Social Sciences Division

Everyone seems divided on issues like race, identity, economics, law and order, and public health, and it feels like we’re fractured beyond repair. But take heed, worried nation, we’ve been here before. Sort of. Margaret O’Mara, professor of history at the UW, is quoted.

A new UW study finds that denser neighborhoods reach peak infection rate earlier while nearby neighborhoods won’t reach their peak infection until weeks or even years later. Zack Almquist, assistant professor of sociology at the UW, is quoted.

See all that's going on during UW Global Month, take part in conversations surrounding the aftermath of the 2020 election, and more.

“2020: The Course” gives students an opportunity to hear from UW professors and special guests who will discuss the COVID-19 pandemic, race in the United States, the state of the environment, the economic recession, civic participation, citizenship and this election season and outcomes.

While the first known case of COVID-19 was located in Snohomish County back in January, the infection has not spread through the Emerald City’s neighborhoods evenly, according to new research from the University of Washington. Zack Almquist, assistant professor of sociology at the UW, is quoted.

It’s not even Election Day, but Washington voters want their voices heard. On Thursday, the Washington Secretary of State’s office announced that 60.8% of ballots have been received. James Long, associate professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.

Even as residents of Earth grapple with a global pandemic, our work in space continues. At the UW, the Space Policy and Research Center — SPARC for short — brings together researchers, policymakers and industry professionals each year to discuss the challenges of human presence and endeavors in space.

A research team led by UC Irvine and the University of Washington has created a new model of coronavirus diffusion through a community. 

Much like what’s happening today, the 2004 Washington gubernatorial race was littered with allegations of fraud, protests, court cases and questions raised about mail-in ballots. Election day was on Nov. 2, 2004. The race wouldn’t truly be over until June 7, after a Chelan County Superior Court judge ruled in Christine Gregoire’s favor for the position. Mark Smith, professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.

Researchers have discovered fossils of a tiny burrowing reptile among a vast expanse of petrified wood in eastern Arizona. The fossils were discovered by a team of researchers from the Petrified Forest National Park, Virginia Tech, the University of Washington, Arizona State University, Idaho State University and the Virginia Museum of Natural History.

It’s the most expensive race in Washington’s 2020 election. In Washington’s 3rd Congressional District in Southwest Washington, Republican incumbent Jaime Herrera Beutler is fighting for a sixth term against second-time Democrat challenger Carolyn Long. Nives Dolšak, professor of marine and environmental affairs at the UW, and Aseem Prakash, professor of political science at the UW, are interviewed.

The University of Washington’s Center for Human Rights plans to file public records requests with local governments and law enforcement agencies to monitor immigration enforcement and activity in the state.

“Unfair, deceptive and abusive practices” by tech giants Google and Facebook have suffocated local news outlets, contributing to a critical deficit of trustworthy local journalism, according to a new minority report from the Senate Commerce Committee released by ranking member Sen. Maria Cantwell. Adrienne Russell, professor of communication and co-director of the UW Center for Journalism, Media and Democracy, is quoted.

How the country has arrived at its current circumstances and what can be done to move forward as a nation were the main themes of an Oct 21 lecture Francis gave called “Protests for the Soul of a Nation.”

The 2020 election is fast approaching, and with the protests against police brutality still continuing throughout the country, race is one of the hot issues for voters. It’s been talked about in all of the presidential and vice presidential debates; there have been Tweets and speeches made about the division of race and the current need for unity. In response to the importance of the issue of race, the history department organized a webinar with UW professors to discuss it.