I still remember the key event that sparked what would become a passion for understanding prions. It involved a bet for a slice of pie, which I lost to a postdoc in the lab where I was conducting undergraduate research on lipid metabolism.
To say he was eccentric would be an understatement, and when he asked me one day if I had heard about infectious proteins, I was skeptical (and am now dating myself). He was adamant that he could prove it to me, hence the bet, and after a trip to the library to photocopy a few research articles (another anecdote that dates me), he convinced me. And I have been hooked ever since.
I was reminded of this story when I read interviews with 12 UW researchers who described how they fell in love with their research. For Katya Cherukumilli, outdoor experiences as child inspired her to research access to drinking water. Frequent power outages and surges prompted June Lukuyu to develop sustainable energy solutions for underserved communities. And Bára Šafářová became an expert on Chagas disease, thanks to a bug who bit her in the middle of the night. You can read their stories, and others, published by UW News.
Across our campuses, more than 62,000 students are falling in love with science, the humanities, the arts, medicine. They are discovering passions and interests that may last a month, or a lifetime. In addition to sunny weather, cherry blossoms and the excitement of commencement ceremonies, spring quarter brings us many opportunities that are open to the public to see what our students are doing and the impact they are having on advancing knowledge and understanding for the benefit of all.
Undergraduate engagement and research are the focus of two celebrations on the Seattle campus. The Spring CELEbration, 4:30-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 7 in the HUB, will feature student presentations on their community-based service, leadership and advocacy as part of the Community Engagement and Leadership Education (CELE) Center and Mary Gates Scholars program – housed within Undergraduate Academic Affairs (UAA).
On May 16, more than 1,200 undergraduates from 100 disciplines across our three campuses and other institutions will set up their posters, give 10-minute oral presentations, hang their visual art and designs, and take the stage at the Undergraduate Research Symposium, also sponsored by UAA. I am looking forward to attending the opening of this daylong symposium, which has taken place for nearly 30 years.
Another is the Graduate School’s Three-Minute Thesis , which challenges graduate students to explain their research – in everyday language – in just three minutes with one slide. This competition, May 22 in Alder Hall, celebrates the exciting capstone and research experiences of master’s and doctoral students at the University of Washington from all three campuses. I am excited to serve as a judge at this year’s competition.
iSchool students will give in person and virtual presentations on their milestone projects, such as capstones, volunteer work, portfolios, research and study abroad, at the iSchool Showcase, 5:30-9 p.m., Wednesday, June 4, in the HUB.
Art and design students graduating this year will showcase their best works in the 2025 Graduation Exhibitions. This series of shows takes place through June 15 at the Jacob Lawrence Gallery and the Henry Art Gallery to celebrate students in the School of Art + Art History + Design’s bachelors, master’s of fine arts and master of design programs.
Each quarter at UW Tacoma, undergraduates majoring in environmental sciences, biomedical sciences, environmental sustainability, and mathematics present their research, internships, community service and innovations. Spring quarter’s Sciences and Mathematics Undergraduate Research Symposium (SAMURS), will be at 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Thursday, June 12, in Milgard Hall.
Through film screenings, student-led talks, exhibitions, presentations and poster sessions, UW Bothell students from across disciplines will present their research and learning at the campus-wide Student Academic Showcase May 13-15.
And if you did not have an opportunity to join President Cauce and me, along with other UW leaders, faculty and staff, to celebrate the 10th cohort of the Husky 100, please read the amazing stories of how these undergraduate and graduate students are making the most of their time at the UW.
These showcases are tangible examples of why we are here — to teach, mentor and guide our students so they can keep innovation, research and creativity moving forward for not only their generation but also for those to come. Almost nothing is more rewarding than seeing this passion come alive in our students, watching them ask questions, and pursue answers, solutions, and new expressions.
At a time when the value of this work is questioned and the weight of that lost trust is felt every day, we must not be distracted from these opportunities to engage with our students and to celebrate their accomplishments. As was the case for each one of us, these experiences mark the beginning of a lifetime of contributions built from an initial interest, nurtured by opportunities to explore it in depth, and serving as the foundation for endless paths to realize its impact in the world. This continuum forms the core of our mission, and together we have always and will continue to ensure its resilience.
I look forward to sharing in the joy of these events with you.