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Fifteen faculty members at the University of Washington have been elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences for 2024. They are among 36 scientists and educators from across the state announced Aug. 1 as new members. Selection recognizes the new membersâ âoutstanding record of scientific and technical achievement, and their willingness to work on behalf of the academy to bring the best available science to bear on issues within the state of Washington.

About one-fifth of all electricity customers in Washington will be eligible for a $200 energy credit this summer, funded through the state’s landmark climate law. Aseem Prakash, professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.

The brainy machines are predicting global weather patterns with new speed and precision, doing in minutes and seconds what once took hours. Chris Bretherton, professor emeritus of atmospheric sciences and of applied mathematics at the UW, is mentioned.

If Elon Musk’s Neuralink brain-implant venture succeeds in its effort to create next-generation brain implants for artificial vision, the devices could bring about a breakthrough for the visually impaired — but probably wouldn’t match Musk’s claim that they could provide “better than normal vision,” UW researchers report. Ione Fine and Geoffrey Boynton, professors of psychology at the UW, are quoted.

Elon Musk's ambitious eye implants that "ultimately may exceed normal human vision" are unlikely to reach this lofty benchmark, according to scientists who have used "virtual patients" to expose the limitations of this innovative technology. Even the greatest engineering is no match for human neurophysiology in restoring sight. Ione Fine, professor of psychology at the UW, is quoted.

The practices we use in higher education are always changing in response to new technologies and shifting priorities, which in the College of Arts & Sciences include an increased focus on student success and increasingly collaborative modes of research and creative productivity. 

For the dance course "Activating Space," students danced in public spaces across the University of Washington's Seattle campus this spring.

Vice President Kamala Harris is quickly gaining momentum as a potential successor for President Joe Biden in November. But there’s still one major event that will define this year’s Democratic campaign: The Democratic National Convention. James Long, professor of political science at the UW, is interviewed.

Benchmarks used to rank AI models are several years old, and are often sourced from amateur websites. Emily M. Bender, professor of linguistics at the UW, is quoted.

UW Chemistry professor Xiaosong Li has joined the College of Arts & Sciences leadership team as associate dean for research.