based firm Madrona Venture Group as a venture partner. Parviz departed Amazon in December, according to his LinkedIn profile. He helped launch and lead Grand Challenge, the company’s secretive research and innovation arm that was reportedly at risk of being shut down amid Amazon’s recent cutbacks. Parviz, an affiliate professor of electrical engineering at the UW, is mentioned.
• We may never know how Russian Twitter trolls shaped the 2016 election | The Atlantic1 week ago
  Earlier this month, NYU’s Center for Social Media and Politics published a study in Nature Communications that complicates one purported element of Donald Trump’s ascension: the influence of Russian Twitter trolls. The researchers looked at roughly 1.2 billion tweets from the lead-up to the 2016 election. They sought to quantify just how many ordinary U.S. Twitter users were exposed to Russian accounts, and to better understand how that exposure did or did not change users’ political attitudes and voting behavior. Kate Starbird, associate professor of human centered design and engineering at the UW, is quoted.
• Seattle startup aims to change surgery using AI, computer vision and augmented reality | GeekWire1 week ago
  In a former Boeing manufacturing facility near Seattle’s waterfront, a six-year old startup is readying a system it says will change surgery. Proprio‘s technology enables surgeons to see key structures on a screen in three dimensions in real time. The system helps clinicians place incisions and guide placement of hardware, such as devices that can help straighten a spine. Joshua Smith, professor of computer science and engineering and of electrical and computer engineering at the UW, and Proprio, a UW spinout company, are mentioned.
• Report lays out a road map for Washington state's quantum industry | GeekWire1 week ago
  A newly issued report says Washington state provides one of America’s best settings for expanding the frontiers of quantum information science — but those frontiers are so strange and new that it’s hard to get a handle on their potential. The UW is mentioned.
• Pacific ocean off California coast turned pink | Tri-City Herald1 week ago
  University of California San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the UW conducted an experiment near Torrey Pines “to study how small freshwater outflows interact with the surfzone,” according to a news release. The first bit of environmentally safe pink dye was released on Jan. 20 where freshwater met the sea. Two more releases are planned for later this winter.
• Amazon and Boeing join Northwest Quantum Nexus for 2nd summit | GeekWire2 weeks ago
  Amazon Web Services and Boeing are joining this week’s gathering at the University of Washington that includes nearly 300 academic, business and government representatives. UW research into quantum information science is mentioned, and Xinxin Tang, a doctoral student in physics at the UW, is pictured in a photo.
• Analysis: Device transmits radio waves with almost no power – without violating the laws of physics | The Conversation2 weeks ago
  "A new ultra-low-power method of communication at first glance seems to violate the laws of physics. It is possible to wirelessly transmit information simply by opening and closing a switch that connects a resistor to an antenna. No need to send power to the antenna," writes Joshua Smith, professor of computer science and engineering and of electrical and computer engineering at the UW.
• Amazon robotics leader Siddhartha Srinivasa leaves to join self-driving vehicle venture Cruise | GeekWire2 weeks ago
  Siddhartha Srinivasa, a leading robotics expert and professor of computer science and engineering at the UW, has left his position as director of Robotics AI at Amazon to join Cruise, General Motors’ autonomous-vehicle subsidiary.
• Chatbots create questions about transparency in mental health care | Stat News2 weeks ago
  The mental health field is increasingly looking to chatbots to relieve escalating pressure on a limited pool of licensed therapists. But they’re entering uncharted ethical territory as they confront questions about how closely AI should be involved in such deeply sensitive support. Tim Althoff, assistant professor of computer science and engineering at the UW, is quoted.
• Conservatives furious, claiming ChatGPT has "gone woke" | Futurism2 weeks ago
  For years, artificial intelligence researchers have been working to combat the racism, misogyny, homophobia and other harmful biases embedded into machine learning systems. Now, in the era of generative AI reaching market, guardrails against machine learning biases are more important than ever, especially when you consider how OpenAI’s text-generating ChatGPT chatbot could be used to easily and effectively churn out propaganda. Os Keyes, a doctoral student in human centered design and engineering at the UW, is quoted.
• The chatbots can’t outsmart you— yet | The New York Times2 weeks ago
  The Turing test used to be the gold standard for proving machine intelligence. This generation of bots is racing past it. We need to stay calm — and develop a new test. Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence CEO Oren Etzioni, who is also a professor emeritus of computer science and engineering at the UW, is quoted.
• Apps are helping make medical diagnoses, but they're still works in progress | The Washington Post3 weeks ago
  The same devices used to take selfies are being repurposed and commercialized for quick access to information needed for monitoring patient health. A fingertip pressed against a phone’s camera lens can measure a heart rate. The microphone, kept by the bedside, can screen for sleep apnea. In the best of this new world, the data is conveyed remotely to a medical professional for the convenience and comfort of the patient — all without the need for costly hardware. Dr. Eugene Yang, clinical professor of cardiology in the UW School of Medicine, and Shwetak Patel, professor of computer science and engineering and of electrical and computer engineering at the UW, are quoted.

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College of the Environment

Full archive for College of the Environment

• Analysis: Here’s why climate change gets the spotlight but biodiversity doesn’t | Forbes2 days ago
  "Global conferences focus public attention on pressing challenges with the hope that countries will be motivated to collectively address them. Last year, two major global conferences, the Conference of Parties (COP) meetings, took place, focusing on climate change and biodiversity. The climate COP was held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt while the biodiversity COP was in Montreal, Canada. Yet, the response to the two COPs differed in important ways," write the UW’s Nives Dolšak, professor of marine and environmental affairs, and Aseem Prakash, professor of political science.
• Discovered in the deep: the anglerfish with vampire-like sex lives | The Guardian3 days ago
  Many anglerfish are globular and lumpy in shape. They have a long prong sprouting from their forehead with a glowing tip that lures prey into their enormous, tooth-filled jaws. If their appearance is curious, then the method of reproduction that some species have developed – known as sexual parasitism – is even more so. Ted Pietsch, professor emeritus of aquatic and fishery sciences at the UW, is referenced.
• The rise of gaming-based virtual field trips | Eos4 days ago
  The Whaleback anticline virtual experience, created by researchers at the University of Washington, is one of several initiatives that interweave gaming and geosciences. Juliet Crider, UW associate professor of Earth and space sciences, Mattathias Needle, a UW doctoral student, and David Kessler, program manager at the UW Reality Lab, are quoted.
• Stink bug came from Asia — ecologist says why they’re in WA | Tacoma News Tribune1 week ago
  The brown marmorated stink bug is one pest that Washington residents can’t seem to shake from their homes this winter. As of December, the pest has been detected inhabiting forests and homes, and devouring crops across 30 counties statewide, according to Washington State University. Patrick Tobin, associate professor of environmental and forest sciences at the UW, is quoted.
• Women scientists at famed oceanography institute have half the lab space of men | Science2 weeks ago
  Women constitute 26% of the scientists at the prestigious Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, but only hold 17% of the space, according to an unprecedented report released last week. Lisa Graumlich, dean emerita of the College of the Environment at the UW, is quoted.
• King tides to cause higher tides than normal in WA state | The Olympian2 weeks ago
  The moon is closer to Earth than it’s been in nearly 1,000 years. While the fact is a good trivia question, the moon’s closeness also affects what’s happening with the tides on our doorsteps in Puget Sound. UW’s Washington Sea Grant is referenced.
• Use these types of cream & lotion this winter for dry skin | Tacoma News Tribune2 weeks ago
  When you think of ways to maintain a healthy body, what do you think of? Is it eating healthy or drinking less alcohol? Or perhaps you think of exercise and getting ample hours of rest. Many people seldom think of skin care routines when considering ways to maintain health, according to a survey poll from skin cleansing brand CeraVe. The survey found that more than half of the 2,000 participants expressed confusion about what kind of moisturizer to use for their skin. Close to half the survey respondents also said they aren’t sure how often they should clean their skin. The UW Climate Impacts Group is referenced.
• Why do feet inside shoes wash up on Salish Sea coastlines? | KING 52 weeks ago
  The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public for donations to pay for a DNA analysis of a foot still in a shoe that washed ashore near the mouth of the Elwha River in Port Angeles in 2021. This discovery was one of more than 20 shoes with feet in them that have washed up on shorelines surrounding the Salish Sea in the last decade. So, why does it occur? Parker MacCready, an oceanography professor at the UW, is quoted.
• Fact check: Global warming is caused by CO2, not ocean warming | USA Today2 weeks ago
  A Dec. 28, 2022, article circulating on Facebook speculates that CO2 is "only very very slightly" warming the Earth. The author then speculates that ocean warming is being caused by "geothermal sources" such as underwater volcanos. The article garnered more than 300 interactions on Facebook, according to Crowdtangle, a social media analytics tool. Kyle Armour, associate professor of oceanography and of atmospheric sciences at the UW, is quoted.
• Fear the deer: Crash data illuminates America’s deadliest animal | The Washington Post2 weeks ago
  Behold the deer, the deadliest beast in North America. Deer are responsible for the deaths of about 440 of the estimated 458 Americans killed in physical confrontations with wildlife in an average year, according to Utah State University biologist Mike Conover. Calum Cunningham, a UW postdoctoral researcher in the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, is quoted. Laura Prugh, a UW associate professor in the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, is mentioned.
• Parasites have a bad rap but play an important role in the animal kingdom | KUOW2 weeks ago
  New research points to a steep decline of parasites in Puget Sound fish. Climate change is the likely culprit. Chelsea Wood, associate professor of aquatic and fishery sciences at the UW, is quoted.
• Puget Sound's parasites are disappearing — but don’t be glad to say goodbye | Smithsonian Magazine2 weeks ago
  Researchers say the decline, which was correlated with warming waters in a new study, is bad news for ecosystems. Chelsea Wood, associate professor of aquatic and fishery sciences at the UW, is quoted.
• Seals and sea lions might be impeding salmon recovery | KNKX2 weeks ago
  A new state report recommends that the Department of Fish and Wildlife experiment with selective killing of seals and sea lions to learn more about the impact they have on endangered salmon. Daniel Schindler, professor of aquatic and fishery sciences at the UW, is interviewed.
• California faces dangerous mudslides after monster storms | CBS News2 weeks ago
  The deluge has stopped after California’s ninth atmospheric river storm in recent weeks, but the danger remains. David Montgomery, professor of Earth and space sciences at the UW, is quoted.
• Tracking the king tides | FOX 133 weeks ago
  Another round of king tides is set to hit the area, as many communities are still working to recover from the damage caused by the last round of flooding. Parker MacCready, an oceanography professor at the UW, is interviewed.
• Landslides in California bring death toll up to 20 | KIRO Radio3 weeks ago
  Water and mud have inundated scores of homes in California after a string of storms and more than 500 landslides since the new year. David Montgomery, professor of Earth and space sciences at the UW, is interviewed.
• Parasites are vanishing from WA waters; that should concern you | Crosscut3 weeks ago
  An unprecedented study of trends in marine parasite biodiversity shows a majority are struggling. That could spell disaster for other animals. Chelsea Wood, associate professor of aquatic and fishery sciences at the UW, is quoted.
• Whatcom County makes no forest conservation recommendation, seeks clarity from DNR | Northwest Public Broadcasting3 weeks ago
  The Whatcom County Council made no specific recommendations on which county timberlands to conserve for the next phase of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources’ carbon offset project. In the letter, the council affirmed its commitment to work with the department, and instead of offering recommendations, asked the DNR to provide more information about the potential impacts of the project. A study from the UW School of of Environmental and Forest Sciences is referenced.
• UW study finds 'severe' decline in Puget Sound marine parasites | KING 53 weeks ago
  Parasites crucial in marine ecosystems have seen a sharp decline or were completely wiped out in the past century due to warming waters in Puget Sound, according to a newly released UW study. The study, published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reconstructed approximately one century, from 1880 to 2019, of change in parasite abundance in Puget Sound. Chelsea Wood, associate professor of aquatic and fishery sciences, is quoted.
• Warming oceans decimate marine parasites | FOX 133 weeks ago
  A UW study finds warming oceans have decimated marine parasites. That might sound like a good thing, but researchers say that it’s not. Chelsea Wood, associate professor of aquatic and fishery sciences, is quoted.

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Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy & Governance

Full archive for Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy & Governance

• Analysis: All politicians must lie from time to time, so why is there so much outrage about George Santos? A political philosopher explains | The Conversation2 weeks ago
  "The idea that politicians are dishonest is, at this point, something of a cliché — although few have taken their dishonesty as far as George Santos, U.S. representative for New York’s 3rd Congressional District, who seems to have lied about his education, work history, charitable activity, athletic prowess and even his place of residence," writes Michael Blake, professor of philosophy and of public policy and governance at the UW.
• Seattle's inflation is third highest in US | Axios Seattle2 weeks ago
  Seattle has the third-highest inflation rate among large U.S. metropolitan areas, and recent federal data shows housing, food and energy costs drove the increase over the past year. Jacob Vigdor, professor of public policy and governance at the UW, is quoted.
• Layoffs hit thousands of Seattle-area Amazon, Microsoft employees | KIRO 72 weeks ago
  Microsoft announced Wednesday it would lay off 10,000 workers, on the same day more Amazon workers received notice that their jobs would be cut. Microsoft said the layoffs represent about 5% of its global workforce. In a filing with the state, the company disclosed plans to lay off 878 workers locally. Jacob Vigdor, professor of public policy and governance at the UW, is quoted.
• Inflation is hitting Seattle harder than most of the US | MyNorthwest2 weeks ago
  If the rising costs have felt disproportionate for the cities surrounding Puget Sound compared to the rest of the U.S., that’s because Seattle has the third-highest inflation in the nation, according to the most recent Consumer Price Index. Jacob Vigdor, professor of public policy and governance at the UW, is referenced.
• Here’s what the WA Legislature expects to tackle on climate and environment in 2023 | The Seattle Times1 month ago
  In recent years, Olympia lawmakers passed ambitious laws intended to largely eliminate by midcentury most state greenhouse gas emissions from human-caused sources. In the new session underway Jan. 9, legislators shaping the environmental agenda will be focused on follow-through. They need to decide how to spend money raised through putting a price on greenhouse gas pollution, and are expected to wrestle with tasks — such as speeding up the siting of new transmission lines — that will aid in the energy transition. A report on recycling by the UW Evans School of Public Policy & Governance is referenced.
• Seattle’s pandemic-weary workers may see a tougher job market in 2023 | The Seattle Times1 month ago
  Almost three years after COVID-19 shut down the economy and put nearly half a million Washingtonians out of work, the job market remains in a state of confusing, unnerving flux. Yet in other industries that previously seemed unstoppable, including software and other information-related businesses, many employers are freezing hiring or even cutting jobs. In some industries, such as hospitality and white-collar services, recovering demand continues to fuel hiring and keep opportunities plentiful for workers. Jacob Vigdor, professor of public policy and governance at the UW, is quoted.
• Inflation easing but groceries still expensive | KIRO 72 months ago
  On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve raised a key interest rate for the seventh time this year to fight inflation. The latest inflation numbers show prices have slowed their dramatic rise, but this holiday season, people around Western Washington are still feeling the pain. Jacob Vigdor, professor of public policy and governance at the UW, is quoted.
• Does Seattle need social housing? | Seattle Met2 months ago
  In late August, after no shortage of signature snafus, I-135 qualified for a February 14, 2023 special election ballot. Backed by the advocacy group House Our Neighbors, the social housing initiative proposes the creation of a tenant-run public developer that would cap rents for residents making up to 120 percent of the area’s median income. Unlike other affordable housing providers, the Seattle Social Housing Developer would be accessible to a broad spectrum of the population. It also wouldn’t rely on funds from the federal government. There’s no doubt Seattle’s in the midst of a housing crisis. But would adding another flavor of affordable housing help solve the problem? Rachel Fyall, associate professor of public policy and governance at the UW, is interviewed.
• Amazon confirms rumored layoffs for devices division | KIRO 73 months ago
  Rumored layoffs of Amazon workers have been confirmed in the company’s devices and services division. An online post made Wednesday from Amazon senior vice president of devices and services Dave Limp said some roles in the department would no longer be required and that the affected employees were notified on Tuesday. Jacob Vigdor, professor of public policy and governance at the UW, is quoted.
• For Seattle, layoffs at Amazon, Meta and across tech a mixed blessing | The Seattle Times3 months ago
  With tech layoffs mounting by the week — including as many as 10,000 at Amazon, according to one media report — Seattle area workers and employers face a loaded economic question. Do the cuts represent a temporary adjustment to a post-pandemic slowdown? Or has an industry that almost single-handedly fueled the Seattle area’s economic boom over the last decade finally peaked? Jacob Vigdor, professor of public policy and governance at the UW, is quoted.
• Amazon reportedly plans to lay off 10,000 employees | KIRO 73 months ago
  Seattle-based Amazon is reportedly planning to lay off around 10,000 workers. The New York Times reports the largest layoffs in the company’s history could start this week and that the job cuts are focused on devices, the retail division and human resources. Jacob Vigdor, professor of public policy and governance at the UW, is quoted.
• Hiring in WA may be at a tipping point | The Seattle Times4 months ago
  For much of the pandemic, hiring in Seattle and across Washington outpaced the rest of the nation, thanks in part to a red-hot tech sector. But there are growing signs — with lower hiring in tech, education and construction — that Washington’s job market could be, as one economist puts it, “at the top of the roller coaster, about to plummet.” Washington employers added just 1,500 jobs in September, according to the state Employment Security Department’s monthly report posted this week. Jacob Vigdor, professor of public policy and governance at the UW, is quoted.
• Compare Social Security benefits and inflation in WA | The Seattle Times4 months ago
  In an effort to keep up with record inflation and the rising cost of living, millions of Social Security recipients will receive an 8.7% increase in their monthly benefits starting in January, the Social Security Administration announced Thursday. Jacob Vigdor, professor of public policy and governance at the UW, is quoted.
• Biden’s folksiness can veer into folklore, or falsehoods | The New York Times4 months ago
  President Biden has been unable to break himself of the habit of embellishing narratives to weave a political identity. Michael Blake, professor of philosophy and of public policy and governance at the UW, is quoted.
• What the medical field is watching as the state of emergency ends in Washington | KUOW4 months ago
  Washington state’s COVID-19 emergency order comes to an end this month. It’s a signal that the state will be moving toward a business-as-usual approach to governing and managing the pandemic. But, at the same time, the pandemic isn’t over and business as usual has its own complications. Benjamin Brunjes, assistant professor of public policy and governance, is quoted.
• As WA’s job market softens, workers may have fewer options | The Seattle Times5 months ago
  Amid new signs of a cooling job market, the bargaining power many workers have wielded over desperate employers during the pandemic could be at a tipping point. Jacob Vigdor, professor of public policy and governance at the UW, is quoted.
• Former gas station site will become mixed-use building | NW Asian Weekly5 months ago
  A developer will build an eight-story, 103,899 square-foot building at 701 South Jackson Street, in the Chinatown-International District (CID), with 202 residential units, according to the prospective purchaser consent decree. The site contains hazardous substances below ground, and the developer, “701 S. Jackson Partners, LLC,” has agreed to excavate the contaminated soil and monitor it in the future. Matt Fowle, a doctoral student in public policy and governance at the UW is quoted.
• Food insecurity among college students can have lingering effects | The Seattle Times6 months ago
  Millions of Americans turned to food banks for the first time in 2020 due to pandemic-related job losses and business closures. Who can forget the images of hundreds of cars lined up at food banks? Now, that recent history is repeating itself as more working Americans are overwhelmed by inflation and facing food insecurity. A report from the UW Evans School of Public Policy and Governance is referenced.
• Weak jobs report may signal hiring slowdown in Washington — even for high-flying tech sector | The Seattle Times7 months ago
  Job growth in Washington picked up only slightly in June and remains far behind levels earlier this year as employers, including tech firms like Microsoft, appear to be weighing the impacts of inflation and a global slowdown. Jacob Vigdor, professor of public policy and governance at the UW, is quoted.
• How much wages have increased in King County and across WA | The Seattle Times7 months ago
  Washington’s average annual wage grew 7.4% to $82,508 last year with King County leading the way, according to a recently released annual report by the state Employment Security Department. Nationally, among the largest U.S. counties, King County recorded the largest increase in weekly wages after Miami-Dade County, Florida, over the year from 2020. Jacob Vigdor, professor of public policy and governance at the UW, is quoted.

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Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies

Full archive for Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies

• Opinion: King County should not adopt antisemitism definition used to censor speech | The Seattle Times2 weeks ago
  "This week, the Metropolitan King County Council is considering a proclamation adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism. This definition has already been included in a proclamation by the Bellevue City Council and some states and municipalities elsewhere in the country. I wholeheartedly support efforts to understand and combat antisemitism, which has grown sharply amid a resurgence of xenophobia and white nationalism in our country. But I believe that adopting the IHRA definition is the wrong way to assure Jewish communities that our elected officials have our backs," writes Liora Halperin, associate professor of history and of international studies at the UW.
• Opinion: The dangerous decline of the historical profession | The New York Times3 weeks ago
  "When I received my Ph.D. in history in 2013, I didn’t expect that within a decade fights over history — and historiography, even if few people use that word — would become front-page news. But over the last few years that is precisely what has happened," writes Daniel Bessner, assistant professor of international studies at the UW.
• Opinion: Is ‘globalization’ going away? New alliances fuse nationalism with regionalism | The Hill3 weeks ago
  "Globalization is receding into history almost as though it had been a passing fad. Actually much more than a fad, it was the dominant force in relations between the U.S. and the rest of the world for much of the late 20th century," writes journalist and author Donald Kirk. Writing by Daniel Bessner, assistant professor of international studies at the UW, is cited.
• By entering UW later, transfer students discover camaraderie, competition and their own path | KNKX1 month ago
  Each year, the UW accepts thousands of transfer students, spread across its three campuses in Seattle, Tacoma and Bothell. Many previously studied at community colleges, in Washington and beyond. These students didn’t follow the well-known route to university that starts in high school. Most choose to pursue their education in a different way, joining college at a later stage into their educational journey. Sylvie Shiosaki, assistant director of multicultural outreach and recruitment at the UW, and UW students Edward Kim, Madison Collins and Ben Fetters, are quoted. Written by Soumya Gupta, student at the UW.
• Opinion: Christmas lights — brought to you by a Jew from the Muslim world | The Washington Post1 month ago
  "Americans spend more than half a billion dollars annually on 150 million units of imported Christmas lights. U.S. News & World Report ranks the best Christmas light displays. And ABC’s reality TV show “The Great Christmas Light Fight” recently premiered its 10th season. Christmas lights, in short, are not only ubiquitous but also central to American culture. But that has not always been the case. The man credited with popularizing Christmas lights in the early 20th century, Albert Sadacca, had never celebrated Christmas. In fact, he was a Jew from the Muslim world," writes Devin Naar, associate professor of history and Jewish studies at the UW.
• Immigrants and people seeking abortions at risk through new license plate–reading tech | Real Change2 months ago
  Undocumented immigrants and people seeking abortions could be put at risk by devices that read license plates and can be used by almost anyone without much regulation. A report by the UW Center for Human Rights is mentioned, and Angelina Godoy, professor of law, societies and justice at the UW, is quoted. 
• Opinion: Density is necessary but insufficient to ease the housing crisis | The Seattle Times2 months ago
  "In his recent Op-Ed, University of Washington Professor Jonathan Warren argues that free market development, not a lack of housing supply, is primarily to blame for the housing crisis. We, as university colleagues engaged in issues of housing affordability and land-use policy, are compelled to respond," write the UW’s Gregg Colburn, assistant professor of real estate, and Rick Mohler, associate professor of architecture.
• Opinion: #WomenWithoutBorders, march alongside your Iranian sisters | The Seattle Times3 months ago
  "The time has come to summon ferocious courage to support the women of Iran. The oppression and violence against women must end and as women, and allies of women, we must heed the call to show up and demand change," write the UW’s Azita Emami, professor of nursing; Shahrzad Shams, assistant teaching professor of international studies; and Shiva Shafii, director for marketing and communications for the School of Public Health.
• International Space Station had to move to dodge space junk | NPR3 months ago
  The International Space Station had to fire its thrusters this week to make sure it avoided space junk in orbit around Earth. The station fired its thrusters for 5 minutes and 5 seconds in what NASA called a "Pre-Determined Debris Avoidance Maneuver" at 8:25 p.m. Eastern time Monday to increase its distance from a piece of what used to be a Russian satellite. Saadia Pekkanen, professor of international studies at the UW, is quoted.
• Why people are flocking to a symbol of Taiwan’s authoritarian past | The New York Times3 months ago
  Ringed by barbed wire and high gray walls, and once the site of a secretive military detention center, the museum just south of Taipei makes for a surprising tourist hot spot. Once known as the Jing-Mei Detention Center, the site has found new appeal in Taiwan after Speaker Nancy Pelosi and pro-democracy activists who have criticized China met there in August, with visitor numbers rising in the weeks since. James Lin, assistant professor of international studies at the UW, is quoted.
• Opinion: Free-market development, not lack of density, is behind housing crisis | The Seattle Times4 months ago
  "NIMBYs (Not-In-My-Back-Yarders) are increasingly singled out as the principal foe of our housing crisis. Many urbanists, progressives and leftist opinion makers such as New York Times columnists Paul Krugman and Ezra Klein have declared them public enemy No. 1. And yet, one need only consider most up-zoned cities in the world — New York, Tokyo, Sao Paulo, Paris — to appreciate how unsatisfying this analysis is. There is no question that densification is better than sprawl for our environment, but it is a mistake to presume it alone will lead to affordability," writes Jonathan Warren, professor of international studies at the UW.
• Opinion: Zooming in on the promise and peril of satellite imagery | The Seattle Times5 months ago
  "We don’t know how the Ukraine war will end. But due to satellite imagery, we can see how it’s unfolding on the ground. Satellites that deliver the novelty of real-time transparency — and the public tendency to point fingers based on that imagery — are getting a lot of attention," writes Saadia Pekkanen, professor of international studies at the UW.
• Chinese students worry after Pelosi visit, Taiwanese less so | NW Asian Weekly6 months ago
  Fear of war breaking out underscore at least some of the aftermath of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit that prompted Chinese military drills closer to Taiwan than ever in history. The irony, however, is that those who actually face these threats are almost blasé. From the standpoint of many Taiwanese, such threats are part of a longstanding background noise to which they have almost become inured. James Lin, assistant professor of international studies at the UW, is quoted.
• China is encircling Taiwan and dropping bombs near its coast | VICE6 months ago
  Taiwan is bracing for China’s wrath after welcoming U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the most senior U.S. politician to visit the self-ruled island since 1997. James Lin, assistant professor of international studies at the UW, is quoted.
• Speaker Pelosi, Congresswoman DelBene visit Taiwan amid threats of Chinese retaliation | KIRO 76 months ago
  U.S. House Speaker Nancy Peloisi has now arrived in Taiwan as part of a visit that comes despite threats of military action by China. She is the highest U.S. elected official to visit the country in more than 25 years, and Washington Congresswoman Suzan DelBene is also on the trip. Both the speaker and the congresswoman had not said a word about the visit until Tuesday morning. David Bachman, professor of international studies at the UW, is quoted.
• 2 Seattle startups racing to transform next-gen space travel | The Seattle Times7 months ago
  The phrase “nuclear energy” conjures images of large steaming towers or Tony Stark’s arc reactor from the iconic “Iron Man” movies. But two Seattle-based startups are designing nuclear technologies small enough to pick up and carry that, thanks in part to buy-in from the Defense Department, they hope will fuel a new generation of spaceships. Scott Montgomery, lecturer of international studies at the UW, is quoted. Chris Hansen, a senior research scientist in the UW Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, is referenced.
• Pain at the pump as gas prices near $6 a gallon in several Washington counties | KOMO 48 months ago
  National gas prices continue to soar, jumping up by at least 28 cents over the past week. In Washington, prices are closing in on $6 a gallon in several counties. Scott Montgomery, lecturer of international studies at the UW, is interviewed.
• Pain at the pump drives debate in Washington’s closest congressional race | KUOW8 months ago
  Pain at the pump is a major issue for political candidates running in the 8th Congressional District, which includes cities like Enumclaw in the western portion of the district to Chelan in the east. Incumbent Democrat Kim Schrier is running for reelection here, and this year political analysts are calling the race a toss-up — one of the closest House races in the United States. The UW’s Margaret O’Mara, professor of history, and Scott Montgomery, lecturer of international studies, are interviewed.
• Opinion: How to end mass school shootings — a proposal | Global Policy Journal8 months ago
  Scott Montgomery, lecturer of international studies at the UW, shares a satirical piece about how to end mass school shootings.
• Gas prices in Kitsap top record $5, fueled by Ukraine war, pandemic | Kitsap Sun9 months ago
  Gas prices in Kitsap County have continued to hit record highs, with many stations now advertising prices of more than $5 a gallon. Scott Montgomery, lecturer of international studies at the UW, is quoted.

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Information School

Full archive for Information School

• Who controls cultural data and how is it being used? | ABC Radio National1 week ago
  During the first lockdown in 2020, UW assistant teaching professor Melanie Walsh wanted to know what books people were turning to for comfort, hope and distraction. While researching, she discovered that the culture industries are increasingly using our data to sell us their products.
• AI tools can create new images, but who is the real artist? | Associated Press2 weeks ago
  Countless artists have taken inspiration from “The Starry Night” since Vincent Van Gogh painted the swirling scene in 1889. Now artificial intelligence systems are doing the same, training themselves on a vast collection of digitized artworks to produce new images you can conjure in seconds from a smartphone app. Chirag Shah, associate professor in the UW Information School, is quoted.
• Should cell phones come with health and safety advice? | Psychology Today3 weeks ago
  In the time it takes to read this article, over 40,000 cell phones will have been sold across the world. Increasingly, they will end up in the hands of the very young. According to the Pew Research Center, more than a third of parents with a child under 12 say their child began interacting with a smartphone before the age of five. In 2020, nearly one in five parents of a child 11 or younger had given their child their own phone. In another 2021 survey, 31% of 8-year-olds owned a smartphone, nearly tripling from 2015. Katie Davis, associate professor in the UW Information School, is quoted.
• ChatGPT could be used for good, but like many other AI models, it's rife with racist and discriminatory bias | Insider3 weeks ago
  ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence chatbot that generates eerily human-sounding text responses, is the new and advanced face of the debate on the potential — and dangers — of AI. The technology has the capacity to help people with everyday tasks, but some are wary, as the chatbot has been known to allow users to cheat and plagiarize, potentially spread misinformation, and could also be used to enable unethical business practices. What’s even more alarming: Like many chatbots before it, it is also rife with bias. A study from the UW Information School is referenced.
• UW students protest against plan to privatize off-campus housing | KING 53 weeks ago
  On Wednesday, UW students met at Red Square to protest against the university’s plan to turn over operations of four off-campus housing sites: Blakely and Laurel village along with Nordheim and Radford court. The four complexes cater mostly to graduate students, students with families and international students. Anne Duncan, a doctoral student in English at the UW, Levin Kim, a doctoral student at the UW Information School, and UW spokesperson Victor Balta are quoted.
• How a big donation is making a difference for one local computer science program | 425 Business4 weeks ago
  Washington recently passed legislation mandating every school district operating a high school in the state to, at minimum, offer one elective computer science class to high school students no later than the 2022-23 school year. One local resource helping address this need is the UW’s recently launched Secondary Teacher Education Program Computer Science Program, a yearlong teacher-education pathway that graduates its students with a Master in Teaching degree with a residency teacher certificate for middle- or high-school computer-science instruction. Amy Ko, professor at the UW Information School, is quoted. Anne Beitlers, associate teaching professor of education at the UW, is mentioned.
• Opinion: All-knowing machines are a fantasy | IAI News2 months ago
  "Decades of science fiction have taught us that a key feature of a high-tech future is computer systems that give us instant access to seemingly limitless collections of knowledge through an interface that takes the form of a friendly (or sometimes sinisterly detached) voice. The early promise of the World Wide Web was that it might be the start of that collection of knowledge. With Meta’s Galactica, OpenAI’s ChatGPT and earlier this year LaMDA from Google, it seems like the friendly language interface is just around the corner, too," write the UW’s Emily Bender, professor of linguistics, and Chirag Shah, professor in the UW Information School.
• An app for naturalists offers a shared sense of reality | The New York Times2 months ago
  A not-for-profit initiative of the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society, iNaturalist says it aims to connect people to nature through technology. And the site’s species-level identifications have been cited in thousands of scientific papers. But in a moment that can feel like everything is subject to dispute — the cause of inflation, the nature of gender, the legitimacy of an election — iNaturalist has also gained recognition as a rare place on the internet where people with different points of view manage to forge agreement on what constitutes reality. Jevin West, associate professor in the Information School, is quoted.
• Opinion: A volcanic change in social-media landscape | The Seattle Times2 months ago
  "A pilgrimage to Mount St. Helens is a Northwest tradition. My family and I made the trek this past summer. From the Windy Ridge Viewpoint, we could see both the destruction and the emergence of a new mountain. We could see the mats of denuded trees but also the prairie lupine pushing through the dry pumice. The same kind of volcanic eruption and resulting rebuild is happening in the social-media landscape. Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter in late October began a series of events that has irreversibly altered not only Twitter but also the broader social-media landscape," writes Jevin West, associate professor in the Information School.
• Amazon Alexa wants to put your child to bed with generative AI storytelling | Forbes2 months ago
  Generative AI, which is known for churning out fantastical art based on text prompts, is now sneaking into one of the most sacred bonding experiences for parents and children: bedtime storytelling. Amazon is hopping into the generative AI craze with a new Alexa feature that creates short, five-scene stories for kids based on a few prompts. Called ‘Create With Alexa,’ the feature lets children and parents select from given themes like underwater, enchanted forest and space exploration and pick a character, a descriptive word and a color. Then, they sit back and wait as the AI comes up with different stories, visuals, audio dialogues and background music. Stefania Druga, a doctoral student in the UW Information School, is quoted.
• Twitter users flock to Discord to stop 'doomscrolling' cycle | Bloomberg2 months ago
  Disaffected Twitter users are desperate for an alternative. It’s not Mastodon or Hive. The best place to meet and keep up with people online today is a darkmode dwelling gamers have been raving about for years: Discord. During the pandemic, much more of the general population caught on, and it has now become one of the most popular places to communicate online. Katherine Cross, a doctoral student in the UW Information School, is quoted.
• Why Facebook won't be fact-checking Trump now that he's announced candidacy | Snopes3 months ago
  Ahead of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Nov. 15 announcement that he would run for reelection in 2024, a Meta memo reiterated that his speeches would be exempt from third-party fact-checking efforts on Facebook. Jevin West, associate professor in the Information School, is quoted.
• Analysis: So, you want Twitter to stop destroying democracy | WIRED3 months ago
  "Claiming to quit Twitter only to come slinking back is a time-honored tradition; numerous users embarrassed themselves by proclaiming Elon Musk’s inevitably abortive takeover to be the last straw, only to find the site’s allure impossible to resist," writes Katherine Cross, a doctoral student in the UW Information School.
• How legit is that verified Twitter account? | The Seattle Times3 months ago
  As Twitter keeps changing, misinformation experts are watching closely, hoping to offer tips on how to spot the difference between official accounts and the impostors. Jevin West, associate professor in the Information School, is quoted.
• Misinformation targets Seattle's Vietnamese community | KUOW3 months ago
  It is Election Day, and just like in 2020, misinformation is a big issue. Seattle’s Vietnamese community has been the target of misinformation for decades, and this election is no different. Sarah Nguyen, a doctoral student in the UW Information School, is interviewed.
• UW expert explains how debunked serial killer rumor went viral on social media | KIRO 73 months ago
  Awful lies can come with awful consequences. Some of the bad misinformation we’ve seen lately includes a serial killer on the loose in Seattle, the U.S. Postal Service keeping people from voting and someone destroying votes for a big election. All could scare or anger someone — and all are false. Taylor Agajanian, a graduate student at the UW Information School and graduate research assistant at the Center for an Informed Public, is quoted.
• Washingtonians split on social media regulation, WA poll says | The Seattle Times3 months ago
  A plurality of Washington residents are resistant to moderation of social media content and rate the news they encounter online as at least half false, according to a recent statewide poll. Results from the WA Poll, conducted among hundreds of Washington adults last month, shows mixed feelings when it comes to what information is shared through social media and how. Jevin West, associate professor in the Information School, is quoted.
• UW gets Google gift to diversify computer science education | Diverse Issues In Higher Education3 months ago
  The University of Washington (UW) and Google have announced a $400,000 gift from the tech giant that will go towards efforts to diversify the field of K-12 computer science education. Amy Ko, professor at the UW Information School, is quoted.
• Why misinformation spreads and how to root it out from your feed | KNKX3 months ago
  There was a rumor recently about a Seattle serial killer that appeared seemingly out of no where and went everywhere. Taylor Agajanian, a graduate student at the UW Information School and graduate research assistant at the Center for an Informed Public, is interviewed.
• Debunked rumor of serial killer in Seattle offers another lesson in spotting misinformation | GeekWire4 months ago
  Quick-spreading claims on social media over the weekend about a suspected serial killer in the Seattle area have been refuted by law enforcement officials and debunked by fact checkers. A researcher at the University of Washington offered some insight Tuesday into what red flags the rumor raised, how such content spreads online, and what users can do to seek out the truth. Taylor Agajanian, a graduate student at the UW Information School and graduate research assistant at the Center for an Informed Public, is quoted.

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Michael G. Foster School of Business

Full archive for Michael G. Foster School of Business

• Amazon, Microsoft layoffs: tech job cuts hurt Seattle economy | Bloomberg2 weeks ago
  Job cuts at Amazon.com Inc. and Microsoft Corp. are the latest blow for the Seattle region, which is still struggling to recover from a pandemic-era decimation of the commuter economy that, as in many cities, is the lifeblood of America’s second-largest tech hub. The number of jobs lost—at least 28,000 globally between the two companies—may seem minor for a region that employs more than 2.1 million. But it’s a psychological blow that will make investors hesitant to start new projects and businesses even more reluctant to re-open or expand. Jeff Shulman, professor of marketing at the UW, is quoted.
• What do the Microsoft layoffs mean for Washington state? | KNKX2 weeks ago
  Microsoft announced today it will be laying off 10,000 employees, including a reported 800 in the Seattle metro area. It’s the latest in a spate of job losses in the tech sector in Washington state from Amazon, which also announced cuts today. So what could this mean for the region? Jeff Shulman, professor of marketing at the UW, is interviewed.
• Ron DeSantis, Republicans are at war with 'woke' business: This is why | USA Today4 weeks ago
  Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Twitter and Tesla, calls it "woke mind virus." Populist Republicans like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis call it "corporate wokeness." ‘Woke’ – a watchword long embraced by the Black community – has been co-opted by GOP activists, officials and lawmakers as a culture-war rallying cry against progressive activism. And conservatives across red America are using it to score political points as they try to stop corporations from taking public positions on political issues and social causes from abortion to immigration. Abhinav Gupta, associate professor of management at the UW, is quoted.
• By entering UW later, transfer students discover camaraderie, competition and their own path | KNKX1 month ago
  Each year, the UW accepts thousands of transfer students, spread across its three campuses in Seattle, Tacoma and Bothell. Many previously studied at community colleges, in Washington and beyond. These students didn’t follow the well-known route to university that starts in high school. Most choose to pursue their education in a different way, joining college at a later stage into their educational journey. Sylvie Shiosaki, assistant director of multicultural outreach and recruitment at the UW, and UW students Edward Kim, Madison Collins and Ben Fetters, are quoted. Written by Soumya Gupta, student at the UW.
• Companies are making bold climate pledges – but where are the workers needed to reach them? | GeekWire2 months ago
  Companies worldwide have made pledges to cut their carbon emissions. But many, or perhaps most, lack the skilled workers needed to reach those goals. Charles Donovan, a visiting professor in the UW Foster School of Business, and Daniel Schwartz, professor of chemical engineering and director of the Clean Energy Institute at the UW, are quoted. Several Foster School initiatives are mentioned.
• How credit can beat buy now, pay later | Associated Press2 months ago
  At first glance, a “buy now, pay later” plan’s promise of no interest or upfront fees can seem more appealing than a credit card’s terms. Dividing a transaction into, say, a pay-in-four installment plan sounds straightforward and manageable. Unlike credit cards, though, these plans lack certain consumer protections and are sometimes unpredictable. In this way, credit cards can be superior to pay-in-four buy now, pay later plans, making it easier to manage payments, dispute transactions, get refunds, establish credit or access certain debt-payoff options. A study co-authored by Ed deHaan, associate professor of business at the UW, is referenced.
• How do managers pitch their companies during IPO roadshows? | Forbes2 months ago
  Managers’ roadshow pitches for initial public offerings (IPOs) are different in tone, emphasize different topics, and are more predictive of future company performance than the required IPO disclosure, according to a study forthcoming in The Accounting Review. Elizabeth Blankespoor, associate professor of accounting at the UW, is quoted.
• Tesla's close-knit leadership team goes under the spotlight in court | CNN3 months ago
  The Tesla board of directors that created the largest compensation package in history for CEO Elon Musk was stocked with his friends, according to court testimony this week. As Tesla heads to court to defend Musk’s pay, this potential conflict of interest may be problematic: Tesla says its board of directors has a legal responsibility for shareholders’ money in addition to overseeing management, which includes Musk. Elizabeth Umphress, professor of management at the UW, is quoted.
• New Republican House Majority tells 'woke' businesses to get lost | USA Today3 months ago
  Now that Republicans have regained control of the House, key conservative figures are threatening political consequences for "woke" business practices. Abhinav Gupta, associate professor of management at the UW, is quoted.
• Impacts of recent tech layoffs | FOX 133 months ago
  The New York Times reports that Amazon is cutting 10,000 corporate and technology employees as soon as this week. There has been no official word from Amazon about these possible layoffs, but it would be the biggest job loss in the company’s history. Jeff Shulman, professor of marketing at the UW, is quoted.
• Marketing and economic experts weigh in on Meta, tech layoffs | KIRO 73 months ago
  Meta announced Wednesday it would be laying off 11,000 employees as a response to spending issues from the pandemic. But Meta isn’t the only tech giant laying people off; both Twitter and Microsoft have also let go of employees in recent weeks. Even Amazon is currently under a hiring freeze due to concern about the future of the economy. Jeff Shulman, professor of marketing at the UW, is quoted.
• Tech layoffs and hiring freezes, including at Meta, Amazon | KIRO 73 months ago
  Facebook parent company Meta is planning to lay off employees this week, according to reports from The New York Times and Wall Street Journal. No numbers have been shared, but reports say those layoffs could be significant and expected by the end of this week. It comes as Amazon announced on Nov. 3 that it is freezing corporate hiring because of economic uncertainty. Jeff Shulman, professor of marketing at the UW, is quoted.
• In a ‘foreboding sign’ for Seattle, Amazon freezes corporate hiring | The Seattle Times3 months ago
  Pressured by economic uncertainty, Amazon is freezing hiring for its corporate workforce “for the next few months,” the company announced Thursday. The news comes after weeks of Amazon hinting it will slow growth and slim down experimental ventures and projects. Amazon said Thursday its decision is due to the economy and “in light of how many people we have hired in the last few years.” Amazon declined to answer questions about how the hiring freeze would impact its workforce in the Puget Sound. The company has 55,000 employees in Seattle and has been on a hiring spree outside the city, aiming to grow its Bellevue presence from 10,000 employees to 25,000 in the next three years. Jeff Shulman, professor of marketing at the UW, is quoted.
• Sorry stoners, cannabis probably doesn't make you as creative as you think | IFL Science3 months ago
  A surprising correlation between smoking cannabis and creativity levels has been found by new research, indicating that the drug has no effect on creative thought – but does impact how creative the user sees themselves and others. A team of researchers carried out a number of experiments into how moderate everyday cannabis use can affect users’ ability to think creatively and judge the creativity levels of others. Christopher Barnes, professor of management at the UW, is quoted.
• This executive MBA program is a magnet for future tech company leaders | Fortune3 months ago
  People who are considering an executive MBA are typically professionals well into their careers, seeking a path into an upper-management role. And for some candidates, the goal is to land a high-up position at a technology company. The UW’s Foster School of Business is referenced.
• In Seattle, Kroger-Albertsons merger raises fears of closures, ‘grocery deserts’ | The Seattle Times4 months ago
  Nothing unsettles the average Seattleite quite like the thought of change at the local grocery store. But change is almost certainly coming for many Seattle-area grocery stores if a proposed merger between the nation’s two largest supermarket chains — Kroger, which owns QFC and Fred Meyer, and Albertsons, which owns Safeway — goes forward. The deal, announced Friday, is causing a major stir in and around Seattle, where more than half of all households do most of their shopping at one of those four chains. Kevin Boeh, associate teaching professor of finance at the UW and Jarrad Harford, professor of finance and business economics at the UW, are quoted.
• Politics are becoming tougher to avoid at work, survey finds | The Washington Post4 months ago
  Escalating political tensions in the workplace are creating problems for organizations as midterm elections draw nearer, a new survey shared with The Washington Post found. About 1 in 4 workers, or 26 percent, said they have personally experienced differential treatment (positive and negative) because of their political views or affiliation, according to fresh data from the Society for Human Resource Management. Abhinav Gupta, associate professor of management at the UW, is quoted.
• Employees who shift to 4-day week devote new free time to sleep | Bloomberg4 months ago
  When employees can slash their traditional five-day workweek to four days, they tend to allocate their new free time to one surprising activity: sleep. Workers who shifted to 32-hour workweeks logged 7.58 hours per night of sleep, nearly a full hour more than when they were keeping 40-hour workweeks. Christopher Barnes, professor of management at the UW, is quoted.
• Waking up tired: Causes and solutions | CNN6 months ago
  Sleeping seven to eight hours a night and still feeling tired is due to a heightened state of sleep inertia, a circadian process that modulates memory, mood, reaction time and alertness upon waking, according to a 2015 study. Some people experience impaired performance and grogginess in this period after first turning off the alarm. The effects of sleep inertia usually go away after 15 to 60 minutes but can last for up to a few hours. Christopher Barnes, professor of management at the UW, is quoted.
• Washington gas prices fall for 40 days straight | KIRO 76 months ago
  Some good news: Gas prices have been falling for about 40 days in a row. Overall, gas in Washington state is down 43 cents from the record high set on June 16, putting the current average for a gallon of regular unleaded gas at $5.12. Jeff Shulman, professor of marketing at the UW, is quoted.

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Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering

Full archive for Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering

• Sending signals without power (almost) | Science without the gobbledygook2 days ago
  A group of engineers from the University of Washington have come up with a way to send signals seemingly without power. This project is featured on a weekly roundup of science news by Sabine Hossenfelder.
• We asked the new AI to do some simple rocket science — it crashed and burned | NPR2 days ago
  ChatGPT — the recently released chatbot from the company OpenAI – failed to accurately reproduce even the most basic equations of rocketry. Its written descriptions of some equations also contained errors. And it wasn’t the only AI program to flunk the assignment. Others that generate images could turn out designs for rocket engines that looked impressive, but would fail catastrophically if anyone actually attempted to build them. The UW’s Emily Bender, professor of linguistics, and Yejin Choi, professor of computer science and engineering, are quoted.
• How MacArthur Fellow Yejin Choi teaches common sense to artificial intelligence | NPR4 days ago
  In the last decade, machines capable of natural language processing have moved into our homes and grown in sophistication. From spell check to spam filters, smart speakers to search autocomplete, machines have come a long way in understanding and interpreting our language. However, these systems lack a quality we humans take for granted: common sense reasoning. Yejin Choi, UW professor of computer science and engineering, is quoted.
• Inside ChatGPT's woke AI problem | New York Post5 days ago
  Scientists have long worried about AI becoming sentient, replacing human workers or even wiping out civilization. But in early 2023, the biggest concern seems to be whether AI has an embarrassingly PC sense of humor. Pedro Domingos, professor emeritus of computer science and engineering at the UW, is quoted.
• Seattle startup aims to change surgery using AI, computer vision and augmented reality | GeekWire1 week ago
  In a former Boeing manufacturing facility near Seattle’s waterfront, a six-year old startup is readying a system it says will change surgery. Proprio‘s technology enables surgeons to see key structures on a screen in three dimensions in real time. The system helps clinicians place incisions and guide placement of hardware, such as devices that can help straighten a spine. Joshua Smith, professor of computer science and engineering and of electrical and computer engineering at the UW, and Proprio, a UW spinout company, are mentioned.
• Analysis: Device transmits radio waves with almost no power – without violating the laws of physics | The Conversation2 weeks ago
  "A new ultra-low-power method of communication at first glance seems to violate the laws of physics. It is possible to wirelessly transmit information simply by opening and closing a switch that connects a resistor to an antenna. No need to send power to the antenna," writes Joshua Smith, professor of computer science and engineering and of electrical and computer engineering at the UW.
• Amazon robotics leader Siddhartha Srinivasa leaves to join self-driving vehicle venture Cruise | GeekWire2 weeks ago
  Siddhartha Srinivasa, a leading robotics expert and professor of computer science and engineering at the UW, has left his position as director of Robotics AI at Amazon to join Cruise, General Motors’ autonomous-vehicle subsidiary.
• Chatbots create questions about transparency in mental health care | Stat News2 weeks ago
  The mental health field is increasingly looking to chatbots to relieve escalating pressure on a limited pool of licensed therapists. But they’re entering uncharted ethical territory as they confront questions about how closely AI should be involved in such deeply sensitive support. Tim Althoff, assistant professor of computer science and engineering at the UW, is quoted.
• Commentary: Washington state's tech industry will continue to grow, despite layoffs | GeekWire2 weeks ago
  "Industries go through cycles. In tech, it has happened before, it is happening now, and with certainty it will happen again. But with equal certainty, tech will continue to grow long term, and Washington is well positioned to take advantage of that future growth," writes Ed Lazowska, professor of computer science and engineering at the UW.
• The chatbots can’t outsmart you— yet | The New York Times2 weeks ago
  The Turing test used to be the gold standard for proving machine intelligence. This generation of bots is racing past it. We need to stay calm — and develop a new test. Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence CEO Oren Etzioni, who is also a professor emeritus of computer science and engineering at the UW, is quoted.
• Apps are helping make medical diagnoses, but they're still works in progress | The Washington Post3 weeks ago
  The same devices used to take selfies are being repurposed and commercialized for quick access to information needed for monitoring patient health. A fingertip pressed against a phone’s camera lens can measure a heart rate. The microphone, kept by the bedside, can screen for sleep apnea. In the best of this new world, the data is conveyed remotely to a medical professional for the convenience and comfort of the patient — all without the need for costly hardware. Dr. Eugene Yang, clinical professor of cardiology in the UW School of Medicine, and Shwetak Patel, professor of computer science and engineering and of electrical and computer engineering at the UW, are quoted.
• Internet goes berserk over Stanford ‘language guide’ that discourages use of ‘American’ and ‘survivor’ | Tacoma News Tribune1 month ago
  From the internet to the national media to the holiday dinner table, much of the country has seemed to be up in arms in recent weeks over a newly discovered Stanford University “language guide” that discourages the use of words like “American,” “survivor” and “freshman” — steps too far for many jaded by the culture wars. Pedro Domingos, professor emeritus of computer science and engineering at the UW, is quoted.
• Digital health leaders share predictions on what to expect in 2023 | GeekWire1 month ago
  Funding for digital health startups and initiatives soared during the pandemic as entrepreneurs and consumers increasingly embraced telehealth, remote monitoring, and a suite of devices from sleep trackers to exercise bands. Total venture capital investment in digital health hit an all-time high of $29.2 billion in 2021, according to Rock Health. Funding cooled in 2022, but advances in technology such as artificial intelligence and the increasing interest of big tech companies are sure to propel innovation in the future. The UW’s Shyam Gollakota, professor of computer science and engineering, and Su-In Lee, professor of computer science and engineering, are interviewed.
• An AI pioneer on what we should really fear | The New York Times1 month ago
  Artificial intelligence stirs our highest ambitions and deepest fears like few other technologies. It’s as if every gleaming and Promethean promise of machines able to perform tasks at speeds and with skills of which we can only dream carries with it a countervailing nightmare of human displacement and obsolescence. But despite recent A.I. breakthroughs in previously human-dominated realms of language and visual art — the prose compositions of the GPT-3 language model and visual creations of the DALL-E 2 system have drawn intense interest — our gravest concerns should probably be tempered. Yejin Choi, UW professor of computer science and engineering, is featured in this Q&A.
• Iowa senator calls out Biden for spending millions on tool to help 'police content' posted by friends and family | Fox News1 month ago
  U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, claimed that President Joe Biden is sending more than $5 million to a journalism and tech nonprofit that’s making a "naughty and nice list" of organizations and media based on trust. In early October, the Analysis and Response Toolkit for Trust, which is led by researchers at Hacks/Hackers and the UW, received a $5 million grant from the National Science Foundation. The Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering is mentioned.
• New infant hearing screening device developed by UW research team | Seattle's Child1 month ago
  Newborns across the globe may soon have their hearing tested easily – and inexpensively – thanks to a new device developed by a team of researchers at the UW. The new hearing screening system uses a smartphone and low-cost earbuds to determine whether a baby has any hearing deficit and is an accurate alternative to high-cost commercial testing systems employed by most U.S. hospitals. Justin Chan, a UW doctoral student in computer science and engineering, is pictured.
• UW team's hearing loss detection hack could change lives globally | KUOW2 months ago
  Ninety-nine percent of infants in the United States are screened for hearing loss at birth. But when you look worldwide, that figure drops to just 40 percent. The failure to diagnose hearing issues early on can have major implications for those kids. But a team of University of Washington scientists has created a way to address that. Shyam Gollakota, UW professor of computer science and engineering, is interviewed.
• OpenAI's ChatGPT bot sparks excitement and concern from investors, entrepreneurs, researchers | GeekWire2 months ago
  “Extremely impressive.” “Incredibly rich.” “Super exciting.” That’s how tech leaders are describing ChatGPT, the new conversational chatbot model released last week by OpenAI. The bot builds on existing GPT natural language technology developed by OpenAI, the San Francisco-based organization formed by tech leaders Sam Altman and Elon Musk, and backed by Microsoft, which helps power the back-end cloud computing for OpenAI products. But the latest update sparked huge reaction over the past week — and more than 1 million users — given how ChatGPT is able to quickly answer complicated questions and instantly produce content. Yejin Choi, UW professor of computer science and engineering, is quoted.
• This low-cost test for hearing loss lives on a smartphone | WIRED2 months ago
  Audiology screening can be inaccessible for kids in low-resource areas. By utilizing off-the-shelf products, these scientists are trying to change that. Shyam Gollakota, UW professor of computer science and engineering, and Justin Chan, a UW doctoral student in computer science and engineering, are quoted.
• Musk's company aims to soon test brain implant in people | Associated Press2 months ago
  Tech billionaire Elon Musk said his Neuralink company is seeking permission to test its brain implant in people soon. In a presentation livestreamed Wednesday night, Musk said he thinks the company should be able to put the implant in a human brain as part of a clinical trial in about six months, though that timeline is far from certain. Rajesh Rao, professor of computer science and engineering and of electrical and computer engineering at the UW, is quoted.

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School of Dentistry

Full archive for School of Dentistry

• How to stop grinding your teeth | Time5 months ago
  Since 2020, dentists and other oral health professionals around the world have recorded a sharp uptick in the number of patients seeking treatment for issues caused by bruxism, a fancy word for grinding and clenching your teeth together with force. While bruxism is fairly common, with pre-pandemic data suggesting that as many as 31% of adults were chronic chompers to some degree, some major clinics saw nearly three times as many bruxers as usual when lockdowns began. Dr. Mark Drangsholt, professor of oral health sciences at the UW, is quoted.
• Dietitians say vitamin c supplements, drinks are a waste of money | Insider7 months ago
  Supplement sales skyrocketed in 2020, and analysts expect the trend to continue into the decade. But data and expert interviews suggest very few Americans need to take vitamin C supplements, particularly those that have far more milligrams than the daily recommendation. Even in cases where a diet could result in low vitamin C, experts told Insider not to rush to the supplement aisle, but rather eat more fruits and veggies. Dr. Philippe Hujoel, professor of oral health sciences at the UW, is quoted.
• Fact check: Image shows silicone model of a dolphin fetus in the womb | USA Today9 months ago
  An image circulating online that depicts a dolphin fetus has drawn the attention of Facebook users. Similar posts have been shared on Facebook since at least 2012. But the image of an unborn dolphin is a computer graphic. Rachel Roston, a postdoctoral researcher in dentistry at the UW, is quoted.
• New test maps acidity in the mouth to spot cavities before they form | ZME Science11 months ago
  Scientists at the UW have now developed an optical-based method that can identify the most at-risk teeth by mapping high acidity in the dental plaque that covers the teeth. Manuja Sharma, a doctoral student in dentistr at the UW, is quoted.
• New LED tool developed by scientists that spots dental cavities before they even start | The Independent11 months ago
  Scientists have developed a new tool that uses LED light to detect and measure specific chemical changes that lead to dental cavities, an advance that may lead to better ways of preventing the condition before it even starts. Manuja Sharma, a doctoral student in dentistr at the UW, is quoted.
• Acidity sensor creates a heat map of teeth at risk of decay | New Atlas11 months ago
  A cavity is a pretty clear sign of tooth trouble, but there are warnings to be seen before these tiny openings start to appear. A newly developed optical device is designed to reveal at-risk areas of our teeth by detecting hotspots of high acidity in dental plaque, where conditions are ripe for decay to take hold. The UW’s Manuja Sharma, a doctoral student in dentistry, and Eric Seibel, research professor of mechanical engineering, are quoted.
• David Giuliani, co-inventor of Sonicare toothbrush and a climate change activist, dies at 75 | The Seattle Times11 months ago
  David Giuliani, an entrepreneurial engineer who co-invented the Sonicare toothbrush and helped forge landmark Washington state law to combat climate change, has died. He was 75. In the late 1980s, Giuliani teamed up with Dr. David Engel, affiliate professor of periodontics at the UW, and Roy Martin, professor emeritus of bioengineering at the UW, to develop a better electric toothbrush, which became the first Sonicare model.
• Interesting ways to boost your vitamin C intake – as a study suggests doubling our dose | The Independent1 year ago
  Scientists have suggested we double our vitamin C intake, after arguing current recommendations – the NHS is in favour of 40mg per day – are partly informed by a Second World War study that’s now outdated. Dr. Philippe Hujoel, professor of oral health sciences at the UW, is quoted.
• Fears about going to the dentist | KUOW1 year ago
  KUOW interviews a clinical psychologist about dental phobias. The Dental Fears Research Clinic at the UW School of Dentistry is mentioned.
• Opinion: Adding dental benefits to Medicare | The Hill1 year ago
  "Comprehensive dental care is the most important benefit expansion to Medicare since prescription drugs were added in 2006. It is important we get it right. Medicare is our nation’s health insurance program for older adults. The current problem is that Medicare covers only ‘medically necessary’ care," writes Dr. Donald Chi, professor of oral health sciences at the UW.
• Vitamin C | BYU Radio1 year ago
  Most think of Vitamin C as an immunity booster during cold and flu season. But the most well-documented benefit of Vitamin C in the human body is actually for healing wounds, creating scar tissue, and keeping the walls of blood vessels intact. Dr. Philippe Hujoel, professor of oral health sciences at the UW, says the global standard for how much Vitamin C a person should consume needs an update.
• Washington State University to limit exemptions when FDA approves COVID vaccine; University of Washington reinstates mask mandate | The Seattle Times1 year ago
  Washington State University will no longer allow students to claim personal or philosophical exemptions from its COVID-19 vaccination requirement, the school announced Thursday, citing the “increasing threat of the delta variant for those who are unvaccinated.” The UW’s policies on vaccines and masks are mentioned.
• How to stop putting off a trip to the dentist | VICE2 years ago
  People feel anxious about the dentist for all kinds of reasons: because they’re worried they’ll get shamed for not coming in sooner, because they don’t have insurance right now and fear they can’t afford the care they need, or because dental procedures can be painful. Cameron Randall, acting assistant professor of oral health sciences at the UW, is quoted.
• Fear of needles may play small role in COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy | KOMO 42 years ago
  As health officials across the country urge people to get a COVID-19 vaccine, there are worries that people with a fear of needles may be avoiding the shot. Dr. Donald Chi, professor of oral health sciences at the UW, is interviewed.
• Whale, dolphin blowholes developed differently, research reveals | UPI2 years ago
  All whales have blowholes, but not all of them evolved them the same way — according to a new study, the two major forms of cetaceans turned their noses into blowholes in different ways. Rachel Roston, a postdoctoral researcher in dentistry at the UW, is quoted.
• Snoring in the sty | Loh Down on Science2 years ago
  The "Loh Down on Science" podcast talks about research by Dr. Zi-Jun Liu, research associate professor of orthodontics at the UW, on sleep apnea in Yucatan minipigs, whose airways are similar to those of humans.
• Mints could rebuild tooth tissue | KING 52 years ago
  A team at the UW has created a tablet genetically engineered to bind to damaged teeth, repair and build new soft mouth tissue.
• If your gums tend to bleed, you may be lacking this vitamin, study says | Yahoo! News2 years ago
  For many years, dentists have warned us to beware of blood when we brush our teeth or eat something firm like an apple. Commonly, this is thought to be an early sign of gum disease, and while that could very well be true, a new study is warning that it may also be a red flag that your body is lacking vitamin C. Dr. Philippe Hujoel, professor of oral health sciences at the UW, is quoted.
• Bleeding gums? You might be lacking vitamin C | HealthDay2 years ago
  If you have bleeding gums, you may need to increase the amount of vitamin C in your diet, a new study suggests. Dr. Philippe Hujoel, professor of oral health sciences at the UW, is quoted.
• How dentistry adapted to COVID-19: Less drilling, less germ spray | The New York Times2 years ago
  The pandemic has forced dentists and hygienists to change some of the methods for maintaining good oral hygiene, to protect patients as well as themselves. Dr. Donald Chi, professor of oral health sciences at the UW, is quoted.

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School of Law

Full archive for School of Law

• What does the nation’s commitment to tribal co-stewardship mean for public lands? | High Country News21 hours ago
  The Biden administration’s policies signal a shift in lands management, but a sea change is yet to come. Monte Mills, a UW law professor and director of the Native American Law Center at the UW, is quoted.
• Jesse Jones: Victim calls Jesse after bank refuses to reverse $1,200 fraud charge | KIRO 723 hours ago
  When Kris Blondin saw a $1,252 charge on her credit card statement, it was clear to her that she had been squared up by a scammer. After documents showed a fake Square account charged Blondin’s credit card, Bank of America wouldn’t provide a refund. So KIRO 7’s Jesse Jones checked her story. Anita Ramasastry, professor of law at the UW, is quoted.
• Group's lawsuit seeks to void Washington transportation law | Associated Press2 days ago
  A conservative legal advocacy organization is suing to halt the nearly $17 billion transportation funding bill passed by the Washington Legislature and signed by Gov. Jay Inslee last year. The organization, the Citizen Action Defense Fund, argued in a filing Tuesday that the 16-year transportation revenue package contains multiple subjects that lack “rational unity,” and because of that, it violates the state constitution. Hugh Spitzer, professor of law at the UW, is referenced.
• UW School of Medicine joins national revolt against ranking system | Axios Seattle5 days ago
  The University of Washington School of Medicine and the UW School of Law will no longer participate in U.S. News & World Report’s once prestigious university rankings.
• Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs are plunging in value and mired in lawsuits | Observer5 days ago
  In the past few months, the Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT collection has been the target of SEC probes, falling sales and questions regarding copyright protection. Zahr Said, professor of law at the UW, is mentioned.
• Tyre Nichols: How releasing body-cam video of police brutality became a national event | The Washington Post5 days ago
  The message from those who had seen the video of Memphis police officers beating a 29-year-old Black man was both clear and chilling: It would be heartbreaking to watch what happened to Tyre Nichols. Anticipation for the release of the video on Friday, which showed the Jan. 7 violence against Nichols three days before he would die, brought headlines about violence and another nationwide reflection on American policing and the use of body-cam footage to prevent fatal police encounters. Mary Fan, professor of law at the UW, is quoted.
• As capital gains tax goes to WA Supreme Court, a push to ‘microtarget’ justices | The Seattle Times1 week ago
  As the Washington Supreme Court prepares to decide the fate of the state’s new capital gains tax, a conservative think tank, whose leadership sued to stop what it calls a state income tax, is “microtargeting” the state’s nine Supreme Court justices with an ad campaign. Hugh Spitzer, professor of law at the UW, is quoted.
• Washington's new capital gains tax goes before state Supreme Court | Crosscut1 week ago
  The Washington Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in a case that will decide whether a new tax on capital gains will survive a legal challenge. Thursday morning’s court hearing is the latest milestone in a more than 110-year debate over who and what gets taxed to pay for government services in Washington state. Hugh Spitzer, professor of law at the UW, is quoted.
• Taser-Drone developer Axon faces newly published criticism from ethics advisors | Forbes1 week ago
  In June 2022, nine members of weaponized drone maker Axon Enterprise’s ethics board left their posts after the company chose to move forward with a Taser-equipped drone project they had recently voted against. Now, the company is facing new criticism from the resigned advisors this week, as its inaugural TASERCON conference for law enforcement kicked off, featuring sessions such as “Weapons of Mass Construction” that promote the use of police technology. Ryan Calo, professor of law at the UW, is quoted.
• Washington Supreme Court case for controversial capital gains tax begins this week | GeekWire2 weeks ago
  The Washington state Supreme Court will hear arguments this week on whether a statewide tax on capital gains in excess of $250,000 is lawful. The capital gains tax, approved by the legislature and signed by Gov. Jay Inslee two years ago, made waves in the tech industry since it targets stocks, which can be a key part of compensation for workers. Last year, a Douglas County Superior Court judge struck the law down on the grounds that it violated Washington’s constitutional mandate for taxes to be applied uniformly. Hugh Spitzer, professor of law at the UW, is quoted.
• Nike documents show widespread complaints of harassment, ‘bro’ culture | The Seattle Times2 weeks ago
  It was a classic Nike ad — a celebration of women and sports in conjunction with International Women’s Day that was so inspiring and beautifully shot it could bring tears to your eyes. “One day, we won’t need a day to celebrate how far we’ve come,” a young female narrator states in the voice-over. “We won’t need a day to prove we’re just as strong and fast and skilled.” The 2021 campaign made no mention of the fact that a group of women employees were suing the company, alleging widespread sex discrimination, harassment and an $11,000-per-year gender pay gap. It didn’t say that for three years Nike had been waging a fierce courtroom fight to keep a trove of internal documents under seal and out of the public eye. Jeff Feldman, professor of law at the UW, is quoted.
• In landmark legislation Wyoming seeks hunting pacts with tribes | The Spokesman-Review2 weeks ago
  Until now, Monte Mills had never seen a state try to promulgate rules that stem directly from Herrera v. Wyoming, a U.S. Supreme Court decision that recognized a Crow tribal member’s right to hunt unoccupied, off-reservation land ceded by a 1868 treaty. On Thursday, Mills, professor of law and director of the Native American Law Center at the UW, reviewed a draft of House Bill 83 – Tribal agreements to hunt and fish, which attempts to translate the high court’s decision into state law.
• Supreme Court poised to reconsider key tenets of online speech | The New York Times2 weeks ago
  On Friday, the Supreme Court is expected to discuss whether to hear two cases that challenge laws in Texas and Florida barring online platforms from taking down certain political content. Next month, the court is scheduled to hear a case that questions Section 230, a 1996 statute that protects the platforms from liability for the content posted by their users. Eric Schnapper, professor of law at the UW, is quoted.
• AG objection to Albertsons' proposed $4B payout reaches state's highest court | KUOW2 weeks ago
  This could be the week when grocery chain Albertsons learns whether it can go ahead and pay $4 billion to its shareholders. The payment was planned when Albertsons and rival Kroger announced they were merging last fall. But the Washington Attorney General’s Office is trying to block payment until the merger is completed. Douglas Ross, professor of law at the UW, is quoted.
• What legal jeopardy are Trump, Biden facing in documents investigations? | KEPR Pasco3 weeks ago
  President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are both facing questions about their handling of classified documents as each are the subject of an investigation by special counsels appointed by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. Jeff Feldman, professor of law at the UW, is quoted.
• Seattle, Kent schools' lawsuits against social media giants have a 'scientific basis,' expert says | KUOW3 weeks ago
  Seattle Public Schools and the Kent School District are suing social media companies for the role their platforms have played in a youth mental health crisis. The lawsuits claim Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube have violated Washington’s public nuisance law and exploited students. The districts seem to be the first in the nation to take on such a case. Ryan Calo, professor of law at the UW, is quoted.
• 3 takeaways on the Seattle schools lawsuit against big tech | NPR3 weeks ago
  Seattle Public Schools on Friday filed a 91-page lawsuit against the companies behind TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and YouTube in a federal district court. The public school district alleges that students are being recommended harmful content online, exacerbating a mental health crisis, and social media companies are allowing it to happen. Ryan Calo, professor of law at the UW, is interviewed.
• Could the U.S. ban TikTok for everyone? | KUOW3 weeks ago
  On Friday, Seattle Public Schools announced a sweeping lawsuit against several social media giants. The district is claiming that YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat have caused financial and operational harm because of their addictive nature. Ryan Calo, professor of law at the UW, is interviewed.
• Idaho student killings: Tech advancements cause unraveling of mystery | USA Today4 weeks ago
  Security cameras. Internet video streams. Cellphone towers. In the days after four college students were stabbed to death in their Moscow, Idaho, rental home in the early hours of Nov. 13, police traced the digital footprint of the victims and the man accused of killing them in exhaustive detail. Mary Fan, professor of law at the UW, is quoted.
• Fast-growing battery materials startup Group14 embroiled in trade secret dispute | GeekWire4 weeks ago
  Group14 Technologies, a Seattle-area battery materials company, is embroiled in a lawsuit in which it claims that a U.K.-based company stole its “key trade secrets” for building higher performing batteries. Group14 is requesting a jury trial and seeking a halt of the alleged theft as well as damages from the defendant, a company called Nexeon. Xuan-Thao Nguyen, professor of law at the UW, is quoted.

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School of Medicine and UW Medicine

Full archive for UW Medicine

• A scientist is developing a nasal spray to prevent flu, COVID, and colds | Business Insider21 hours ago
  A prominent researcher has designed a nasal spray that he hopes will protect people from getting sick with COVID-19. For him, it’s an early step toward his ultimate goal of crafting a virus-fighting cocktail that could work against several common infections. David Baker, director of the UW Institute for Protein Design, is featured.
• Man in King County dies from infection | KIRO23 hours ago
  A person in Washington state has died from an infection linked to an over-the-counter eye drop. Dr. Courtney Francis, associate professor of ophthalmology at the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• FDA recalls eye drops after King County man dies from infection | KING 523 hours ago
  A King County man has died from a blood infection officials believe was caused by over-the-counter eye drops, according to the Washington State Department of Health. On Thursday the FDA recalled Ezricare Artificial Tears after a "multistate outbreak" of an extensively drug-resistant strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Dr. Courtney Francis, associate professor of ophthalmology at the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Vancouver legislator proposes bill to allow optometrists to perform surgery | The Columbian3 days ago
  A proposed bill from state Sen. Annette Cleveland, that would allow optometrists to perform a wider range of services came under fire Tuesday morning during a public hearing before the Senate Health and Long Term Care committee. Dr. Courtney Francis, associate professor of ophthalmology at the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Planting more trees in cities could slash summer heat deaths, study finds | Forbes3 days ago
  Planting more trees in cities could cut the number of people dying from high temperatures in summer, according to a study published in the Lancet medical journal on Tuesday, a strategy that could help mitigate the effects of climate change as it continues to drive temperatures upwards. Kristie Ebi, professor of global health and of environmental and occupational health sciences at the UW, is quoted.
• Proposed bill to lower blood alcohol level | KIRO 74 days ago
  Washington lawmakers held a hearing this afternoon on a bill to lower the DUI threshold for drivers from 0.8% to 0.5%. Dr. Richard Ries, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences in the UW School of Medicince, is quoted.
• WA lawmakers consider lowering legal blood alcohol limit | KGMI4 days ago
  Lawmakers in Olympia ponder a proposal to lower the legal blood alcohol content levels from 0.8% to 0.5%. If they make the change, Washington will join Utah as the only states in the nation to go that low. Dr. Richard Ries, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences in the UW School of Medicince, is quoted.
• State health leaders weigh in on proposed bill to lower legal blood alcohol content levels | KEPR4 days ago
  A bill proposal to lower the legal blood alcohol limit in Washington is getting some attention. Health leaders say the drop from the current .08 legal limit to the proposed .05, could drop traffic fatality numbers across the state by around 20%. Dr. Richard Ries, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences in the UW School of Medicince, is quoted.
• WA lawmakers consider changes to "Death with Dignity Act" | Spokane Public Radio4 days ago
  Washington’s 14-year-old assisted suicide law may get an update. A state House committee is scheduled to vote this week on a bipartisan bill designed to make it easier for terminally ill people to peacefully end their lives. A UW study is referenced.
• UW School of Medicine joins national revolt against ranking system | Axios Seattle5 days ago
  The University of Washington School of Medicine and the UW School of Law will no longer participate in U.S. News & World Report’s once prestigious university rankings.
• Athira Pharma and its ex-CEO are moving past controversy | Puget Sound Business Journal5 days ago
  A decade-old controversy prompted the ouster of Athira Pharma’s CEO and led to discord among shareholders. Denny Liggitt, professor emeritus and chairman of the department of comparative medicine at the UW, is quoted.
• Doctors from UW Medicine encouraging boosters for pregnancy | KEPR5 days ago
  Doctors at UW Medicine are making a case for COVID-19 boosters during pregnancy. Doctors and health leaders encourage women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant to consider increasing their protection from COVID-19 with a Bivalent booster shot. Dr. Michael Gravett, professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Opinion: Drug possession law: ‘Ill-formed bills’ | The Seattle Times5 days ago
  "We’ve learned a lot in a quarter century — none of which appears to be present in the editorial board’s thinking or legislators’ ill-formed bills. We’ve learned from locally conducted research that 80% of people who use illicit opioids want to stop/reduce their use, and they are most interested in treatment medications (which support recovery and reduce mortality by more than 50%)," writes Caleb Banta-Green, acting professor at the Addictions, Drug and Alcohol Institute in the UW School of Medicine.
• Opinion: Untangling America from gun violence | The Seattle Times5 days ago
  "Mass shootings are now commonplace in America. Over the past three years, there have been nearly 650 mass shootings a year in the United States, averaging more than one a day. Although tragic and devastating for those involved, mass shootings account for less than 1% of the more than 49,000 firearm-related deaths occurring in the U.S. each year," write Dr. Frederick Rivara, professor of pediatrics in the UW School of Medicine, and Laura Prater, research assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences in the UW School of Medicine.
• UW School of Medicine pulls out of U.S. News rankings | The Seattle Times5 days ago
  The UW School of Medicine — often ranked among the top schools in the country — will no longer participate in the U.S. News & World Report ranking process. Dr. Tim Dellit, professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine and interim CEO of UW Medicine, is quoted.
• UW Medicine will no longer participate in US News rankings | Northwest News Radio1 week ago
  Both Gonzaga University School of Law and UW School of Medicine announced they will no longer participate in the rankings made by U.S. News & World Report. A number of other schools have also ditched the ranking system.
• UW medical school pulls out of rankings | KNKX1 week ago
  UW School of Medicine has become the latest to pull out of the U.S. News & World Report rankings. This follows decisions by Harvard, Stanford and several other medical schools, which have done the same. Dr. Tim Dellit, professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine and interim CEO of UW Medicine, is quoted.
• UW medical school bows out of US news rankings | Patch1 week ago
  The UW School of Medicine will stop providing data for U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings, starting next year. School officials announced the change Thursday, following in the footsteps of other institutions like Harvard Medical School and Stanford Medical School. Dr. Tim Dellit, professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine and interim CEO of UW Medicine, is quoted.
• Gonzaga Law School, UW School of Medicine end participation with US News rankings | KXLY1 week ago
  Within the past few days, the Gonzaga University School of Law and UW School of Medicine announced that they will no longer participate in the rankings by U.S. News & World Report. Both schools say that they do not agree with U.S. News’ methodologies and how the organization forms its rankings. Dr. Tim Dellit, professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine and interim CEO of UW Medicine, is quoted.
• UW biotech spinout raises $5M to develop gene therapy system for muscular dystrophy | GeekWire1 week ago
  Myosana Therapeutics, a UW spinout and Seattle startup developing gene therapy technology, raised $5 million to develop an early-stage candidate treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Mysona says its experimental platform to deliver genes to cells has advantages over the standard approach, which is limited to smaller pieces of DNA. UW faculty members Stanley Froehner, professor of physiology and biophysics, and Nick Whitehead, research associate professor of physiology and biophysics, are mentioned.

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School of Nursing

Full archive for School of Nursing

• Louisiana's abortion law leaves some doctors afraid to provide miscarriage care | NPR1 month ago
  Louisiana’s near-total abortion ban, which took effect on Aug. 1, has raised fears among physicians that they could potentially be investigated for treating a miscarriage, since the same treatments are also used for abortion. Since Louisiana’s ban took effect, some doctors have warned that the law’s language is vague, and that fear and confusion over the law would lead to delays in pregnancy care. Monica McLemore, professor of child, family and population health nursing at the UW, is quoted.
• A family’s mental health journey out of crisis | KUOW2 months ago
  A family was ripped apart by drug addiction. Now, they’re picking up the pieces one day — and several mental health-focused strategies — at a time. Monica Oxford, research professor of child, family and population health nursing at the UW, is quoted.
• Opinion: #WomenWithoutBorders, march alongside your Iranian sisters | The Seattle Times3 months ago
  "The time has come to summon ferocious courage to support the women of Iran. The oppression and violence against women must end and as women, and allies of women, we must heed the call to show up and demand change," write the UW’s Azita Emami, professor of nursing; Shahrzad Shams, assistant teaching professor of international studies; and Shiva Shafii, director for marketing and communications for the School of Public Health.
• A Black mother's loss explains why US maternal health care is broken | Scientific American4 months ago
  The U.S. has one of the highest infant and maternal mortality rates among developed countries. Researchers from North Carolina to the West Coast are working with parents like Vu-An Foster to understand why. Monica McLemore, professor of child, family and population health nursing, is quoted.
• How nursing in WA is recovering from staff shortages and pandemic burnout | The Seattle Times7 months ago
  As thousands of students finish their classes this summer, the state’s newest crop of registered nurses will start to bolster the strained health care systems throughout the region. Recent legislative action has boosted efforts to patch staffing holes within hospitals and long-term care facilities. But nationwide attrition rates among health care workers reveal a lot has been lost, leading to big questions over the future of an industry at a crossroads. Tatiana Sadak, associate professor of nursing at the UW, and UW nursing students Allan Kinyuna and Julie Trotter are quoted.
• 'There's going to be a lack of honesty' – Two Washington doctors on the fallout of overturning Roe v Wade | KUOW7 months ago
  Washington is among those states that has already reaffirmed its commitment to protect access to abortion and abortion-related services. And with the right to those services still intact locally, providers are preparing to care for not only Washingtonians but also patients from states that have chosen to outlaw abortion. Meghan Eagen-Torkko, associate professor of nursing at UW Bothell and Monica McLemore, a new faculty member joining the UW School of Nursing in the fall, are interviewed.
• Former Yakima Valley College nursing instructor killed in hit and run | YakTriNews8 months ago
  Yakima Valley College students, staff and faculty are mourning the death of former nursing program instructor Wendy Baker who was killed in a hit and run over the weekend. Baker was also a lecturer in nursing at the UW.
• Professor calls Seattle homeless camp sweeps 'punitive' and short-sighted | KOMO 49 months ago
  Seattle cleared out another homeless camp near downtown Friday and while some neighbors welcomed the sweep, others said it only complicates the problem. Josephine Ensign, professor of nursing at the UW, is interviewed.
• Seattle residents, healthcare officials react to possible SCOTUS overturn of Roe v. Wade | FOX 139 months ago
  President Joe Biden said overturning Roe v. Wade could unravel a "whole range of rights." While some local healthcare members said they agreed with the President, Washington’s oldest pro-life organization said the overturn would restore abortion decisions to state government. Molly Altman, assistant professor of nursing at the UW, is interviewed.
• Tune in for a live discussion on Seattle’s history of homelessness | The Seattle Times10 months ago
  To learn more about Seattle’s current homelessness crisis and how we got here, local author and professor of nursing at the UW, Josephine Ensign looked to the past. Ensign is scheduled to participate in an online discussion at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 14. You can hear all about her findings in a live discussion hosted by The Seattle Times’ Project Homeless this week as we sit down with the author and explore her third book, “Skid Road: On the Frontier of Health and Homelessness in an American City.”
• Opinion: To be anti-racist, don’t confuse character for accountability | The Seattle Times10 months ago
  "To disrupt structural racism, we need anti-racist leaders who can shepherd and sustain our collective anti-racist transformation. And we need to facilitate anti-racist accountability of our leadership," writes Wendy Barrington, associate professor in the School of Nursing.
• Pandemic anxiety was hard on IBS patients — how to find relief | NPR10 months ago
  If you’re one of the more than 25 million people in the U.S. with irritable bowel syndrome, there’s a good chance your symptoms worsened at some point over the past two years. Or maybe you developed symptoms for the first time. Kendra Kamp, assistant professor of nursing at the UW, is quoted.
• Local author’s ‘Skid Road’ is a look at Seattle’s homeless past | The Seattle Times10 months ago
  In “Skid Road: On the Frontier of Health and Homelessness in an American City” by Josephine Ensign, professor of nursing at the UW, she reveals that since the first reported homeless man was found on the shores of Elliott Bay more than 160 years ago, Seattlites have grappled with the same questions around homelessness ever since: Whose responsibility is it to take care of our poorest? How do we pay for it? And where do they live? 
• To prepare for the next pandemic, America needs more doctors and nurses | VOX10 months ago
  Staff shortages crippled America’s COVID-19 response. That can’t happen again. Bianca Frogner, professor of family medicine in the UW School of Medicine, and Betty Bekemeier, professor of nursing at the UW, are quoted.
• Washington schools face nurse, psychologist, counselor shortages | KING 51 year ago
  Washington state badly needs additional school nurses, psychologists and counselors to help students weather the pandemic, in addition to local funding and support. A UW study is referenced.
• Seattle has struggled to care for sick and homeless people since the 1800s; now programs are trying something different | The Seattle Times1 year ago
  The rise of chronic homelessness coupled with a social services system that never recovered from Reagan-era spending cuts is resulting in record numbers of people dying on sidewalks or in shelters poorly equipped to care for people dealing with lifetimes of trauma, premature aging and complex medical needs. Josephine Ensign, professor of nursing at the UW, is quoted.
• 1 in 5 nurses say they’ll quit their careers as pandemic takes steep toll on mental health, WA study shows | The Seattle Times1 year ago
  Repeated exposure to sickness and death, and a sense of fear and anxiety that’s rippled across the medical and first-responder communities during the pandemic, is crippling the mental well-being of many health care workers, according to a new study led by Dr. Rebecca Hendrickson, acting assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences in the UW School of Medicine. Elaine Walsh, associate professor of nursing at the UW, is quoted.
• How did we get here? A brief history of mental health care in Washington | The Seattle Times1 year ago
  Before Washington was even a state, it was already constructing its first hospital to house patients with mental illness. In the 132 years since, there’s been a lot of trial and error but no clear answers as the state — and the country at large — have grappled with their approach to mental health care. Josephine Ensign, professor of nursing at the UW, is mentioned.
• A developer forced them out of their building — three years later, nearly half are dead | KNKX1 year ago
  To some, the century-old Merkle Hotel was a symbol of urban decay near the heart of Tacoma, an obstacle to the city’s yearslong effort to rebrand itself as an up-and-coming, desirable place to live. But, to the tenants who lived there, it was just about the last place in the city where a disability check still covered rent. Josephine Ensign, professor of nursing at the UW, is quoted.
• New program supports staffing crisis in long-term care | FOX 131 year ago
  A new state-funded program gives students at the UW School of Nursing hands-on experience at long-term care facilities.

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School of Pharmacy

Full archive for School of Pharmacy

• Over 125 medications in short supply across the US | KING 52 months ago
  Right now across America, there are approximately 125 medications or medical products in short supply, according to the FDA. The situation is impacting people across the nation, and in some cases endangering them, with no cure in sight. Steve Fijalka, UW Medicine’s chief pharmacy officer, is quoted.
• Where to find emergency contraception now that Roe is gone | NPR7 months ago
  With access to safe and legal abortions coming into question, emergency contraception will be more important than ever. However, finding that contraception at the local pharmacy is no easy task. Donald Downing, clinical professor of pharmacy at the UW, is interviewed.
• The high cost of living with sickle cell disease | HealthDay9 months ago
  Americans with sickle cell disease who have private insurance face average out-of-pocket costs of $1,300 a year and a lifetime total of $44,000, new research reveals. Kate Johnson, a postdoctoral researcher in pharmacy at the UW, is quoted.
• Burden of medical costs for sickle cell disease quantified | HealthDay9 months ago
  Sickle cell disease imposes a considerable burden in terms of overall and out-of-pocket medical costs, with the burden of costs peaking in young adulthood, according to a study published online May 16 in Blood Advances. Kate Johnson, a postdoctoral researcher in pharmacy at the UW, is quoted.
• How a game-changing transplant could treat dying organs | National Geographic11 months ago
  Early success with a procedure called a mitochondrial transplant offers a glimmer of hope for people fighting for survival after cardiac arrest, stroke, and more. The UW’s Dr. Michael Levitt, associate professor of neurological surgery and of radiology; Dr. Melanie Walker, clinical professor of neurological surgery; and Yasemin Sancak, assistant professor of pharmacology, are quoted.
• Nearly half a million Washingtonians live in pharmacy deserts | State of Reform1 year ago
  Stretching above its foothills, the glacial crown of Mt. Rainier stands guard over Packwood, one of Washington’s dwindling lumber towns. The end of the line for medical services lies 15 miles west of Packwood, at a clinic in Randle. Reaching a pharmacy and hospital from Packwood demands a 40 minute drive to Morton. The UW’s Rachel Wittenauer, a doctoral student in the School of Pharmacy, and Jennifer Bacci, associate professor of innovative pharmacy practice, are quoted.
• Americans avoiding health care in pandemic over cost concerns | ABC News1 year ago
  The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted Americans’ perceptions of health care, and not for the better, according to a new survey. Blythe Adamson, affiliate assistant professor of pharmacy at the UW, is quoted.
• Immigrants in US detention exposed to hazardous disinfectants every day | Scientific American1 year ago
  Every day crowded cells holding people at an immigration detention facility in Florida have been doused with caustic disinfectants that have caused breathing problems and bleeding, according to reports from the detainees. The disinfectants contain two chemical compounds that scientific research has implicated in long-term damage to human cells and—in animals—to reproductive health. Libin Xu, associate professor of medicinal chemistry at the UW, is quoted.
• Opinion: Big Pharma doesn't want Medicare negotiating drug prices | Los Angeles Times1 year ago
  "The pharmaceutical industry, bizarrely, told the American people this week that allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices is tantamount to socialism … Nearly every other developed country worldwide allows its government insurance system to negotiate drug prices. And guess what? This reasonable use of market power allows people in other countries to pay roughly half what Americans pay for prescription meds," writes columnist David Lazarus. Anirban Basu, professor of health economics at the UW, is quoted.
• CDC considers third COVID-19 shot for immunocompromised people | KING 52 years ago
  A CDC advisory group mulled COVID-19 booster shots for immunocompromised Americans Thursday, as states across the country have dropped many or all pandemic restrictions, and cases fueled by variants rise. Rodney Ho, professor of pharmaceutics at the UW, is interviewed. Dr. Vin Gupta, affiliate assistant professor of health metrics sciences at the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is referenced.
• Regulating new cannabis product delta 8 possible, but will require work, experts say | The Spokesman-Review2 years ago
  Creating new rules to safely sell an increasingly popular yet controversial cannabis product is possible in Washington, but will require a lot of work and study, chemical experts said this week. Nephi Stella, professor of pharmacology and of psychiatry and behavioral studies at the UW, is quoted.
• Medical mission | KIRO 72 years ago
  Dr. Jonathan Himmelfarb, professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, says the project sending kidney tissue to space is the result of many years of work and planning. Edward Kelly, associate professor of pharmaceutics at the UW, says that microgravity represents an environment where aging is accelerated.
• SpaceX sends ‘kidney on a chip’ and solar arrays into orbit | GeekWire2 years ago
  SpaceX launched a Dragon cargo capsule to the International Space Station today with more than 7,300 pounds of supplies and science, including an experiment from the University of Washington that takes advantage of zero gravity to study how our kidneys work. Researchers at UW Medicine, UW’s School of Pharmacy and the Kidney Research Institute are conducting parallel kidney-tissue experiments in earthly labs.
• UW is sending kidney cells to international space station | KXL2 years ago
  Edward Kelly, associate professor of pharmaceutics at the UW, says that microgravity represents an environment where aging is accelerated. Researchers want to model how that environment affects the body and applies to terrestrial diseases.
• UW kidney experiment headed to ISS | Q132 years ago
  Edward Kelly, associate professor of pharmaceutics at the UW, says that sending kidney tissue to the international space station will help researchers identify biomarkers that will predict whether you will suffer from kidney stones.
• UW sending kidney tissue to international space station | KIRO Radio2 years ago
  Edward Kelly, associate professor of pharmaceutics at the UW, talks about the unique environment of the international space station will help researchers better understand kidney stones.
• UW Medicine scientists use outer space for research | YakTriNews2 years ago
  On Thursday, June 3rd, a SpaceX Cargo will head to the International Space Station with a piece of UW Medicine research on it. Edward Kelly, associate professor of pharmaceutics at the UW, is interviewed.
• SpaceX’s 22nd cargo resupply mission to carry water bears, baby squids to the space station | UPI2 years ago
  SpaceX’s 22nd cargo resupply mission, slated to launch no earlier than June 3, will see several unique science experiments — involving water bears, baby squids and kidney stones — ferried to the International Space Station. Edward Kelly, associate professor of pharmaceutics at the UW, is quoted.
• Combining COVID-19 vaccines | KOMO Radio2 years ago
  Rodney Ho, professor of pharmaceutics at the UW, says he doesn’t think there’s harm in taking a combination of COVID-19 vaccines.
• How to reach the ‘fence sitters’? Men lag behind women on COVID-19 vaccination in Washington state | The Seattle Times2 years ago
  Men in Washington state — who represent 53% of deaths from the coronavirus — are at the same time receiving far less than their share of life-protecting vaccines. Samantha Clark, a doctoral student in pharmacy at the UW, is quoted.

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School of Public Health

Full archive for School of Public Health

• Lower your risk for dementia by spending time in nature | The Washington Post2 days ago
  Spending time in nature — even as little as two hours a week — has been linked to several health benefits. It seems to support healthy aging and has been associated with, among other things, improved cognitive function, blood pressure, mental health and sleep. Now, a study of nearly 62 million Medicare beneficiaries suggests that nature may also help protect against the risk of developing certain neurodegenerative disorders. Anjum Hajat, associate professor of epidemiology at the UW, is quoted.
• Planting more trees in cities could slash summer heat deaths, study finds | Forbes3 days ago
  Planting more trees in cities could cut the number of people dying from high temperatures in summer, according to a study published in the Lancet medical journal on Tuesday, a strategy that could help mitigate the effects of climate change as it continues to drive temperatures upwards. Kristie Ebi, professor of global health and of environmental and occupational health sciences at the UW, is quoted.
• Do rapid tests still work? | The New York Times1 week ago
  Experts say that rapid home tests are still a helpful tool for stopping the spread of COVID-19, but they’re not foolproof. Here are a few explanations for why you might get a false negative result — and how to increase your chances of accuracy next time. Dr. Paul Drain, associate professor of global health and of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• CDC talking to airlines about testing plane wastewater for COVID | NBC News2 weeks ago
  The CDC is talking to airlines about the possibility of testing for the coronavirus in sewage from planes, the federal agency told NBC News. Since September 2021, the CDC has been testing international travelers for COVID on a volunteer basis via nasal swabs. The program now includes seven major airports. Expanding that surveillance to include wastewater could allow the CDC to collect more data about emerging variants. Scott Meschke, professor of environmental and occupational health sciences at the UW, is quoted.
• US settlement signals protections for addiction medicine | Associated Press2 weeks ago
  A former Tennessee correctional officer will receive $160,000 in back pay and damages after he was forced to resign for taking Suboxone to treat his opioid use disorder, if a judge approves a landmark consent decree filed in federal court in Nashville on Wednesday. It is the first time the U.S. Department of Justice has used the Americans with Disabilities Act to settle a claim that an employee was discriminated against for taking a prescribed medication to treat drug addiction, according to the Department. Dr. Marc Stern, affiliate assistant professor of health services at the UW, is quoted.
• Why rapid COVID-19 test results are getting more confusing | Time3 weeks ago
  Experts say ambiguous results on at-home tests may be more common now — but not because rapid tests aren’t working. In fact, these confusing results could actually be a good thing, at least as far as your immune system goes. Dr. Paul Drain, associate professor of global health and of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
• Studying COVID's health lessons | KING 54 weeks ago
  Dr. Stephen Bezruchka, associate teaching professor of global health and of health services at the UW, and author of a new book called Inequality Kills Us All, is interviewed by reporter Amity Addrisi for "New Day Northwest."
• Opinion: The choice of a medically assisted death | The New York Times1 month ago
  "Does everything have to devolve into caustic culture wars? Ross Douthat takes on medically assisted dying as an indication of the depravity of liberalism, and of the end of civilization itself. I beg to differ," writes Noah Seixas, professor emeritus of environmental and occupational health sciences at the UW. [This is the second item in a roundup of letters to the editor.]
• Can climate labels on menus turn people off cheeseburgers? | Bloomberg1 month ago
  Climate labels on fast-food menus can help steer people in the U.S. away from ordering beef — the food with the worst impact on the climate — and toward meals that are better for the planet, according to new research. Kristie Ebi, professor of global health and of environmental and occupational health sciences at the UW, is quoted.
• Almost 8,000 US shootings attributed to unseasonable heat – study | The Guardian2 months ago
  Almost 8,000 shootings in US cities in recent years were attributable to unseasonably warm temperatures, according to a new study. The researchers said the work suggested the climate crisis could be contributing to increased gun violence by pushing temperatures beyond the normal ranges. Shootings were already known to peak in summer, when people are outside more and when heat can increase aggression. But the new research took account of the season and showed that above average temperatures at any time of year increased the risk of shootings. Vivian Lyons, a graduate student in epidemiology at the UW, is quoted.
• Is COVID a common cold yet? | The Atlantic2 months ago
  At the start of the coronavirus pandemic, one of the worst things about SARS-CoV-2 was that it was so new: The world lacked immunity, treatments and vaccines. A strange new virus was colliding with people’s bodies in such unusual ways that it couldn’t help but stand out. Now, nearly three years into the crisis, the virus is more familiar, and its symptoms are too. Dr. Patricia García, affiliate professor of global health at the UW, is quoted.
• Pandemic's two-year global death toll may be close to 15 million | HealthDay2 months ago
  Almost 15 million people likely died as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, nearly three times more than previously reported, a new World Health Organization study estimates. The researchers said the COVID-19 pandemic caused about 4.5 million more deaths than would have been expected in 2020, and 10.4 million more in 2021. Jonathan Wakefield, professor of statistics and of biostatics at the UW, is quoted.
• Boeing knew of ‘elevated’ miscarriage rate in ’80s, but followup fizzled | Everett Herald2 months ago
  After a series of miscarriages among her pregnant colleagues in 1985, a shop steward in Plastics Fabrication was the first to ask the troubling question. Women in building 17.05 of the Boeing Company’s Auburn plant began to wonder if the chemicals they used were to blame. Their concerns triggered a company study. Boeing’s health and safety experts found what appeared to be an “elevated” rate of miscarriages: 11 of 41 pregnancies among the cohort of study participants, or about 27 percent of cases, according to a health survey. The normal rate was more like 10 to 20 percent, according to studies cited by Boeing. A UW study by the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences is referenced.
• Gender-affirming care tied to improved mental health | Discover Magazine2 months ago
  In late 2021 and early 2022, several studies dug deep into the mental health benefits of gender-affirming care — and found that these treatments greatly reduce depression and suicidal thoughts in trans teens and young adults. It’s well known that this population is particularly vulnerable to mental health issues. In fact, LGBTQ youth are more than four times as likely as their peers to attempt suicide, and trans and nonbinary youth are the most vulnerable within this community, according to a national survey of nearly 34,000 LGBTQ youth by the nonprofit Trevor Project. That’s why medical professionals and scientists have argued that supporting such care would be lifesaving, benefitting the health and wellbeing of thousands of trans youth. Diana Tordoff, a doctoral student in epidemiology at the UW, is quoted.
• How to get connected and fight food insecurity | The Seattle Medium2 months ago
  With the holidays and the new year ahead, you may be looking for ways to help in a meaningful way. Relieving food insecurity, especially because of the recent inflation and economic recession, is one major area you can contribute. According to a survey done by the Urban Institute, 21.4% of adults in the United States reported not having reliable access to affordable food within the last 30 days in June 2022. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in October reported that food prices in the Seattle area have risen 11.5% over the last year. Marie Spiker, assistant professor of epidemiology at the UW, is quoted. 
• Montana’s new sex ed Law ensnares English and history lessons, too | Kaiser Health News2 months ago
  A Montana law requiring public schools to notify parents of lessons that mention human sexuality — and allowing parents to pull their children from those lessons — has reached further and been more cumbersome than anticipated, according to two school district leaders. Pamela Kohler, associate professor of global health at the UW, is quoted.
• No, COVID is not 'airborne AIDS' — but what it does to your immune system is still scary | Salon2 months ago
  From a biological standpoint, it’s remarkable how an unassuming virus like SARS-CoV-2 conquered the globe. In just three years, it’s caused roughly 640 million COVID infections internationally, according to the World Health Organization, although this is almost certainly a stark underestimate. Arjee Restar, assistant professor of epidemiology at the UW, is quoted.
• Young kids who breathe polluted air in high-poverty areas can fall behind in school, study finds | The Washington Post2 months ago
  Young children living in neighborhoods with high rates of poverty are more likely to be exposed to many different air pollutants, and that can harm their development during early childhood, according to a study published Tuesday. The children’s increased exposure to air toxins during infancy can reduce reading and math abilities and cause them to fall behind — for some, the effect is equivalent to losing an entire month of elementary school. UW’s Dr. Catherine Karr, professor of pediatrics and environmental and occupational health sciences in the UW School of Medicine; and Anjum Hajat, associate professor of epidemiology, are quoted.
• Handgun owners carrying daily in US doubled in 4 years; self-protection cited as main reason: study | Fox News2 months ago
  Twice the number of Americans were carrying handguns daily in 2019 compared to 2015, according to a new study published this month. Around 6,000 gun owners carried handguns every day in 2019, up from 3,000 in 2015, according to a study from the American Journal of Public Health. The number of respondents to the online survey who said they had carried a gun in the last month also nearly doubled, from 9 million to 16 million. Dr. Ali Rowhani-Rahbar, professor of epidemiology at the UW, is quoted.
• Six million Americans carried guns daily in 2019, twice as many as in 2015 | The Guardian2 months ago
  An estimated 6 million American adults carried a loaded handgun with them daily in 2019, double the number who said they carried a gun every day in 2015, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Public Health. Dr. Ali Rowhani-Rahbar, professor of epidemiology at the UW, is quoted.

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School of Social Work

Full archive for School of Social Work

• Self-Sufficiency Standard offers a realistic cost of living | Seattle Met3 weeks ago
  A UW researcher created an alternative to the official poverty line nearly three decades ago. What does its adoption — or lack thereof — reveal about what we need? Lisa Manzer, director of the Center for Women’s Welfare at the UW School of Social Work, is quoted.
• When foster kids become adults | NPR4 weeks ago
  Around 25,000 kids age out of the foster care system every year in the U.S. What happens when they do? In the years immediately following their 18th or 21st birthday (depending on the state), these young adults are likely to struggle in poverty. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, more than one in five will become homeless. The majority of young women just out of foster care (more than 70 percent) will be pregnant by 21. The effects of growing up in the system last decades into adulthood, too. Angelique Day, associate professor of social work at the UW, is interviewed.
• In their own words: Rosalie Fish | Northwest Public Broadcasting2 months ago
  Northwest Public Broadcasting reporters are interviewing Indigenous people throughout the region to learn what they want people to understand about their culture and who they are. Reporter Lauren Gallup spoke with Rosalie Fish, UW undergraduate social work student and athlete, who is using her platform to raise awareness of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis.
• Researchers warn of mental health risks of high-potency cannabis | The Seattle Times4 months ago
  Highly concentrated THC products are setting off alarm bells for physicians and a group of research scientists in the Pacific Northwest, who see the wide availability of dabs and other highly concentrated substances as a quiet but growing threat to public health, especially among young adults and teenagers. Lawmakers are considering new regulations, like a THC cap or higher tax on potent products. However, retailers and suppliers point out that these products are already illegal for those under 21. Beatriz Carlini, a research scientist at the Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute in the UW School of Medicine; Denise Walker, research associate professor of social work; Dr. Cora Breuner, professor of pediatrics in the UW School of Medicine; and Julia Dilley, affiliate instructor of epidemiology, are quoted.
• Her son was addicted to heroin and died by suicide—he’s not alone | The Seattle Times5 months ago
  People with substance use disorders have a significantly heightened risk of suicide. Compared with the general population, risk of suicide is about 14 times higher among people addicted to heroin and prescribed opioids and about five to 10 times higher among those dependent on alcohol or meth. The statistics are staggering, experts agree. And yet they likely underestimate the overlap between addiction and suicide. The UW’s Jennifer Stuber, associate professor of social work; Dr. Richard Ries, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences in the UW School of Medicince; and Caleb Banta-Green, a principal research scientist at the Addictions, Drug and Alcohol Institute in the UW School of Medicine, are quoted.
• Changes in law enforcement may be leading to less guns at home | KUOW5 months ago
  Inlander staff reporter Nate Sanford says changes to how Spokane police are investigating domestic violence cases is leading to a rising number of gun confiscations. Brett Bass, program coordinator at Forefront Suicide Prevention, is quoted.
• Seattle taps UW to study social worker pay | Real Change6 months ago
  On July 12, the city of Seattle awarded a $498,278 contract to the University of Washington (UW) School of Social Work for a study comparing wages for human services jobs to other similarly skilled positions in the Seattle and King County area. The contract fulfills a request for a proposal issued in May, and the results must be returned no later than Jan. 31, 2023.
• Welcome to Pride Place, Washington state's first LGBTQ senior housing community | Puget Sound Business Journal8 months ago
  The GenPride center will be at the base of Pride Place, a $52.2 million project that includes 118 income restricted apartments. Under construction at 1519 Broadway in the heart of Capitol Hill, it’s the state’s first LGBTQIA+ senior housing community. Karen Fredriksen-Goldsen, professor of social work at the UW, is quoted.
• Younger smokers who switch to vaping may end up with healthier lives | Northwest News Radio8 months ago
  Rick Kosterman, a research scientist in the Social Development Research Group in the UW School of Social Work, says vaping allows people to be engaged in healthy activities, like those in settings that involve exercise or involving non-smokers.
• Smokers who switch to vaping may take up healthier routines, new UW study shows | The Seattle Times8 months ago
  A new UW study shows smokers who switch to e-cigarettes may have more opportunities for healthier choices. That doesn’t mean vaping is healthful, researchers said, but for people who already smoke (and aren’t able to quit) it can be associated with healthy routines. Rick Kosterman, a research scientist in the Social Development Research Group in the UW School of Social Work, is quoted. Marina Epstein, Jennifer Bailey and David Hawkins of the Social Development Research Group are mentioned.
• Asian and Pacific Islander adults less likely to get mental health services despite growing need | HealthDay8 months ago
  Anti-Asian hate has fueled a rise in anxiety and depression in a population that is already one of the least likely to access much-needed mental health services, according to the nonprofit Mental Health America. David Takeuchi, associate dean for faculty excellence at UW School of Social Work, is quoted.
• Smokers who shift to vaping may improve other health measures | HealthDay9 months ago
  Replacing combustible cigarettes with vaping in one’s 30s may be associated with key markers of healthy and successful aging, according to a study published in the May issue of Drug and Alcohol Dependence. Rick Kosterman, a research scientist in the UW School of Social Work, is quoted.
• Can I consume cannabis around my kids? | The Cut11 months ago
  In the 18 states (plus the District of Columbia) where cannabis has been fully okayed for recreational use, consuming it is legally no different than drinking a glass of wine. Culturally, though, we’re still working out what casual, legal marijuana use looks like, especially when it comes to how we use it around our children. Nicole Eisenberg and Marina Epstein, research scientists at the UW Social Development Research Group, are quoted.
• COVID-19 took their parents — now kids' caregivers face many hurdles | USA Today1 year ago
  The COVID-19 pandemic has left tens of thousands of children without a parent or primary caregiver. Stepping into that void are grandparents, aunts, cousins – kinship caregivers – now facing their first new year as a new family unit. Angelique Day, associate professor of social work at the UW, is quoted.
• A deep divide in beliefs keeps the US child care system fractured | InvestigateWest1 year ago
  Clashes about motherhood go beyond questions of motherhood and women’s equality with men. A society that cares about keeping mothers with their young children would seem likely to support paid parental leave. But opinions about child care, and about which mothers can and should stay home with children, are affected by the racism that has plagued this country for its whole existence. Jennifer Romich, professor of social work at the UW, is quoted.
• More younger people seeking medical help for emotional distress | KXL1 year ago
  Jennifer Stuber, associate professor of social work at the UW, says parents need to get comfortable having conversations about emotional distress and make people feel better connected so that they can get the help they need.
• How new monitoring systems keep a close watch on older people | The Washington Post1 year ago
  New monitoring technology is helping family caregivers manage the relentless task of looking out for older adults with cognitive decline. Clara Berridge, assistant professor of social work at the UW, is quoted.
• US Army vet was rejected from multiple elder care homes — she says it's because she's transgender | USA Today1 year ago
  Last year, when she became unable to care for herself alone, Lisa Oakley, a U.S. Army veteran, hoped to live in her town’s local long-term care facility and remain in the community where she’d felt comfortable for 25 years. Instead, she was denied placement and not just there, but at dozens of long-term care facilities statewide. To Oakley and her advocates, the reason for many of those rejections was simple — and illegal: Because she’s transgender. Karen Fredriksen Goldsen, professor of social work at the UW, is quoted.
• Lawsuit settled Keyport Bible Church and former member Rick Gerjets | The Kitsap Sun1 year ago
  A lawsuit filed in 2018 alleging leaders at Keyport Bible Church knew or should have known a congregant and volunteer had a “proclivity” to rape and molest boys, including those he got to know through the church, settled in September before going to trial. John Conte, professor emeritus of social work, is quoted.
• How to fix Washington’s mental and behavioral health care system? 4 experts weigh in | The Seattle Times1 year ago
  In a virtual event Thursday co-sponsored by The Seattle Times Mental Health Project and the League of Women Voters of Seattle-King County, policy makers, advocates and people who have experiences with mental illness and substance use disorders discussed the historic and systemic issues that prevent people from accessing appropriate and adequate care. Jim Vollendroff, a lecturer in social work at the UW, is quoted.

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1. Find your unit's RSS feed URL

In order to set up any customized alert for your unit’s stories, you first have to find the correct RSS feed URL. The video below walks you through how to do that using our Pinboard archive, which is searchable by keyword, unit name, people, etc. Stories are displayed in the order in which they were added to the archive (most recent at the top).

Once you have your unit’s RSS feed URL, you can use it in your favorite feed tracker tool (there are many options in the Chrome Web Store) or Outlook (for PC only).

2. Set up a feed alert in Outlook (PC only)

Once you have your RSS feed URL from the previous step, open the Outlook app on your computer. Note: This is currently not available for Outlook for Mac.

On the left-hand pane of your Outlook screen there should be a folder in your email account called “RSS Subscriptions.” Right click on that folder and click “Add a New RSS Feed.”

Paste your RSS feed URL from the Pinboard archive into the field that Outlook offers, and click Add (see screenshot below).

If prompted, click “Yes” when it asks you if you want to add this RSS Feed to Outlook.

Now you’ll start getting new stories that mention your unit in your inbox as they are added to the UW News Pinboard archive!