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Latest news and updates

Latest news and updates

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

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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

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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,…

Understanding the amount of income needed to support families in Washington state

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The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Washington State is a report that identifies, county-by-county, the amount of income needed to support families of various sizes without additional help from the government, community or other personal resources. The latest study, released Oct. 15, shows an increase in the cost of living for almost every family size, in every county, since the last report in 2017. While counties on the west side of the Cascades generally require higher wages to pay for basic needs…

Awardees of 2020 pilot research grants report on project progress

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The Population Health Initiative awarded six pilot research grants in March 2020 to faculty-led teams from 10 different University of Washington schools and colleges. The initiative’s pilot research grant program seeks to spur new, interdisciplinary collaborations among investigators for projects addressing major population health challenges. At the half-way point, investigators are reporting significant progress in their work despite the disruptions posed by the pandemic. Work to date from the respective projects can be found in the following sections.

Improving smoke forecasts by flying through wildfire smoke plumes

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Recent years have seen hazy skies and hazardous air quality become regular features of the late summer weather on the West Coast. New research led by the University of Washington looks at the most detailed observations to date from the interiors of West Coast wildfire smoke plumes and showed that smoke forecasts may incorrectly predict the amount of particles in staler smoke. The new results could significantly change the estimate for particles in staler smoke, which could be the difference…

Winter 2021 undergraduate course highlights UW population health research

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This winter, the Population Health Initiative is again partnering with the University of Washington’s Undergraduate Research Program (URP) to offer a series of lectures that focus on the three pillars of population health: human health, environmental resilience and social and economic equity. The Research Exposed! (General Studies 391, SLN 15106) course will feature faculty from a number of disciplines discussing their population health-related research. Undergraduates may take this course for credit (i.e., one credit/quarter; three quarters max). The course will…

Discussing suicide prevention leads to safer weapons storage

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A new University of Washington study found that talking to people at gun shows about suicide prevention and the risks of unsecured firearms can lead to safe weapons storage. The research by UW’s Forefront Suicide Prevention program was based on visits to 18 gun shows and other community events around Washington state last year. The study found that engaging people in a community-based setting, in an empathetic conversation focused on safety, resulted in more people locking up their firearms. Learn…

New UW models show how COVID-19 can spread through a city

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A research team led by UC Irvine and the University of Washington has created a new model of coronavirus diffusion through a community. This approach factors in network exposure — whom one interacts with — and demographics to simulate at a more detailed level both where and how quickly the coronavirus could spread through Seattle and 18 other major cities. The result: Some neighborhoods peak sooner than others. And in every city, the virus sticks around far longer than some…

Initiative-supported project finds pandemic is worsening social isolation in older adults

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New research from the University of Washington found that older adults throughout Washington are increasingly isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are also challenged by the even greater reliance on technology and they often neglect chronic health conditions. While senior-services agencies are adapting and innovating to meet the needs of this population, researchers say a lack of consistent funding, coupled with the general uncertainty of the pandemic, could destabilize the care system for the state’s older adults. This qualitative study…

UW breaks ground on new health sciences education building

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The University of Washington has broken ground on a new Health Sciences Education Building where students will learn integrated patient care in an integrated training facility. The 100,000 square-foot, four-story, $100 million, fully modern facility received $70 million from the Washington state Legislature. The new building is designed around flexible spaces that allow for 21st-century teaching techniques, including high-tech learning facilities used for computer simulation, mock treatment labs and an ultra-modern Anatomy Lab Suite with virtual anatomy capabilities. The facility…