UW News
The latest news from the UW
April 18, 2024
ArtSci Roundup: Improvised Music Project Festival, Modern Abortion Around the World Panel, Taiwan’s Pop Music and more
This week, join the Jackson School for International Studies for a panel on Modern Abortion Around the World, head to Meany Hall for the Improvised Music Project Festival, celebrate Taiwan’s pop music, and much more. April 22, 3:30 – 5:00 pm | ‘Genbaku Otome: Reconsidering the “Hiroshima Maidens”’ with Kim Brandt (Columbia University), Thomson Hall…
Tag(s): African Studies Program • Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology • China Studies Program • College of Arts and Sciences • Department of Classics • Department of Gender • Department of Geography • Department of History • Department of Political Science • Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies • Jacob Lawrence Gallery • Japan Studies Program • Latin and Caribbean Studies • School of Art + Art History + Design • School of Music • South Asia Center • Taiwan Studies Program • Tateuchi East Asia Library • The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies • The Simpson Center for the Humanities • University of Washington • Women & Sexuality Studies
Two UW researchers named AAAS Fellows
A tradition dating back to 1874, election as an AAAS Fellow is a lifetime honor, and all fellows are expected to meet the commonly held standards of professional ethics and scientific integrity.
Tag(s): Andy Stergachis • Brandi Cossairt • Clean Energy Institute • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Chemistry • Department of Epidemiology • Department of Global Health • Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation • School of PharmacyApril 17, 2024
Ice age climate analysis reduces worst-case warming expected from rising CO2
A detailed reconstruction of climate during the most recent ice age, when a large swath of North America was covered in ice, provides information on the relationship between CO2 and global temperature. Results show that while most future warming estimates remain unchanged, the absolute worst-case scenario is unlikely.
Tag(s): climate change • College of the Environment • Department of Atmospheric Sciences • Kyle Armour • School of Oceanography • Vince CooperApril 15, 2024
Q&A: How claims of anti-Christian bias can serve as racial dog whistles
A new University of Washington study showed that white and Black Christians perceived a politician concerned about anti-Christian bias as caring more about anti-white bias, being more willing to fight for white people and as less offensive than one concerned about anti-white bias.
Tag(s): Clara Wilkins • College of Arts and Sciences • Department of Psychology • Marah Al-KireApril 12, 2024
Statement on allegations involving a student-athlete
The following is a statement from the University of Washington on the allegations involving a student-athlete.
April 11, 2024
ArtSci Roundup: Center for Environmental Politics talk, ‘What Makes a Good Art Critic?’, Yefim Bronfman at Meany Hall and more
This week, head to Meany Hall for multiple Grammy Awards recipient Yefim Bronfman’s performance, learn from panelists during “What Makes a Good Art Critic?”, explore “The Imperative Challenges of Sustainability for the Forgotten” during the Center for Environmental Politics’ talk, and more. April 15, 3:30 – 5:00 pm | TALK | ‘Silver Democracy: Youth Representation…
Tag(s): ArtsUW • Center for Environmental Politics • College of Arts & Sciences • Department of History • Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures • Department of Political Science • Department of Scandinavian Studies • Henry Art Gallery • Japan Studies Program • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • Severyns Ravenholt Endowment • Simpson Center for the Humanities • The Henry M. Jackson School of International StudiesApril 10, 2024
Ranking: UW recognized as among the best in the world
The University of Washington has been named one of the world’s top universities, according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject released Wednesday.
Tag(s): College of Arts and Sciences • College of the Environment • geology • geophysics • Information School • Rankings • School of Nursing
New report ‘braids’ Indigenous and Western knowledge for forest adaptation strategies against climate change
Forests could also be potential bulwarks against climate change. But, increasingly severe droughts and wildfires, invasive species, and large insect outbreaks — all intensified by climate change — are straining many national forests and surrounding lands. A report by a team of 40 experts outlines a new approach to forest stewardship that “braids together” Indigenous knowledge and Western science to conserve and restore more resilient forestlands. Published March 25, the report provides foundational material to inform future work on climate-smart adaptive management practices for USDA Forest Service land managers.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • conservation • forests • School of Environmental and Forest Sciences • Susan PrichardApril 9, 2024
UW joins $110M cross-Pacific effort to advance artificial intelligence
The University of Washington and the University of Tsukuba have entered an innovation partnership with NVIDIA and Amazon aimed at furthering research, entrepreneurship, workforce development and social implementation in the field of artificial intelligence. This U.S.-Japan academic partnership is part of a broad, $110 million effort to build upon the strong ties between the U.S. and Japan and to continue to lead innovation and technological breakthroughs in artificial intelligence.
Tag(s): artificial intelligence • College of Engineering • Nancy Allbritton • Office of Global Affairs • Tricia SerioApril 8, 2024
UW graduate and professional disciplines have strong showing on US News’ Best Graduate Schools rankings
The University of Washington’s graduate and professional degree programs were widely recognized as among the best in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Graduate Schools rankings released late Monday.
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • College of Education • Evans School of Public Policy & Governance • Foster School of Business • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering • Rankings • School of Nursing • School of Pharmacy • School of Social Work • UW Bothell • UW Tacoma
Everyday social interactions predict language development in infants
In a study published April 8 in Current Biology, University of Washington researchers found that when the adult talked and played socially with a 5-month-old baby, the baby’s brain activity particularly increased in regions responsible for attention — and the level of this type of activity predicted enhanced language development at later ages.
Tag(s): Alexis Bosseler • Andrew Meltzoff • Department of Psychology • Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences • Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences • Patricia KuhlApril 5, 2024
Q&A: The growing trend of environmental, social and governance assurances in corporate America
Voluntary reports that discuss environmental, social and governance issues — or ESG issues — have become a major trend in corporate America over the past decade. Shawn Shi, University of Washington assistant professor of accounting in the Foster School of Business, is conducting ongoing research on the topic.
Tag(s): Foster School of Business • Shawn ShiApril 4, 2024
Q&A: Eclipses aren’t just good for jaw-dropping views — they’re also opportunities for stellar science, says UW astronomer
Eclipses past and present aren’t just opportunities for incredible sights. Generations of researchers have used them to study phenomena ranging from the sun itself to the fabric of the universe. UW News intervewed Emily Levesque, author and associate professor of astronomy, about what scientists past and present have learned by studying eclipses.
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Astronomy • Emily Levesque • Q&A
What four decades of canned salmon reveal about marine food webs
University of Washington researchers have shown that levels of anisakid worms — a common marine parasite — rose in two salmon species in the Gulf of Alaska and Bristol Bay over a 42-year period. The team discovered this by studying salmon caught, killed and canned from 1979 to 2021. Since anisakid worms have a complex life cycle involving multiple types of hosts, the researchers interpret their rising numbers as a potential sign of ecosystem recovery, possibly driven by rising numbers of marine mammals thanks to the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Tag(s): Chelsea Wood • College of the Environment • conservation • fisheries biology • School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences
In the Field: UW researchers traveling to capture total solar eclipse
Baptiste Journaux, a UW faculty member in Earth and space sciences, and four graduate students will travel to Arkansas on Monday to view the total solar eclipse. They will use a special telescope to capture images of solar features that can be viewed most clearly during an eclipse.
Tag(s): astronomy & astrophysics • Baptiste Journaux • College of the Environment • Department of Earth and Space Sciences • In the FieldApril 3, 2024
ArtSci Roundup: Chris Thile at Meany Hall, Northwest Sinfonietta, First Nations Spring Powwow, and more
This week, check out the 53rd Annual First Nations Spring Powwow, head to Meany Hall for a concert by Grammy Award-winning artist Chris Thile, enjoy the Northwest Sinfonietta’s performance with UW piano students, and more. April 11, 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Talking Gender in Europe Lecture Series | The Double-Helix Entanglements of Transnational Advocacy:…
Tag(s): College of Arts and Sciences • Department of American Indian Studies • Department of Philosophy • Department of Political Science • Henry Art Gallery • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • Program on Ethics • School of Music • School of Public Health • Stroum Center for Jewish Studies • University of Washington
Q&A: UW researchers on the unseen community effects of COVID-19 stay-at-home orders
Starting in the earliest days of the 2020 outbreak, a team of researchers at the University of Washington conducted real-time surveys of King County residents, asking what measures people had taken to protect themselves, how their daily lives had been affected and what worried them most.
Tag(s): Center for Disaster Resilient Communities • ColLABorative on Extreme Event Resilience • COVID-19 • COVID-19 studies • Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences • Kathleen Moloney • Nicole Errett • School of Public HealthMarch 28, 2024
ArtSci Roundup: DXARTS Time and Time Again Exhibition, Meany Hall Concert, Colloquium Lectures and more
This week, head to the Henry Art Gallery for the Freedom in Failure: “That’s how the light gets in” program, learn how virtual reality platforms can advance personalized treatment options for patients, visit the DXARTS gallery for Time and Time Again, and more. April 3, 12:30 pm | First Wednesday Concert Series: Students of the UW…
Tag(s): College of Arts and Sciences • Department of American Indian Studies • Department of Asian Languages & Literature • Department of Geography • Department of Political Science • Department of Psychology • Henry Art Gallery • Jacob Lawrence Gallery • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • School of Art + Art History + Design • School of Music • The Henry M. Jackson Foundation • The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies • University of Washington
Q&A: How to train AI when you don’t have enough data
As researchers explore potential applications for AI, they have found scenarios where AI could be really useful but there’s not enough data to accurately train the algorithms. Jenq-Neng Hwang, University of Washington professor of electrical and computer and engineering, specializes in these issues.
Tag(s): artificial intelligence • College of Engineering • Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering • Jenq-Neng Hwang
Q&A: UW researcher discusses the vital role of Indigenous librarians
Sandy Littletree, a UW assistant professor in the Information School, discusses the importance of working Indigenous ways of knowing into libraries, archives and data repositories.
Tag(s): Information School • Sandy LittletreeMarch 26, 2024
University of Washington appoints Pat Chun as Director of Athletics
The University of Washington has appointed Pat Chun to serve as its 17th Director of Athletics, UW President Ana Mari Cauce announced today. He will begin his duties Wednesday, March 27.
Tag(s): Alexes Harris • Ana Mari Cauce • UW AthleticsMarch 22, 2024
Signs of life detectable in single ice grain emitted from extraterrestrial moons
Could life be found in frozen sea spray emitted from moons orbiting Saturn or Jupiter? New research finds that life can be detected in a single ice grain containing one bacterial cell or portions of a cell. The results suggest that if life similar to that on Earth exists on these planetary bodies, this life should be detectable by instruments launching in the fall.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • Department of Earth and Space Sciences • Fabian Klenner
Public records, records management and privacy officer join compliance and risk services
President Ana Mari Cauce and Provost Tricia Serio announced an organizational restructuring that brings the offices of Public Records and Open Public Meetings, Records Management Services, and the Privacy Officer functions into Compliance and Risk Services to better serve the University community and the public. The changes are an extension of additional restructuring previously announced to form the expanded Office of Finance, Planning and Budgeting.
Tag(s): Compliance and Risk Services • Jane YungMarch 21, 2024
ArtSci Roundup: Calder Quartet, Psychology Colloquium, Black Girls (Re)Creating Space through Digital Practice and more
This week, attend the Psychology Loucks Colloquium, visit the Henry Art Gallery for Martine Gutierrez’s Monsen Photography Lecture, hear from Ashleigh Greene Wade on “Where Can We Be? Black Girls (Re)Creating Space through Digital Practice” and more. March 27, 12:30 – 1:30 pm | TALK | Arctic Ambitions: Navigating Arctic Security Challenges, Husky Union Building Join…
Tag(s): Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture • Center for Korea Studies • Department of Communication • Department of Geography • Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures • Department of Philosophy • Department of Psychology • Henry Art Gallery • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • Stroum Center for Jewish Studies • The Henry M. Jackson Foundation • The Henry M. Jackson School of International StudiesMarch 20, 2024
Statement from UW President Ana Mari Cauce on the departure of Troy Dannen, Director of Athletics
The following is a statement from University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce regarding Director of Athletics Troy Dannen’s departure.
March 19, 2024
Citizen scientist group finds 15 rare ‘active asteroids’
In 2021, Colin Orion Chandler started Active Asteroids Citizen Science, a partnership between NASA, Zooniverse, astronomers and thousands of citizen scientist volunteers. The initiative is searching for so-called “active asteroids,” which have comet-like tails and could hold clues to the formation of our solar system, among other cosmic mysteries. Chandler, now a University of Washington researcher, and his team recently announced they have discovered 15 active asteroids, and are continuing the search for more of these unusual and rare objects.
Tag(s): astronomy & astrophysics • Colin Orion Chandler • Department of Astronomy • DIRAC InstituteMarch 14, 2024
UW researchers taught kids to code with cultural research and embroidery machines
University of Washington researchers taught a group of high schoolers to code by combining cultural research into various embroidery traditions with “computational embroidery.” The method teaches kids to encode embroidery patterns on a computer through a coding language called Turtlestitch.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Information School • Jayne Everson • Megumi Kivuva • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & EngineeringMarch 13, 2024
Q&A: UW expert on the rising rates of immunosuppression among U.S. adults
A new UW study places the prevalence of immunosuppression at around 6.6% of American adults — more than twice as high as previously understood. That rise could have broad implications for how we navigate the late stages of COVID-19 and prepare for future pandemics.
Tag(s): COVID-19 • COVID-19 studies • Melissa Martinson • public health • School of Social WorkMarch 12, 2024
AI analysis of historical satellite images show USSR collapse in 1990s increased methane emissions, despite lower oil and gas production
An AI-powered analysis of 25 years of satellite images yields the surprising finding that methane emissions in Turkmenistan, a former Soviet republic and major oil-producing region, actually increased in the years following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Tag(s): Alex Turner • climate • College of the Environment • Department of Atmospheric SciencesMarch 11, 2024
Video: Admissions director answers six commonly asked questions about applying to the UW’s Seattle campus
Six of the most commonly asked questions about how competitive it is to get into the UW and how admissions decisions are made are answered in this video featuring Paul Seegert, Director of Admissions on the Seattle campus.
Tag(s): Office of Admissions • Paul Seegert
Q&A: How Instagram influencers profit from anti-vaccine misinformation
New research from the UW examines how three wellness Instagram influencers profited from anti-vaccine misinformation.
Tag(s): Center for an Informed Public • Information School • Rachel MoranMarch 8, 2024
Video: Predicting cherry tree bloom timing at the UW
Cherry trees on the University of Washington’s Seattle campus are waking up and getting ready to say hello. For the 29 iconic Yoshino cherry trees in the UW Quad, peak bloom will likely begin after March 20.
Tag(s): Autumn Maust • cherry blossoms • College of the Environment • Sara Shores • School of Environmental and Forest SciencesMarch 7, 2024
ArtSci Roundup: Mark Morris Dance Group, Psychology Seminar, Screening Queer Hong Kong, and more
This week, head to Meany Hall for The Look of Love performance by the Mark Morris Dance Group, learn about recent research at a clinical seminar hosted by the Department of Psychology, tune into a book talk with the Japan Studies Program, and more. March 12, 11:30 am – 12:50 pm | Psychology Cross-Area Clinical…
Tag(s): China Studies Program • Department of Asian Languages and Literature • Department of Psychology • East Asia Center • Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies • Japan Studies Program • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • Simpson Center for the HumanitiesMarch 6, 2024
Scientists CT-scanned thousands of natural history specimens, which you can access for free
Natural history museums have entered a new stage of discovery and accessibility — one where scientists around the globe and curious folks at home can access valuable museum specimens to study, learn or just be amazed. This new era follows the completion of openVertebrate, or oVert, a five-year collaborative project among 18 institutions to create 3D reconstructions of vertebrate specimens and make them freely available online. The team behind this endeavor, which includes scientists at the University of Washington and its Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture, published a summary of the project March 6 in the journal BioScience, offering a glimpse of how the data can be used to ask new questions and spur the development of innovative technology.
Tag(s): Adam Summers • Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture • College of Arts & Sciences • College of the Environment • Department of Biology • Friday Harbor Laboratories • Luke Tornabene • School of Aquatic and Fishery SciencesMarch 1, 2024
Public Notice: UWMC-Northwest Major Institution Master Plan Final EIS
Project Name: UWMC-Northwest Major Institution Master Plan (MIMP) Final EIS Proponent & Lead Agency: University of Washington Description of Proposal: The UW Medical Center – Northwest Major Institution Master Plan update will allow for space on the campus to accommodate projected population growth and corresponding increase in healthcare demands. It would also allow for replacing…
February 29, 2024
ArtSci Roundup: First Wednesday Concert Series, Book Talks, Ethnomusicology Visiting Artist Concert and more
This week, enjoy the First Wednesday Concert Series in Allen Library, be awed by Ethnomusicology Visiting Artist Concert with Shoji Kameda, attend book talks, and more. March 4, 2:30 – 4:30 pm | Annual Graduate Student Invited Lecturer | Know Your Place, Know Your Calling: Geography, Race, and Kant’s ‘World-Citizen’, Denny Hall Graduate students in the…
Tag(s): Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture • Department of Asian Languages and Literature • Department of Chemistry • Department of German Studies • Department of Philosophy • Department of Political Science • East European and Central Asian Studies • Eastern European • Ellison Center for Russian • Meany Center for the Performing Arts • Meany Hall for the Performing Arts • School of Music • South Asia Center • Taiwan Studies Program • The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies • University of Washington Bothell • UW Libraries • UW Music • UW Public Lectures
Q&A: How a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease could also work for Type 2 diabetes
Alzheimer’s disease and Type 2 diabetes are part of a family of amyloid diseases that are characterized by having proteins that cluster together. UW researchers have demonstrated more similarities between the two diseases.
Tag(s): College of Engineering • Department of Bioengineering • Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institute • UW Medicine • Valerie DaggettFebruary 28, 2024
UW graduate receives prestigious Gates Cambridge scholarship
Sonia Fereidooni, who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Washington, was selected for the prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship. Fereidooni, 22, will receive a full-cost scholarship to pursue doctoral work in Digital Humanities at the University of Cambridge, England. The highly competitive scholarship brings recognition of accomplishments and future promise. This year, 26 students…
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • Gates Cambridge Scholar • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering • Undergraduate Academic Affairs
80 mph speed record for glacier fracture helps reveal the physics of ice sheet collapse
New research documents the fastest-known large-scale breakage along an Antarctic ice shelf. In 2012, a 6.5-mile crack formed in about 5 and a half minutes, showing that ice shelves can effectively shatter, though the speed of breakage is reduced by seawater rushing in. These results can help improve ice-sheet models and projections for future sea level rise.
Tag(s): Brad Lipovsky • climate change • College of the Environment • Department of Earth and Space Sciences • glaciers • Marine Denolle • polar science
Vision Zero road safety projects in Seattle are unlikely to have negative impacts on local business sales, UW study finds
An analysis of seven safety projects across Seattle found they had no negative impact on the annual revenues of nearby businesses for three years after construction began.
Tag(s): Andrew Dannenberg • Department of Urban Design and Planning • School of Public Health • Vision ZeroNext Page »
