College of Arts and Sciences

  • Opinion: From climate purist to climate pragmatist — the case of Kamala Harris

    "Kamala Harris of 2024, in a sharp deviation from Kamala Harris of 2016-20, epitomizes the emerging climate pragmatism," write the UW's Nives Dolšak, professor of marine and environmental affairs, and Aseem Prakash, professor of political science.
    10/02/2024 | Forbes
  • Inside one man’s campaign to take down WA’s infant carbon market

    While big-name donors and politicians gather and spend millions against the initiative to kill Washington’s fledgling carbon market, the man behind the measure is running a guerrilla campaign to sway voters to his side. Aseem Prakash, professor of political science at the UW, is quoted. James Long, professor of political science at the UW, is mentioned.
    09/30/2024 | The Seattle Times
  • These 3D-printed pipes inspired by shark intestines outperform Tesla valves

    Scientists at the UW have recreated the distinctive spiral shapes of shark intestines in 3D-printed pipes in order to study the unique fluid flow inside the spirals. Their prototypes kept fluids flowing in one preferred direction with no need for flaps to control that flow and performed significantly better than so-called "Tesla valves." The UW's Ido Levin, postdoctoral researcher in chemistry, and Alshakim Nelson, professor of chemistry, are quoted.

    09/27/2024 | Ars Technica
  • ArtSci Roundup: Psychology Edwards Seminar, Democracy in Focus lecture series, First Wednesday Concerts and more

    This week, attend the Psychology Edwards seminar, check out the First Wednesday Concert Series in the Allen Library, tune into the first lecture of the Democracy in Focus Lecture Series, and more. September 30, 12:00 – 1:20 pm | Psychology Edwards seminar talk with Alex L. White, Ph.D., Columbia University, Kindcaid Hall Can you recognize two...
    09/27/2024 | UW News
  • To make fluid flow in one direction down a pipe, it helps to be a shark

    Researchers from the University of Washington have discovered a new way to help liquid flow in only one direction, but without using the flaps that engines and our circulatory system rely upon to prevent fluid backup. The team built a flexible pipe with an interior helical structure inspired by the anatomy of shark intestines â creating a prototype inspired by biology but with applications in engineering and medicine.

    09/25/2024 | UW News
  • Learning tool or BS machine? How AI is shaking up higher ed

    As students and their professors head back to college classrooms and lecture halls this fall, the elephant in the room is ChatGPT. Katy Pearce, associate professor of communication at the UW, is quoted.
    09/24/2024 | KUOW
  • ArtSci Roundup: Kicking the school year off with gallery exhibitions, a faculty comedy show, filming screening, and more!

    Through public events and exhibitions, connect with the UW community every week. This week, attend gallery exhibitions, and more. As the UW community returns to campus, consider taking advantage of campus perks available to UW employees and students: Free admission to the Henry Art Gallery and Burke Museum Discounted tickets to performances by Meany Center,...
    09/20/2024 | UW News
  • Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation announces Andrew Laszo, Research Assistant Professor, as a 2024 Moore Inventor Fellow

    The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation selected five aspiring inventors as the ninth cohort of Moore Inventor Fellows. This fellowship champions scientist-inventors who design groundbreaking tools and technologies — creative people poised to make substantial strides in scientific discovery, environmental conservation and patient care.

    09/18/2024 | Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
  • Salish Sea too noisy for endangered resident orcas to hunt: study

    The UW-led study says the din from ships forces orcas to expend more time and energy hunting for fish. Jennifer Tennessen, senior research scientist at the UW Center for Ecosystem Sentinels, is quoted.
    09/16/2024 | Vancouver Sun
  • How Springfield, Ohio, became the center of a political firestorm

    A small Ohio city has been dominating headlines this past week, over claims that Haitian migrants have been killing pets and park birds for food. Sophia Jordán Wallace, professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.
    09/16/2024 | Newsweek
  • Girls’ brains aged at an ‘accelerated’ rate during the pandemic, study finds

    A new study comparing the brains of children before and after COVID-19 found that adolescent girls’ brains had aged faster than expected during the social isolation and lockdowns brought on by the pandemic. Patricia Kuhl, professor of speech and hearing sciences at the UW and co-director of the UW Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, is quoted.
    09/16/2024 | The Hill
  • Shhh! The orcas can’t hear their dinner

    When an orca hunts salmon, it clicks and buzzes. It sends a beam of sounds from its nasal passages into the murky depths in hopes that the sound waves will bounce back and reveal the location of its next nutritious meal. Those hopes are often dashed when noise from passing vessels drowns out orcas’ sonar signals. Jennifer Tennessen, senior research scientist at the UW Center for Ecosystem Sentinels, is quoted.
    09/13/2024 | KUOW
  • 'Mega' El Niño may have fueled Earth's biggest mass extinction

    Volcanoes spewing carbon dioxide 250 million years ago heated the climate so much that extreme El Niño events became the norm, pushing most life on Earth past its limits. Peter Ward, professor of Earth and space sciences and of biology at the UW, is quoted.
    09/13/2024 | Live Science
  • In the Field: Understanding the impact of Arctic militarization on Indigenous communities

    Mia Bennett, University of Washington assistant professor of geography, will spend a week this month in Norway as part of the orientation for the Fulbright Arctic IV Initiative. Bennett is one of 20 scholars selected to collaborate on multi-disciplinary research over the next 18 months.

    09/13/2024 | UW News
  • UW's Ashleigh Theberge receives Schmidt Sciences Polymath honors for 'boundary-pushing work' in cell signaling, communication

    Ashleigh Theberge, associate professor of chemistry at the University of Washington, has been named to the Schmidt Sciences Polymath Program, entitling her to grants of up to $2.5 million over five years to "pursue risky, novel theories that would otherwise be difficult to fund," according to a Sept. 10 announcement from Schmidt Sciences. Theberge — one of six awardees this year — was selected from an applicant pool of 117, and is the first UW faculty member selected for the program, which is in its third year.

    09/12/2024 | UW News