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What is May Day?
Seattle sees thousands mobilize on May Day each year to advocate for immigrant and worker rights, echoing traditions starting from labor protests decades ago. James Gregory, professor of history at the UW, is quoted. -
When ChatGPT broke an entire field: An oral history
Researchers in natural language processing tried to tame human language. Then came the transformer. Emily M. Bender, professor of linguistics at the UW, is quoted. -
Q&A: Talking Israel and Palestine with UW professor Liora Halperin
Seemingly no international issue provokes as much heartbreak, consternation and demand for moral action for many right now as the fate of Palestinians and Israelis. And few academics have as much insight into the challenges and benefits of honest discussion and scholarship about that region as Liora Halperin, professor of history and international studies at the UW. -
The great language flattening
Chatbots learned from human writing. Now its their turn to influence us. Emily M. Bender, professor of linguistics at the UW, is quoted. -
As Trump cuts funding, researchers look for opportunities outside the US
As researchers at American universities face an uncertain future, other countries are doing their best to lure scientists away.Is the US set to face a brain drain as top talent moves overseas or into other fields? Carl Bergstrom, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted. -
The worlds rarest penguins dont avoid heat they embrace it
These birds have evolved to withstand the equatorial sun and shelter in volcanic rocks along a subtropical coastline. After 50 years, biologist Dee Boersma, professor of biology at the UW, continues to learn new things about the species. -
Analysis: Claims of anti-Christian bias sound to some voters like a message about race, not just religion
"President Donald Trump and members of his administration have long used allegations of anti-Christian discrimination as a rallying cry for supporters, arguing that policies and laws on issues like school prayer and LGBTQ+ rights threaten Christians right to express their beliefs," co-write the UW's Clara Wilkins, associate professor of psychology, and Rosemary (Marah) Al-Kire, a postdoctoral researcher of psychology. -
The real reason autism rates are rising
Autism rates are rising, but RFK Jr. is wrong about the reasons. Heres what the science says. Annette Estes, director of the UW Autism Center and a research professor of speech and hearing sciences, is quoted. -
ArtSci Roundup: May 2025
From campus to wherever you call home, we welcome you to learn from and connect with the College of Arts & Sciences community through public events spanning the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. We hope to see you this May. Innovation Month April 30 | An Evening with Christine Sun Kim (Public Lecture)... -
Opinion: Trump's NEH killed funding for my Holocaust translation project
"For all that my project with co-translator Harriet Murav seems to align with the presidents supposed interest in fighting antisemitism, there it was: Our grant was being terminated, in accordance with 'an urgent priority for the administration,' as the NEH was 'repurposing its funding allocations in a new direction in furtherance of the Presidents agenda,'" writes Sasha Senderovich, associate professor of Slavic languages and literatures at the UW. -
Seattle radio shows boost recognition of Indigenous jazz
In Seattle, two local radio shows, Indigenous Jazz on Daybreak Star Radio and Sounds of Survivance on KEXP, are joining the efforts to illuminate and celebrate the Indigenous jazz genius. John-Carlos Perea, associate professor of ethnomusicology and an adjunct associate professor of American Indian Studies, is quoted. -
These two biologists found purpose and love trying to save Nigeria's bats
Biologists Benneth Obitte and Inoro Tanshi are exploring Nigerias bat diversity and trying to save it. Tanshi, postdoctoral researcher in the UW Department of Biology, is quoted. -
Becoming Boundless
Salma Rashwan, ’26, is majoring in psychology and education. Through the Community Engagement and Leadership Education (CELE) Center's work in tribal and rural partnerships, she’s combining her academic work with her commitment to communities and kids and is a student leader in the Alternative Spring Break program.
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Do AI chatbots truly understand?
The large language models that power todays chatbots have gotten so astoundingly capable, AI researchers are hard pressed to assess those capabilities it seems that no sooner is there a new test than the AI systems ace it. But what does that performance really mean? Do these models genuinely understand our world? Or are they merely a triumph of data and calculations that simulates true understanding? Emily M. Bender, professor of linguistics at the UW, is quoted. -
Artists Jonas Wood and Brian Sharp Reflect on the Teacher Who Changed Their Lives
A new show at Sebastian Gladstone places work by the influential teacher and artist Denzil Hurley alongside his former student Brian Sharp (MFA 2001). Sharp talks with his former classmate Jonas Wood (MFA 2002) about their shared education.