College of Arts and Sciences

  • New chapter for Northwest Asian Weekly after decades of community coverage

    Assunta Ng, founder and publisher of Northwest Asian Weekly, has sold the 41-year-old newspaper to a group of Seattle-area investors. Ng, who will continue to advise the partners during the transition as publisher emeritus, said she believes the buyers share the same basic mission she started out with more than 40 years ago. “So I’m excited for them to take over and see what they can achieve,” she said.

    05/29/2024 | The Seattle Times
  • ICE deportee alleged ongoing threats over false sex crime charge

    Immigration officials corrected his record, but the Tacoma center detainee warned of continued risks to himself and his family back in Micronesia. Angelina Godoy, professor of law, societies, and justice and of international studies, as well as director of the Center for Human Rights at the UW, is quoted.
    05/29/2024 | Crosscut
  • Google's AI tool is producing misleading responses that have experts worried

    Ask Google if cats have been on the moon and it used to spit out a ranked list of websites so you could discover the answer for yourself. Now it comes up with an instant answer generated by artificial intelligence — which may or may not be correct. Emily M. Bender, professor of linguistics at the UW, is quoted and Chirag Shah, professor in the UW Information School, is mentioned.
    05/28/2024 | Associated Press
  • What a 32-hour workweek looks like in San Juan County

    In a survey conducted six months after San Juan County's 32-hour workweek’s October start date, 83% of employees said it had improved their work-life balance, and 78% their mental health. Margaret O'Mara, professor of history at the UW, is quoted.
    05/28/2024 | The Seattle Times
  • Sea otters get more prey and reduce tooth damage using tools

    And a new study offers a fuller understanding of tool use by sea otters. Otters in California's Monterey Bay use rocks and other objects to break open hard prey, letting them access certain larger prey and reducing their tooth damage. Chris Law, research scientist and teaching professor in biology at the UW, is quoted.
    05/23/2024 | Reuters
  • When sea otters lose their favorite foods, they can use tools to go after new ones

    When sea otters face competition for their favorite kinds of food, some use tools — like rocks and even glass bottles — to open tougher prey. That’s according to a new study of sea otters in Monterey Bay, California. Chris Law, research scientist and teaching professor in biology at the UW, is interviewed.
    05/23/2024 | KQED
  • Caitlin Sarwono discusses starring in The Fifth Avenue Theatre’s new production of ‘Spring Awakening’

    Music Education alumna Caitlin Sarwono's ('23 BM, Music Ed) passion for musical theater and her involvement with the UW Stage Notes theater student organization has led her to professional stage roles at Seattle's Fifth Avenue Theater. 

    05/21/2024 | The Daily
  • In theory of mind tests, AI beats humans

    Large language models convincingly mimic the understanding of mental states. Emily Bender, professor of linguistics at the UW, is quoted.
    05/21/2024 | IEEE Spectrum
  • A ship at the center of the Gulf of Tonkin incident brings naval history to life in Bremerton

    The story of how the USS Turner Joy ended up in middle of one of the defining events of the 20th century, starts deep in the heart of the ship — the Combat Information Center. Christoph Giebel, associate professor of history and of international studies, is quoted.
    05/17/2024 | KNKX
  • “Starman” Fraser Wins Teaching Award

    The 2023-24 Honors Excellence in Teaching Award goes to Dr. Oliver Fraser, assistant teaching professor in the Department of Astronomy.

    05/16/2024 | UW Honors
  • Despite global climate change, Earth is surprisingly carbon poor

    Despite problems with humanity’s use of carbon-based fossil fuels, our whole existence is based on this element’s ability to create rich chemistry. Don Brownlee, professor of astronomy at the UW, is mentioned.
    05/13/2024 | Forbes
  • Seattle performing musicians balance creativity and 'portfolio careers'

    Though the economic reality of being a professional musician has long necessitated that they work side jobs, the loss of performance opportunities during the pandemic shutdown made portfolio careers even more necessary for artists. Percussion Studies Chair Bonnie Whiting and alumna Leanna Keith ('17 MM, Woodwinds) are featured in this article from Seattle public radio station KNKX.

    05/10/2024 | KNKX NPR
  • Analysis: Everyday life and its variability influenced human evolution at least as much as rare activities like big-game hunting

    "In my research as an anthropologist, I’ve focused on the evolution of human walking and running because I love the flexibility people bring to these behaviors. Humans in all kinds of environments across space and time vary how far they go, when they go and what they go for – whether food, water or friends – based on a multitude of factors, including season, daylight, rituals and family," writes Cara Wall-Scheffler, affiliate assistant professor of anthropology at the UW.
    05/08/2024 | The Conversation
  • Analysis: As humans, we all want self-respect – and keeping that in mind might be the missing ingredient when you try to change someone’s mind

    "Why is persuasion so hard, even when you have facts on your side? As a philosopher, I’m especially interested in persuasion – not just how to convince someone, but how to do it ethically, without manipulation," writes Colin Marshall, associate professor of philosophy at the UW.
    05/03/2024 | The Conversation
  • 2024 Husky 100

    The College of Arts & Sciences celebrates undergraduate and graduate students from across all four divisions, who are recognized for making the most of their time at the UW. 

    05/01/2024 | University of Washington