More rigorous fisheries management measures lead to healthier fish populations

Posted on January 29, 2021

A new study led by Michael Melnychuk of the UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences confirms that greater investment in fisheries management systems leads to better outcomes for fish populations. Melnychuk and a team of international researchers analyzed the management practices of nearly 300 fish populations. Utilizing an international database on the status of individual fish populations, the researchers examined a variety of fishing populations, many of which that suffered from overfishing. The study offers sophisticated and modern supporting…

Research reveals how a neighborhood impacts risk of getting COVID-19

Posted on January 27, 2021January 27, 2021

New research from the University of Washington Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences examines how geography, income and race influence the likelihood that people in King County test positive for COVID-19. The study reveals that 89% of neighborhoods with the highest COVID-19 rates had a greater proportion of people of color than the overall county. These findings highlight the ways in which disparities in the Seattle region have impacted population health amid the pandemic. The research was one of…

UW researchers work to bridge the digital divide in Tacoma

Posted on January 25, 2021January 25, 2021

Throughout the ongoing pandemic, internet access has proved a valuable educational tool. However, there exists a substantial gap between those with and without internet access. In light of this digital divide, Jason Young and his research team at the UW Information School – as well as collaborators at the UW Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering and the Urban Studies program at UW Tacoma – are collaborating with the Tacoma Cooperative Network and Tacoma Public Libraries to…

Pilot grant awardees from 2019 report final project outcomes

Posted on January 21, 2021

The Population Health Initiative awarded six pilot research grants to faculty-led teams from seven different schools and colleges, plus representatives of both UW Bothell and Tacoma, in March 2019. Since then, the interdisciplinary project teams made significant progress towards addressing major challenges impacting population health locally and globally. Projects are now closing out, and highlights of each can be found in the following accordions.

Tire chemical responsible for killing coho salmon in urban streams

Posted on January 19, 2021

A team led by researchers at the University of Washington Tacoma, UW and Washington State University Puyallup have discovered why more than half of the coho salmon that return to Puget Sound’s urban streams die before they can spawn. When it rains, stormwater flushes bits of aging vehicle tires on roads into neighboring streams. The killer is in the mix of chemicals that leach from tire wear particles: a molecule related to a preservative that keeps tires from breaking down…

Round 2 of Washington food study underway to determine insecurity during pandemic

Posted on January 12, 2021

Recognizing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Washington residents’ access to food and economic needs, University of Washington researchers have teamed with researchers from Washington State University and Tacoma Community College to conduct food security surveys. With support from the UW Population Health Initiative, the first wave of surveys was conducted in the early summer of 2020. Over 2,000 Washington state residents participated, from across 38 counties. The survey results will be used to inform Washington state and county…

New smartwatch app alerts d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing users to desired sounds

Posted on January 6, 2021

University of Washington researchers have developed SoundWatch, a smartwatch app for deaf, Deaf and hard-of-hearing people who want to be aware of nearby sounds. When the smartwatch picks up a sound the user is interested in — examples include a siren, a microwave beeping or a bird chirping — SoundWatch will identify it and send the user a friendly buzz along with information about the sound. The SoundWatch app is available for free as an Android download. The researchers are…

UW psychologist shares how to find meaning and connection this year

Posted on December 22, 2020

How you spend the holiday season this year should look different as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. But by being intentional about how we approach and experience the season, we can find joy, and recognize – even embrace – how we have weathered this year, shares Jonathan Kanter, a research associate professor of psychology at the University of Washington. Kanter, director of the Center for the Science of Social Connection, offers some suggestions for a healthy and, yes, happy,…