College of Arts and Sciences

With the help of Google Cloud, scientists churned through hundreds of thousands of images of the night sky to reveal that the solar system is filled with unseen objects. Željko Ivezić, professor of astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

Do dying patients have a “right to try” illegal drugs such as psilocybin and MDMA if they might alleviate end-of-life suffering from anxiety and depression? Dr. Sunil Aggarwal, clinical assistant professor in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.

A program set to launch in July will enable families affected by housing discrimination to get financial assistance for home purchases. James Gregory, professor and associate chair of history at the UW, is quoted.

Often vilified by Hollywood as potential competitors and even threats to humans, both sea dwelling and fictional off world octopuses have made many a filmgoer squirm in horror. Aside from their piercing eyes, their brains and morphologies are as different from humans as any species could be. Peter Ward, professor of Earth and space sciences and of biology at the UW, is quoted.

Tacoma-based chamber orchestra Northwest Sinfonietta performed a variety of concerto excerpts with UW piano students April 12, conducted by senior artist in residence David Rahbee. The UW School of Music is mentioned.

Every January, the Jacob Lawrence Legacy Residency program invites an up-and-coming Black artist to exhibit new work and carry on the legacy of the late Jacob Lawrence. This year, the exhibition showcases Simon Benjamin, a Jamaican multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker based in New York. The School of Art + Art History + Design is mentioned.

Nearly a year after the Hollywood writers' strike started, the entertainment industry remains in flux. Daniel Bessner, assistant professor of international studies at the UW, says TV and film writers are feeling the brunt of the changes.

More than a month after a man died at an immigrant detention center in Tacoma, federal officials released a report, as required by Congress. The report lacked one key detail: a cause of death. The UW's Phil Neff, project coordinator at the Center for Human Rights, and Angelina Godoy, professor of both international studies and law, societies and justice and the director of the Center for Human Rights, are mentioned.

Like many little girls, a young Kristi Yamaguchi loved playing with Barbie. With a schedule packed with ice skating practices, her Barbie dolls became her “best friends.” So, it’s surreal for the decorated Olympian figure skater to now be a Barbie girl herself. Sapna Cheryan, professor of psychology at the UW, is quoted.

As computer programming becomes an increasingly valued skill in the workforce, there is a greater need to understand how people learn to code most effectively. UW News spoke with co-authors Chantel Prat, a UW professor of psychology, and Chu-Hsuan (Iris) Kuo, a recent UW doctoral graduate of psychology, about their research, the future of teaching computer programming and more.

Rotarians gathered in April for an insightful panel discussion on the deepening connections between the Pacific Northwest and South Asia. The event boasted a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Radhika Govindrajan, associate professor of anthropology at the UW.

Hummingbirds, I realized, are not just adorable. They're also jerks. Yes, jerks. But don't take my word for it. Alyssa Sargent, doctoral student of biology at the UW, is quoted.

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.

Jordan Jones has been appointed as the next Director and Curator of the Jacob Lawrence Gallery, to begin in April 2024. In her role as Director and Curator, Jones will provide curatorial, programming, and administrative leadership and oversight in a newly renovated state-of-the-art exhibition space within the School of Art + Art History + Design at the UW Seattle campus. 

“For me, art has always been, more than anything, a container for conversation … I want [this gallery] to be a space where folks can meet and have a really vital, productive kind of social experience," said Jordan Jones. Getting to know Jacob Lawrence Gallery’s new director and curator.