October
|
| Oct. 3, 2008 |
State rule clarifies 60-day supply of medical marijuana
Washington medical-marijuana users will be allowed a 60-day supply of 24 ounces of usable pot and 15 plants, the health department announced Thursday. Greg Carter, clinical professor of rehabilitation medicine, is quoted.
| Seattle Times | |
The fear of the known
Seattle Times columnist Nicole Brodeur writes about Huntington's disease. Donna Ross, social worker with UW Medicine Neurogentics, is quoted.
| Seattle Times | |
Rush to register to vote sweeps Clark County
Curious how much excitement the November 4 election is generating? Here’s a hint: 4,058 new voters have registered in Clark County in just the past week. Statewide, more than 35,000 new voters have registered since Sept. 24, most of them in King, Pierce, Clark, Snohomish, Spokane, Whatcom and Thurston counties. Voter registration tactics used by UW students are mentioned.
| Vancouver Columbian | |
Local reaction to the vice-presidential debate
Local reaction to the most anticipated vice-presidential debate ever, and particularly to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, pretty much followed partisan loyalties. About 50 students packed Ian's Domain, an Internet cafe in the basement of McCarty Hall at the University of Washington.
| Seattle Times | |
Older Children Abandoned Under Law for Babies
A new Nebraska law that was mainly intended to prevent so-called Dumpster babies -- the abandonment of newborns by young, terrified mothers -- instead has been used to hand off out-of-control teenagers or, in the case of a father of 10, to escape financial and personal despair. Mark Courtney, dean of social work, is quoted.
| The New York Times | |
| Oct. 2, 2008 |
Controversy follows Lucy fossil to Seattle exhibit
Lucy, the world's most famous fossil, goes on exhibit in Seattle this week. But some scientists say the fragile bones should never have left Ethiopia. Patricia Kramer, research assistant professor of anthropology, is quoted.
| Seattle Times | |
Winter forecast: Wet, dry; who knows?
This winter may not be as snowy as last, but meteorologists say the region could get hit with some big storms. Cliff Mass, professor of atmospheric sciences, is quoted.
| Seattle Times | |
Liberal blogs across nation see Darcy Burner as 'family'
One aspect of Democrat Darcy Burner's rematch against U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert is under the radar for many 8th Congressional District voters: While her campaign talks up her blue-collar roots and family life, online activists from all over the country see her as one of their own. David Domke, professor of communication, is quoted.
| Seattle Times | |
Did the Wrong Man Serve Seven Years?
Alexander Riofta's case landed before the State Supreme Court last year, along with other DNA appeals sought by the University of Washington's Innocence Project Northwest.
| Seattle Weekly | |
Sarah Palin at the controls
In an op-ed piece, Eric Schnapper, professor of law, puts Sarah Palin in the cockpit of the presidential election.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
Q&A: Area experts agree bailout needed
The U.S. banking system needs rescuing, and quickly, agreed three local experts who participated in an online Q&A session Wednesday with visitors to seattlepi.com. One of the experts is Ali Tarhouni, senior lecturer of finance and business economics.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
Are 'microplastics' marine pollutants?
Some marine researchers are concerned about the effect that much smaller bits of plastic may be having on the seas. So-called "microplastics" may concentrate pollutants, be ingestible by the ocean's tiny denizens -- from zooplankton to filter feeders like clams and mussels -- and move up the food chain. Joel Baker professor of interdisciplinary arts and sciences at UWT, is quoted.
| MSNBC | |
Bug Blast might test fearlessness
Insect lovers will gather at the Burke Museum at the UW to celebrate bugs, and maybe even eat some.
| Herald | |
| Oct. 1, 2008 |
Dust Bowl migration altered California's politics, religion, culture
Dust Bowl migrants have left their mark on the San Joaquin Valley in California in many ways. James Gregory, professor of history, is quoted. This wire story appeared on many news Web sites.
| Bellingham Herald (McClatchy wire story) | |
UW sues over endowment loss
The University of Washington has sued to end the contract with one of the custodians of its endowment after losing at least $7.5 million. This wire story appeared on many news Web sites.
| The Olympian (AP wire story) | |
U. of Washington Sues Bank After Losing $7.5-Million
The University of Washington has filed a lawsuit to terminate a contract with its bank after a lending agreement accumulated losses of at least $7.5-million for the university, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
| Chronicle of Higher Education | |
Sisters In Need
Breast cancer victims in Africa often suffer from lack of treatment and devastating discrimination, but American women's health advocates are working to change that. Ben Anderson, professor of surgery and joint associate member of Fred Hutchinson's Public Health Sciences Divison, is quoted.
| Newsweek | |
Did 'Teflon Rob' Botch the Gas-Price Study?
Attorney General candidate John Ladenburg has been criticizing his Republican opponent, Rob McKenna, for the incumbent's recent gas-price study, which was performed to explain regional variations in gas prices and determine whether such variations were the result of anti-competitive practices. Keith Leffler, assistant professor of economics, is quoted.
| Seattle Weekly | |
Gregoire’s Red Scare
Why is an incumbent Democratic governor in a dark-blue state having such a tough time in her quest for re-election? David Olson, professor emeritus of political science, is quoted.
| Seattle Weekly | |
Seattle's Top 25 Innovators & Entrepreneurs
From successful serial entrepreneurs to fast-rising novices, we've compiled our fourth annual list of the top business innovators who are shaping the future of the Puget Sound area’s business community. Making the list are Impel NeuroPharma co-founders John Hoekman, graduate student in pharmacy, and Rodney Ho, associate dean of pharmacy and director of DNA sequence and gene analysis.
| Seattle Business Monthly | |
UW professor wins Frederick Douglass Book Prize
A University of Washington history professor has won a prestigious history prize for her book on the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
| The Seattle Times | |
What Happened at the NACAC Convention
A recent panel of college admissions counselors, while decrying a "one size fits all" approach to the use of SAT and ACT tests, is likely to continue requiring them.
| US News & World Report | |
Swedish gets $2.9M grant to study pregnancy, migraine links
A $2.9 million grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development will go to Michelle Williams, co-founder and co-director of Swedish?s Center for Perinatal Studies. She?s also a professor at the University of Washington.
| Puget Sound Business Journal | |
Tracking Laptop Thieves Safely
A UW faculty member has developed a secure means for tracking stolen laptop computers.
| ABCNews.com | |
Google's SketchUp Helps Design Go Green
Chris Meek, who heads the Integrated Design Lab, comments on SketchUp by Google.
| Business Week | |
Working Toward a Baccalaureate Campus in Kitsap
The Kitsap Sun editorial board writes about the need for higher education on the peninsula.
| Kitsap Sun | |
UW sues to end bank contract
The University of Washington is trying to terminate the contract with its bank of 20 years, saying in a lawsuit that the institution refused to respond to the school's attempts to withdraw money from a failing lending program that has cost it at least $7.5 million since April.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
A new network of voters
A group of UW students and recent alumni are using Facebook to help register their peers to vote.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
September
|
| Sep. 30, 2008 |
Highway 522 reopens near UW Bothell
A new segment of eastbound Highway 522 opened for service early Monday, improving access to the University of Washington's Bothell campus. The state is working with the University of Washington and Cascadia Community College to build a new entrance to the south side of the Bothell campus. Improved access to the campus is intended to help the university and the community college attract more students.
| Everett Herald | |
Lucy, the 3.2 million-year-old fossil, is a key piece in evolution's puzzle
Lucy, known by Ethiopians as "Dinkenesh" (wonderful one) and by scientists as an Australopith, is the popular name given to the rare and highly significant 3.2 million-year-old fossil remains of a female ancestor of modern humans to be displayed in Seattle at the Pacific Science Center from Oct. 4 until March 8. Patricia Kramer, research assistant professor of anthropology, is quoted.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
Study: Popular supplements ineffective against arthritis
A two-year study of how well glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate slow cartilage loss in arthritis patients could not show that the popular nutritional supplements work any better than sugar pills. Greg Gardner, professor of rheumatology, is quoted.
| USA Today | |
'Lucy' exhibit: Science of humanity is still evolving
To begin with, when considering the story of human origins, it's perhaps important to recognize that scientists still don't agree on what it is exactly that seems to have made us so distinctive when compared with all the other animals running -- or swimming or flying, or just sitting -- around on Earth today. Patricia Kramer, research assistant professor of anthropology, is quoted.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
'Lucy Talks' lecture series
"Lucy Talks" features experts in the study of human evolution, the methodology of uncovering truth from ancient human remains, and the challenge of showing and shipping the Lucy exhibit. On Jan. 8, 2009, Patricia Kramer, research assistant professor of anthropology, will discuss how anthropologists decipher clues from fossils to discover how and why our earliest hominid ancestors walked upright.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
UW picks student's lyrics for new song
Part hymn, part anthem, "Rise Up With Pride for Washington" is the winner in the UW's "Song of Washington" lyrics contest.
| The Seattle Times | |
Shine a light on GOP's stealth campaign
In an op-ed column, John Gastil, UW professor of communication, writes about how the media need to scrutinize the qualifications of Sarah Palin to be vice president.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
| Sep. 29, 2008 |
Campus group gathers regrets for Yom Kippur project
A project called PostRegret asks local Jews to anonymously send in their sincerest regrets of the past year or years, to be displayed during Yom Kippur services at Hillel at the University of Washington.
| Seattle Times | |
In our view: WSU's Promise
The Columbian editorial board writes about WSU's recent decision to guarantee admission to those students who graduate with a 3.5 grade point average or higher. They note: "The University of Washington and some other schools used to admit all state-based community college students with 2.75 grade point averages, but the UW had to change that policy after the number of qualifying students exceeded the number of available slots."
| Vancouver Columbian | |
Edgar and Holly Martinez double up on education outreach
The Seattle Times editorial board the Martinez Foundation and its goals to improving diversity among college students and teachers. The Foundation plans to work with the Masters in Teaching program at the University of Washington and a similar effort at Washington State University.
| Seattle Times | |
Filtration system would clean up polluted runoff
Scientists say stormwater pollution is the top source of many of the worst pollutants flowing into ecologically imperiled Puget Sound and its tributaries. Derek Booth, affiliate professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering and in Earth and Space Sciences, is quoted.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
Green tea brims with benefits
Research on the health benefits of green tea is burgeoning. Earlier this year, researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington reported that women who drank one or more cups per day of green tea reduced ovarian cancer risk by 54 percent.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
After the SAT Report, What Next?
At the annual meeting of the National Association for College Admission Counseling this weekend in Seattle, it seemed that the rank and file was more than ready for a special commission’s report calling for a rethinking of standardized testing in admissions. Philip Ballinger, director of admissions, is quoted.
| Inside Higher Ed | |
The brains behind a blade runner
If it sounds far-fetched for a man without lower legs to become one of the fastest runners on the planet, how about typing by just thinking the words or staying sporty well into old age? Such prospects motivate work at Ossur, the Icelandic group behind the prosthetics that vaulted double-amputee Oscar Pistorius into the limelight with his bid to compete in the Beijing Olympics. Yoky Matsuoka, associate professor of computer science and engineering, is quoted.This wire story appeared on many news Web sites.
| International Herald Tribune (Reuters wire story) | |
A Kitsap University Campus? Survey Says Not Necessarily
Give us a higher-education center; don't make it fancy. That is the strong message from preliminary results of a two-pronged survey of residents and employers in Kitsap and its surroundings on more access to bachelor's and master's degrees.
| Bremerton Sun | |
At Admissions Conference, 3 Questions About Standardized Tests
At the annual conference of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, attendees discussed plenty of issues, but none inspired as many heated discussions as the ACT, the SAT, and the many questions that surround those two tests, the largest in the nation. Philip Ballinger, director of admissions, is quoted.
| The Chronicle of Higher Education | |
| Sep. 28, 2008 |
Longtime lobbyist's book details backroom deals in D.C.
The Bellingham Herald reviews Joe Miller's "The Wicked Wine of Democracy," recently published by University of Washington Press.
| Bellingham Herald | |
UW students come clean with 'traveling shower' for homeless
A group of University of Washington architecture students teamed up with a Ballard nonprofit to build a portable-shower prototype for homeless vehicle camps. The hygiene trailer was displayed at the Sustainable Ballard Festival Saturday.
| Seattle Times | |
| Sep. 26, 2008 |
UW Tacoma says fall 2008 enrollment will set a record
Officials at the University of Washington Tacoma said its fall 2008-2009 college enrollment will set a record.
| Puget Sound Business Journal | |
Free download helps you find a stolen laptop
Researchers from the University of Washington just debuted a free tracking tool called Adeona that helps identify where a lost laptop computer is.
| Spokane Spokesman-Review | |
Spending bill benefits Fort Lewis
The U.S. House passed a measure Wednesday that includes millions of dollars in funding for Fort Lewis and McChord, among other military installations. The bill includes $4.4 million for the University of Washington's Institute of Surgical and Interventional Simulation to upgrade facilities, expand partnerships with Madigan Army Medical Center and VA Puget Sound, and explore ways in which surgical simulation can enhance the treatment and rehabilitation of soldiers.
| The Olympian | |
Washington State Book Award winners
Books winning this year's Washington State Book Awards include a history of dirt by David Montgomery, professor of Earth and space sciences, and a history of native Seattle published by the University of Washington Press.
| Seattle Times | |
Free Museum Day: Less than a dime for a dozen
If you've fallen behind on your rounds of the region's museums, here's a chance to catch up. Saturday, a dozen major institutions in Seattle, Bellevue, Bainbridge and Tacoma are throwing open their doors as part of Smithsonian Magazine's Museum Day. The Henry Art Gallery and Burke Museum are noted.
| Seattle Times | |
Living food: Genius in farming
The Post-Intelligencer editorial board writes about MacArthur Fellowship recipient Will Allen and his urban faming organization Growing Power in Milwakuee. They note that fellow MacArthur winner David Montgomery, professor of Earth and space sciences, shares the interest in urban farming.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
Letter to the editor: All wet
In a letter to the editor, Mike Lude, former Athletics Director, corrects errors in the Sept. 18 Post-Intelligencer.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
Ex-Mariner Martinez, wife launch foundation
Edgar and Holli Martinez are launching a new foundation that will support students of color in teacher education programs. In addition, they will provide 10 undergraduate scholarships each year for Latino students at Washington state schools. Pat Wasley, dean of the College of Education, is quoted.
| The Seattle Times | |
State's swing voters hold key in close elections
It's swing voters who will play a crucial role in deciding the close elections in November in Washington state. John Gastil and David Domke, both professors of communication, are quoted.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
At least this year, men have the write stuff for state book awards
Books winning this year's Washington State Book Awards include a history of dirt by David Montgomery, professor of Earth and space sciences, and a history of native Seattle published by the University of Washington Press.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
University of Washington: Creating Futures
The Seattle Times editorial board writes about the success of the Creating Futures campaign.
| Seattle Times | |
The 'Bug Chef' cooks up snacks to squeal over
The Post-Intelligencer previews the "Bug Blast" to be held at the Burke Museum 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
Liz Magor's oral fixation isn't necessarily mouth-watering
The Post-Intelligencer reviews "Liz Magor: The Mouth And Other Storage Facilities," currently on display at the Henry Art Gallery.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
UW students not alerted about sexual attack
Police have learned of a late-night attack near the campus of the University of Washington, but students have yet to be warned.
| KOMO News | |
| Sep. 25, 2008 |
Heart attack survival rate highest in Seattle area
Your odds of surviving a heart attack are better in the Seattle and King County area than in nine other regions studied across North America, according to a study released Wednesday. The study, led by University of Washington researchers and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that where you have a heart attack in the United States helps determine whether you survive it or not.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
Web post inflames post-shooting emotions in Wash.
A Washington state man who wrote on a newspaper Web site that he was going to shoot up a shopping mall says he was just making a point after a mentally disturbed man went on a shooting spree. But prosecutors say he was making a threat. Stewart Jay, professor of law, is quoted.This wire story appeared on many news Web sites.
| Bellingham Herald (AP wire story) | |
Richland veterans' advocate battling back from brain aneurysms
Steve Prince 55, of Richland, is recovering from surgery he had last week to treat one of three brain aneurysms he learned of earlier this year. It took about six months to get the operation because he had to navigate the same Veterans Affairs bureaucracy that he helped so many others to overcome. Basavaraj Ghodke, director of Interventional Neuroradiology, is quoted.
| Mid-Columbia Tri-City Herald | |
The race worth running
Seattle Times columnist Jerry Large writes about "high-school and college-admissions professionals calling for a move away from" SAT and ACT scores. He notes that "the University of Washington now considers other factors besides grade-point average and test scores."
| Seattle Times | |
Uncovering the 'ooh-ah' factor of fall leaves
Connie McDougall talks to Randall Hitchin, collections manager of the UW Botanic Gardens, on why leaves change color in the fall.
| Seattle Times | |
Obituary | Jeff Douthwaite, former legislator and UW professor, dies at 79
Geoffrey "Jeff" Douthwaite, former engineering professor and member of the state House of Representatives, died Sept. 17 of cancer. He was 79.
| Seattle Times | |
WaMu's credit rating cut again; retail bank strong, expert says
Washington Mutual suffered another blow Wednesday when Standard & Poor's Ratings Services downgraded the embattled Seattle-based bank's creditworthiness yet again, saying the sale of the bank as a whole unit might not be likely or possible. Alan Hess, professor of finance and business economics, is quoted.
| Puget Sound Business Journal | |
Jeff Douthwaite, 1929-2008: Professor, sailor led 'lively legislative life'
Jeff Douthwaite, a former state representative from the 43rd District in Seatte known for his free spirit and independent streak, an avid outdoorsman and a sailor, an engineer and an author, died Sept. 17 in Seattle. He was 79. Elected five times to the Legislature between 1970 and 1978, Douthwaite was an associate professor in the Engineering Department at the University of Washington, where he ultimately spent a total of three decades, before he decided to enter politics.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
Boys in ice cave collapse thank rescuers
Alec Corbett and Alessandro Gelmini, who were rescued from a collapsed ice cave near Snoqualmie Pass on Aug. 21, took time Wednesday from recuperating to publicly thank the doctors, nurses, firefighters, rescuers and volunteers who saved their lives. Richard Bransford, a UW Medicine doctor who specializes in spine injuries, is quoted.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
UW Student Beaten And Sexually Assaulted Near Campus
A 21 year old University of Washington student was attacked while walking in a stairwell near campus. Police say the student was beaten and sexually assaulted while using the stairs near 21st Avenue NE and 52nd Street NE.
| Q13 Fox | |
UW researchers create LoJack for your laptop
Researchers at the University of Washington and the University of California, San Diego have come up with a virtual watchdog for your laptop. The free software, named "Adeona" after the Roman goddess of safe returns, reports the laptop's location when it connects to the Internet.
| KING5 News | |
| Sep. 24, 2008 |
Latino Drive Likely to Aid Obama
A massive nonpartisan campaign to mobilize Hispanics to register to vote could create a surge of Latino voters, especially in several swing states, which would likely benefit Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. Matt Barreto, assistant professor of political science, is quoted.
| Wall Street Journal | |
UWT's new Dawg Shed shines
Community and University of Washington Tacoma supporters celebrated another milestone Tuesday for the 18-year-old institution: the opening of a $12 million assembly hall.
| Tacoma News Tribune | |
Giving genius its due
The Seattle Times editorial board heaps praise on David Montgomery, professor of Earth and space sciences and recipient of a 2008 MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship.
| Seattle Times | |
The Money Squeeze: Students seek answer to high book prices
The cost of textbooks has been one of the most-griped-about aspects of a college education for years: New editions, tailored-to-university textbooks, prices that have raised more than a few eyebrows -- it seems to some skeptics that publishing companies are taking advantage of cash-strapped students. "We're troubled by how much certain textbooks cost," said Bryan Pearce, chief executive of the University of Washington's University Book Store.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
Author tight-lipped about new UW anthem
The University of Washington's anthem was so, shall we say, forgettable, that the school held a contest for a new song. The winning words are in, but getting the writer to reveal them is another story.
| KOMO News | |
UW students hit with higher costs, less room
The struggling economy has put the squeeze on college students in every which way. Some are finding themselves in overcrowded dormitories while others are trying to live on a spending budget with no wiggle room. At the University of Washington, tuition is up $400 this year for in-state students.
| KOMO News | |
| Sep. 23, 2008 |
Top students guaranteed getting to WSU
Washington State University is offering guaranteed admission to in-state students who rank in the top 10 percent of their high school class or who have at least a 3.5 grade point average at the time of application.This wire story appeared on many news Web sites.
| Seattle Times (AP wire story) | |
Hot Tip: Have Your Heart Attack In Seattle
A new study finds dramatic regional differences in cardiac-arrest survival rates. Graham Nichol, professor in the Center for Prehospital Emergency Care, is quoted.
| Newsweek | |
$500,000 grant goes to 'genius' professor
University of Washington professor David Montgomery started his sabbatical last week and learned this week that he had won a MacArthur Foundation "genius grant."This wire story appeared on many news Web sites.
| Tacoma News Tribune (AP wire story) | |
Seattle rocker/scientist wins 'genius grant'
David Montgomery's voracious intellect and appetite for adventure have earned him a long list of titles: noted University of Washington scientist, author, rock musician and public speaker. Now he can add another: genius. Montgomery, a 47-year-old geomorphologist at the University of Washington's Department of Earth and Space Sciences, is one of 25 scientists, artists and public figures to win this year's MacArthur Fellowships, commonly known as the "genius grants."
| Seattle Times | |
Sound residents want growth in urban centers, report says
Puget Sound-region residents want growth in dense urban centers, according to a new report, which has resulted in a plan to promote such density. Reality Check, an event the Urban Land Institute hosted April 30 at the University of Washington, asked 250 participants how the region should accommodate the 1.7 million new residents and 1.2 million new jobs expected in the region by 2040.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
Boom times for community colleges in Edmonds and Everett
With the economy faltering and family-wage jobs increasingly hard to find, enrollment is on the rise at local community colleges. Philip Ballinger, director of admissions, is quoted.
| Everett Herald | |
UW professor makes his 'genius' rock
David Montgomery started out his geological career studying landslides in Northern California and playing guitar for bands with names like Flat Earth or Reckless Pedestrians. Now, as a University of Washington professor of "geomorphology" and lead guitarist for the perhaps still-to-be-discovered Seattle basement band known as Big Dirt, he's officially become a genius. Montgomery, 47, is one of this year's winners of a $500,000 "genius" award from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
Katrina doc, bridge expert among 'genius' winners
The $500,000 fellowships were announced Tuesday by the Chicago-based John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Recipients may use the money however they wish. Recipients include David Montgomery, 46, geomorphologist, Seattle. A University of Washington professor, Montgomery studies ecological consequences of Earth surface processes.This wire story appeared on many news Web sites.
| Bellingham Herald (AP wire story) | |
White House, statewide races could draw record turnout
Nancy Amidei didn't want cake or flowers or speeches when she retired from the faculty of the University of Washington's School of Social Work Monday. She wanted clipboards. She wanted friends and colleagues to show up in walking shoes. She wanted to leave to the tune of hundreds of newly registered voters.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
MacArthur Foundation awards annual grants
The 25 winners of the 2008 MacArthur awards announced today. One of the winners is David Montgomery, 46, a professor at the University of Washington who studies how geologic processes affect the environment.
| Los Angeles Times | |
UW expert on soil erosion wins 'genius grant'
University of Washington professor David R. Montgomery started his sabbatical last Monday and learned Tuesday that he had won a MacArthur Foundation "genius grant."
| KING5 | |
Revisions Sharply Cut Estimates on Malaria
The world has many fewer cases of malaria than previously thought, the World Health Organization is reporting. But the agency says the apparent drop is not a result of mosquito nets, miracle drugs and DDT spraying -- just better statistical techniques. Christopher Murray, professor of global health, is quoted.
| The New York Times | |
Quick Takes: MacArthur Fellows Named
For 25 lucky people, many of them academics, today is the day they are officially named MacArthur Fellows. This year’s academic winners include David Montgomery of the University of Washington.
| Inside Higher Ed | |
| Sep. 22, 2008 |
UW College of Architecture now 'College of Built Environments'
The University of Washington has changed the name of its College of Architecture and Urban Planning to College of Built Environments, effective Jan. 1.
| Puget Sound Business Journal | |
Wandering Sun
U.S., British and Canadian astrophysicists who used 100,000 hours of computer time to simulate the evolution of the Milky Way over 9 billion years have cast doubt on the belief that our sun and other stars generally stay in the part of the galaxy where they were formed. Rok Roskar, graduate student in astronomy, is quoted.
| Washington Post | |
Yahoo trims back expansion plans for Bellevue office
Less than a year after setting up a new office in Bellevue, Yahoo appears to have cut back sharply on its expansion plans. Senior Vice President of Strategy and Technology Dave Sobeski said Yahoo was attracted to the area because of the pool of talented tech workers created by firms such as Microsoft, Amazon.com and Adobe Systems, as well as local startups and the University of Washington.
| Puget Sound Business Journal | |
Proposition 1: Backers hope big turnout can propel $17.9B plan; foes say timing is awful
The fortunes of Sound Transit's Proposition 1, a multibillion-dollar plan to stretch light rail into the Seattle suburbs, may ride on a politician who doesn't live here: Barack Obama. Matt Barreto, assistant professor of political science, is quoted.
| Seattle Times | |
UW honors Gates family with degrees
The University of Washington awarded honorary doctorates to Gates, his son, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, and daughter-in-law Melinda French Gates -- the first time the university has bestowed degrees on an entire family.
| Seattle Times | |
Admissions Group Urges Colleges to 'Assume Control' of Debate on Testing
A long-awaited report from the National Association for College Admission Counseling urges colleges to "assume control" of the debate over standardized testing. Philip Ballinger, director of admissions, is quoted.
| The Chronicle of Higher Education | |
| Sep. 21, 2008 |
Financial mayhem hurts non-profits, foundations
Foundations and non-profit groups that invest in the stock market are getting battered by recent Wall Street volatility. Bob Roseth, director of the News and Information Office, is quoted.
| USA Today | |
More parents ponder cancer gene tests for kids
Women are going for breast cancer gene testing in record numbers, forcing more parents to face a tough question: Should we test the kids? Mary-Claire King, professor of medical genetics, is quoted. This wire story appeared on many news Web sites.
| Bellingham Herald (AP wire story) | |
Initiative 1000 vote transcends politics
As the Nov. 4 election approaches, voters' experiences and fears about death are triggering powerful emotions as they consider I-1000, which would allow doctors to prescribe lethal doses of medication for terminally ill patients seeking to hasten their deaths. Rheba de Tornyay, former dean of the School of Nursing, is quoted.
| Seattle Times | |
Texting a potentially deadly practice
Seattle Times columnist Ron Judd comments on Scott Woodward's selection as Athletic Director.
| Seattle Times | |
A list of 40 upcoming fiction and nonfiction books
Seattle Tiems book editor Mary Ann Gwinn and book critic Michael Upchurch preview new fiction and nonfiction being released this fall. "Flight: New and Selected Poems" by Linda Bierds, professor of English, and "The Weather of the Pacific Northwest" by Cliff Mass, professor of atmospheric sciences, are mentioned.
| Seattle Times | |
Pacific Connections Garden's first phase unveiled
The public now can get a peek at what backers are calling the most ambitious garden addition to Seattle's Washington Park Arboretum since its founding in 1934. The Pacific Connections Garden eventually will cover 14 acres at the south end of the park, across from the Japanese Garden, with new gardens and miniforests representing the Pacific Northwest and four Pacific Rim nations with similar climates.
| Seattle Times | |
| Sep. 20, 2008 |
City looks to plot long-term strategy for afflicted Wapato Lake
Since a clumsy chemical infusion in late July, none of the toxin-producing blue-green algae that last year made the South End lake look like a scummy cesspool has reappeared. That’s in contrast to what’s going on at six other Pierce County lakes where health authorities warned residents earlier this week to avoid dangerous bacterial blooms. To find out what’s going on, and to develop a long-term lake management strategy, Burke and Metro Parks officials recruited an environmental chemist, Jim Gawel, an associate professor at the University of Washington Tacoma.
| Tacoma News Tribune | |
Move-in day at UW: Home squeeze home
For the sixth consecutive year, some University of Washington students will live in cramped quarters -- at least until some dorm residents decide to move off campus, move back home or drop out of school. UW officials expect the addition of new dorms, the first of which will be completed in 2011, will alleviate some of the overcrowding.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
The new top Dawg
The Seattle Times editorial board writes about Scott Woodward's selection as Athletic Director.
| The Seattle Times | |
| Sep. 19, 2008 |
Kinoki foot pads' detox claims don't stand up to science
Are the Kinoki Cleansing Detox Pads a scam? Steve Gilbert, director of the Institute of Neurotoxicology and Neurological Disorders, is quoted.
| Los Angeles Times | |
The trials that did not make the news
Guardian columnist Ben Goldacre writes about the science trials that get news coverage, and asks if readers "will know if the data is complete, or just an arbitrary patchwork of newsworthy and self-serving information, multiply filtered through a range of imperfect agents with diverse interests and allegiances?" Scott Ramsey, professor of medicine, is quoted.
| Guardian Unlimited | |
Unexpected path is the right one for UW
Seattle Times columnist Steve Kelley writes about Scott Woodward's selection as Athletic Director.
| The Seattle Times | |
Our View: WWAMI works
The Spokesman-Review editorial board writes about options for expanding medical school education in Idaho.
| Spokesman-Review | |
Arboretum goes global with exhibit
Anyone who ever wanted to circle the globe in less than 80 days, here's your chance. Beginning Saturday, visitors to the Washington Park Arboretum can experience in a short walk the look and feel of five distinct Pacific Rim botanical zones -- New Zealand, Australia, China, Chile and Cascadia.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
Don't be afraid to talk politics with your kids
Post-Intelligencer columnist Paul Nyhan writes about talking politics with children. David Domke, professor of communication, is quoted.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
Have deposits at WaMu? Your money is probably safe
The Yakima Valley Credit Union is getting more calls from nonmembers than usual these days. With Washington Mutual trying to save itself from bankruptcy or federal takeover, Yakima Valley residents with deposits at the Seattle-based savings and loan are scrambling to make sure their money is safe. Robert Higgins and Lewis Mandell, both of the Foster School of Business, are quoted.
| Yakima Herald | |
Tower tryout: 35-year-old furniture in UW office of today
It's move-in time at the University of Washington -- the annual ritual when students and parents haul clothes, books, refrigerators, computers, stereos and TVs into dormitory rooms before the start of classes on Sept. 24. And on a grand scale, it's move-in time for some 1,800 UW faculty and staff, as they move from offices scattered all around campus into the 22-story office tower that UW purchased from Safeco Corp. last year.
| Puget Sound Business Journal | |
'A Map of the Night': Master poet sometimes loses his way in new collection
The Seattle Times reviews "A Map of the Night" by David Wagoner, professor of English.
| The Seattle Times | |
Local Digest: UW regents honor retiring legislator
The University of Washington Board of Regents honored Rep. Helen Sommers Thursday by bestowing her with the first Regents Medal.
| The Seattle Times | |
A reality check for Puget Sound
In an op-ed piece, Mark Emmert, president, writes about urban growth and planning and the work of the Quality Growth Alliance.
| The Seattle Times | |
| Sep. 18, 2008 |
U.S. backs OSU's wave-energy efforts with $6 million
Oregon's effort to become a leader in wave energy development got a boost from the U.S. Department of Energy on Thursday with the announcement of a five-year, $6.25-million grant to establish an ocean energy research center in Newport. Oregon State University, already known for its wave energy studies, snagged the grant. The University of Washington also will participate in the research.
| Portland Oregonian & Oregon Live.com | |
Secrets of the 'Wellderly'
Based on animal experiments, gerontologists believe that one key to a healthy, longer lifespan may be found in a few master genes that affect cellular responses to famine, drought and other survival stresses. The more active these genes are, the longer an organism seems to survive -- at least in the laboratory. UW research is noted.
| Wall Street Journal | |
Private Ownership of Fisheries May Shore Up Stocks
Giving people ownership rights in marine fisheries can halt or even reverse catastrophic declines in commercial stocks, researchers in California and Hawaii are reporting. Ray Hilborn, professor of aquatic and fishery sciences, is quoted.
| New York Times | |
Q&A: Here's what the experts are saying
Washington Mutual is the latest financial behemoth to teeter on the edge of a meltdown, and the crisis has customers worried about their money. Robert Higgins, professor of finance and business economics, is quoted.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
Lots of risk in UW's hire, but Woodward can adapt
Seattle Times columnist Jerry Brewer comments on Scott Woodward's selection as Athletic Director.
| The Seattle Times | |
UW hires Scott Woodward as athletic director
After searching far and wide for a new athletic director, the Washington Huskies ultimately ended up finding one right at home. The school ended a nine-month search Wednesday by promoting acting AD Scott Woodward to the permanent role
| The Seattle Times | |
Woodward named University of Washington athletic director
Scott Woodward, who has been the University of Washington’s interim athletic director the past seven months, has been named the university’s permanent athletic director.
| Puget Sound Business Journal | |
Ciscoe's To-Do List
Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist Ciscoe Morris recommends Saturday's grand opening of the new Pacific Connections Garden at Washington Park Arboretum.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
UW committed to fair wages
In an op-ed piece, Norm Arkans, executive director of media relations and communications, responds to a recent op-ed about the UW's commitment to fair labor practices.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
Arval Morris, 1928-2008: UW lawyer won loyalty oath case
Arval Morris, professor of law for 45 years, died at a Seattle nursing facility after a long illness. He was 80.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
Group has spent year tackling 520 Bridge
It has been a year since a group of 34 people, most of them strangers, were ordered by the Legislature to tackle one of the most complex projects in state history -- the Evergreen Point Bridge -- and come to consensus on its overdue replacement. The mediation team next month is expected to come up with a project impact analysis for the Legislature.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
A few simple steps can help seniors avoid dangerous falls
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than a third of adults 65 and older fall each year in the United States. On Thursday, Harborview, the University of Washington Medical Center, and senior centers around the region will host special fairs to coincide with Fall Prevention Awareness Day in Washington State.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
Give Woodward credit - he didn't run from job
Post-Intelligencer columnist Art Thiel comments on Scott Woodward's selection as Athletic Director.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
Different title, same challenges for UW's Woodward
Tyrone Willingham stood behind a throng of television cameras aimed at University of Washington president Mark Emmert. The Huskies football coach stood with his arms crossed and broke the fold to applaud after Emmert announced Scott Woodward would shed the "interim" tag and become the full-time athletic director.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
Easy Call: 'Sign' Over Cell
As a hearing child of deaf parents, Richard Ladner saw firsthand the impact of communications technology on his parents' lives. "Back in the early 1970s, they got their first teletypewriter," he said. "It was a very big box, the size of a computer, but it opened a new world for them." Now a professor of computer science and engineering at the University of Washington, Ladner sees another world opening with MobileASL, software he developed with six other engineers at his school and Cornell University. MobileASL allows deaf and hard-of-hearing people to "chat" over their cell phones in American Sign Language via two-way, real-time video.
| ABCNews | |
'A Lot of Unknowns'
Medical advances are helping many HIV patients live into old age, but that blessing presents its own unique set of tribulations. Charles Emlet, associate professor of social work, is quoted.
| Newsweek | |
| Sep. 17, 2008 |
Woodward new athletic director at Washington
As the days ticked by and Scott Woodward became more entrenched in the University of Washington athletic department, he realized he wanted the interim tag removed from his athletic director title. Even if being the guy in charge means Woodward will ultimately be taking responsibility for fixing the Huskies' downtrodden football program and leading the charge for a needed renovation of deteriorating Husky Stadium.This wire story appeared on many news Web sites.
| Vancouver Columbian (AP wire story) | |
Huskies name Woodward permanent athletic director
Scott Woodward got a new job Wednesday, but that wasn’t the employment issue most folk wanted to discuss at his introductory press conference. The biggest questions for the University of Washington’s newly named director of athletics involved the job status of football coach Tyrone Willingham.
| Tacoma News Tribune | |
North Pole ever closer to having no ice
The area of Arctic Ocean covered by the ice has shrunk one-third below what's been normal over the past three decades. It's the first year that both the Northwest Passage over the top of North America and Russia's Northeast Passage are free of ice, environmentalists pointed out this week. Researchers still are waiting to see if 2007's dismal record will be shattered, though Tuesday it appeared that 2008 would be in second place. UW researchers are featured.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
Survey explodes video game myth
Video gaming is more social than many parents think, with teenagers often playing together and picking up a few social lessons, which is good news because nearly all teens play, a national survey has found. Dimitri Christakis, director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development, is quoted.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
AD hunt reflects Huskies' turmoil
Post-Intelligencer columnist Art Thiel comments on the current state of Husky sports.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
Alzheimer's exacts tremendous toll
In an op-ed piece, Denise Inman, senior fellow of neurosurgery, writes about coping with the effects of Alzheimer's on the family and community.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
Journalism of verification media's job
In an op-ed piece, David Domke, professor of communication, calls on the news media to verify statements made during the presidential election.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
State builders group says ruling won't affect efforts to defeat Gregoire
A ruling by state watchdogs against Dino Rossi's top supporter isn't likely to slow the Building Industry Association of Washington's attacks on Gov. Christine Gregoire, but it may give Democrats a club to blunt the builders' aggressive ads. Matt Barreto, assistant professor of political science, is quoted.
| The Seattle Times | |
Huskies to announce new athletic director
The University of Washington has called a press conference for 11 a.m. to announce the naming of a new athletic director. Speculation has centered on current acting AD Scott Woodward, who has handled the job since Jan. 31, when the forced resignation of Todd Turner became official.
| The Seattle Times | |
Arctic ice melting near record levels
New pictures from NASA show the ice in the arctic is melting at near record levels again. Jamie Morison, principal oceanographer with the Applied Physics Lab, is quoted.
| Northwest Cable News | |
| Sep. 16, 2008 |
WaMu Chief Fishman Has $143 Billion Reason for Confidence in Bank's Future
Washington Mutual Inc.'s $143 billion in retail deposits may buy Chief Executive Officer Alan Fishman enough time to prove wrong speculators who say the bank will follow Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. into oblivion. Charles Haley, professor of finance and business economics, is quoted.
| Bloomberg.com (wire service) | |
We recycle cans and bottles, why not buildings?
In an op-ed piece, Peter Steinbrueck, architect and former member of the Seattle City Council, and Kathryn Rogers Merlino, architectural historian and an assistant professor of architecture, present the case for recycling building materials.
| Seattle Times | |
Gates, wife, dad up for UW honors
The University of Washington Board of Regents is being asked to approve honorary doctorate degrees for three members of the Gates family at a board meeting this week. The UW administration will recommend the awarding of honorary doctor of humane letters degrees to Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates; his father, William Gates Sr.; and wife, Melinda French Gates.This wire story appeared on many news Web sites across the state.
| Seattle Times (AP wire story) | |
It's time to end UW's search for new AD
Seattle Times columnist Jerry Brewer comments on the current state of the UW's search for an Athletic Director.
| The Seattle Times | |
| Sep. 15, 2008 |
Letters to the Editor
A letter to the editor questions the UW's decision to pursue state funding for a Husky Stadium renovation.
| Skagit Valley Herald | |
Gates family will be honored by University of Washington
The University of Washington will award Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees later this month to Bill and Melinda Gates and William Gates Sr. for their contributions to literature, arts and science. The UW’s Board of Regents will vote on Sept. 18 whether to approve the degrees that are being awarded for the Gateses’ work through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
| Puget Sound Business Journal | |
'England': Theater piece in Henry Art Gallery is eerie, provocative
The Seattle Times reviews "England," a "theater piece" now showing at the Henry Art Gallery.
| Seattle Times | |
Regence cutting use of Botox to treat migraines
Regence BlueShield will discontinue coverage for Botox treatments for migraine attacks starting Oct. 1. The insurer says emerging scientific evidence shows that the wrinkle-relaxing toxins work not much better than placebo injections. Sylvia Lucas, clinical professor of neurology, is quoted.
| Seattle Times | |
Risks Found for Youths in New Antipsychotics
A new government study published Monday has found that the medicines most often prescribed for schizophrenia in children and adolescents are no more effective than older, less expensive drugs and are more likely to cause some harmful side effects. Jon McClellan, associate professor psychiatry and a co-author of the study, is quoted.
| The New York Times | |
| Sep. 14, 2008 |
A Consensus About Day Care: Quality Counts
The consensus of most child development specialists is that participation in day care and preschool programs is associated with improving children’s pre-academic skills, language and memory; preparing them for kindergarten. The downside of day care -- an increase in aggressiveness noted in several studies -- persists through elementary school. Cathryn Booth-LaForce, professor of family and child nursing, is quoted.
| New York Times | |
Bellevue teachers' strike was stoked by a push for perfection
The Bellevue School District's common curriculum, a legacy of former Superintendent Mike Riley, emerged as a leading cause of discontent among striking teachers. Michael Knapp, professor of education leadership and policy studies, is quoted.
| Seattle Times | |
Medical, dental students start studies in Spokane
Eight dental and 20 medical students are in Spokane for their first year of studies. The eight dental students are here under a newly created state program called RIDE, a joint venture of University of Washington and Eastern Washington University. The 20 medical students are here because the Legislature last year expanded Washington’s participation in a med-school program called WWAMI -- the first such expansion in the program’s 37-year history.
| Spokane Spokesman-Review | |
| Sep. 13, 2008 |
Peacemaker brought into fray over UW branch campus
A man who negotiated peace in major conflicts on fishing rights and timber harvesting now will try to resolve the dispute on where to build a new four-year university in Snohomish County. Starting Monday, Bill Wilkerson will seek ways to end feuding on the location among elected leaders of Snohomish, Island and Skagit counties, a fight that's dampened once-bright prospects for the proposed University of Washington branch campus.
| Everett Herald | |
Spare Parts
Shoulder-replacement surgery is the third most frequent joint-replacement surgery, though the annual volume is a fraction of those involving knees and hips. Frederick Matsen III, professor and chairman of orthopaedics and sports medicine, is quoted.
| Wall Street Journal | |
| Sep. 12, 2008 |
Idaho wins major climate change research grant
Two river basins in Idaho will become a national laboratory to study the effects of climate change on water resources, under a five-year, $15 million National Science Foundation research grant announced today. The grant, awarded to a collaboration of all three of Idaho’s state universities in cooperation with other partners including the University of Washington’s climate impacts group, is Idaho’s biggest NSF grant ever.
| Spokane Spokesman-Review | |
Women Empowered
Uma Malhotra, assistant professor of medicine, allergy and infectious disease, and Polly Olsen, director of community relations and development with the Indigenous Wellness Research Institute, are honorees of Women of Color Empowered.
| Northwest Asian Weekly | |
'Carl Maxey: A Fighting Life': A catalyst for civil-rights change in Washington
The Seattle Times reviews "Carl Maxey: A Fighting Life," by Jim Kershner and recently published by UW Press.
| Seattle Times | |
WSU seeks to boost female faculty in sciences
Robert Bates, the recently retired Washington State University provost, has his work cut out for him. With four others at WSU, Bates will manage a $3.69 million National Science Foundation grant to increase the numbers of female faculty in science departments. Bates, who moved to Vancouver recently to assume the new position of director of research and graduate research, said WSU will examine how the University of Washington managed its grant money from 2001-2006. The University of Washington reported a 28.3 percent increase in the number of female tenured or tenure-track faculty during that period.
| Vancouver Columbian | |
Federal grant gives boost to YVCC-Grandview library
New books, technology, resources and building -- a $600,000 grant awarded Wednesday will enhance library services in Grandview. The grant, from U.S. Housing and Urban Development, was given to Yakima Valley Community College to help build a library on its Grandview campus in partnership with the city of Grandview. The college will offer a yearly series of seminars in English and Spanish to the public at the library, in partnership with local chambers of commerce, the University of Washington school of business and Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Yakima Valley.
| Yakima Herald-Republic | |
Traumatic physical injuries can harm mental health, study finds
Traumatic physical injuries can seriously harm a patient's mental health, leading in some cases to depression and an inability to hold a job, according to the largest U.S. study evaluating the effects of such injuries. Researchers Dr. Douglas Zatzick, Dr. Gregory Jurkovich and Dr. Frederick Rivara from the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center headed the study, which included researchers from the University of Washington and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
UW ignores suppliers' labor violations
In an op-ed piece, students Alyson McLean and Martina Kartman, members of the UW Guatemala Task Force, writes about labor concerns with the UW's apparel suppliers.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
| Sep. 11, 2008 |
Boat sellers struggle in tough times
Sales of new boats this year have fallen 40 percent compared with last year, according to state Department of Licensing data compiled by the Washington Sea Grant program at the University of Washington.
| Tacoma News Tribune | |
The Crow: One Man’s Pest Is Another’s Scientific Fetish
Seattle Weekly profiles John Marzluff, professor of forest research, and his research on crows.
| Seattle Weekly | |
Gene Region Linked to Mental Ills May Hold Brain Growth Clues
Rare cases of mental retardation were linked to a stretch of DNA that may hold clues to brain development as well as a variety of disorders, scientists said. The study was led by Heather Mefford, fellow of pediatrics and medical genetics.
| Bloomberg wire service | |
Global warming: Evidence is much more than hot air
In an op-ed piece, Christopher Bretherton, director of the Program on Climate Change, and Philip Mote, state climatologist and a research scientist in the Climate Impacts Group, respond to a September 3 guest editorial about climate change.
| Seattle Post-Intelligencer |
