Social Sciences Division

Come curious. Leave inspired. For those near and far, we invite you to end the year with us through a range of events, performances, exhibitions, podcasts, and more. As you begin to shape your December plans, dont miss the inspiring events still to come this November. In addition,sign up to receive a monthly notice when...

A decade of cancel culture and the assassination of Charlie Kirk have reinvigorated the discussion about free speech - what exactly it is, and what it isn't. James Long, professor of political science at the UW, is interviewed.

Why is it okay to take the little shampoo bottles in hotels home with you but not the towels? And what stops people from taking the towels? Anthony Gill, professor of political science at the UW, is interviewed.

“I have found the Jackson School to be a very welcoming and supportive community for transfer students,” Goodman-Callender said. “When I first transferred, I was nervous about finding a sense of belonging at UW, but I have found nothing but support and encouragement from the faculty, advisors, and my peers in the Jackson School …"

Among a slew of noteworthy firsts, the 2025 election nationwide and in Seattle featured a turn to youth young voters backing youthful candidates. Mark Alan Smith, professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.

Ten years ago the world met in France to agree to the landmark Paris Agreement a global commitment signed by almost 300 nations to ward off catastrophic climate change. Adrian Raftery, professor emeritus of statistics and of sociology, is quoted.

Sudans civil war has become a humanitarian catastrophe of staggering scale, marked by famine, ethnic cleansing and sexual violence. Christopher Tounsel, associate professor of history at the UW, is interviewed.

A Burke Museum exhibit, co-curated by Coast Salish weavers and Burke curators, highlights the importance of weaving to Coast Salish communities.

In the College of Arts & Sciences, we are proud to celebrate our first-generation community through a collection of stories! We honor our faculty and staff, and their many contributions to our university community and beyond.

As King County officials work through the budget process, they are engaged in deciding the future of a restorative justice program diverting youth from the criminal legal system. Sarah Cusworth Walker, research professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences in the UW School of Medicine and Katherine Beckett, professor of sociology and of law, societies and justice at the UW, are quoted.

On October 22, the Department of Communication recognized outstanding alumni who have made a difference in their communities at our annual Alumni Hall of Fame and Alumni of Distinction awards dinner.

The next time your phone’s virtual assistant gives you a quick answer instead of nudging you to think harder, remember Andre Ye (Computer Science / Philosophy, 2025). He’s part of a new generation of researchers reimagining how AI supports human thought.

At its heart, the Jackson School’s Cybersecurity Initiative is more than a program — it’s a community. From the get-go, the program builds a sense of community that carries students through their time at the University of Washington and well into their professional lives.

The "996" schedule is 12-hour shifts, 6 days a week and it's captivated Silicon Valley tech leaders. NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with Margaret O'Mara, professor of history at the UW, about this workplace trend.

A decade ago, nearly every country in the world adopted the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit the rise in global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius by 2100. Adrian Raftery, professor emeritus of statistics and of sociology, is interviewed.