UW News and Information Web     |     UW News     University Week UW News+Community     Kathy Sauber Puttin’ on the red Aster Kifle, a patient service specialist in the Radiology Department at UW Medical Center-Roosevelt, places some poinsettias in the reception area as part of the unit's holiday decorations. UWMC's Unit Decorating Contest is part of its Winterfest activities, which include a gift drive, social events and a food drive. Individual areas and units enter the contest before Dec. 12 and then on Dec. 17 a team of judges will look at each display and choose the winners. The UWMC-Roosevelt Radiology Reception Area, on the second floor of UWMC-Roosevelt, was the first to enter the contest this year. VOLUME 25, NUMBER 10   |   12/6/2007  –  1/9/2008  |   UWEEK.ORG UW greenhouse gases down 10 percent from 2001 to 2005, inventory finds The UW's first inventory of greenhouse gas emissions shows that the University reduced overall emissions 10 percent from 2000 to 2005. The inventory includes emissions from the UW Seattle, Tacoma, and Bothell campuses and from other facilities that the UW owns or operates. Finnish piano virtuoso Antti Siirala debuts at Meany Hall Pianist Antti Siirala, first-prize winner of three international piano competitions, including the prestigious Leeds International Piano Competition, will perform as part of the World Series at Meany Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 11. Women’s Vocal Jazz, Jazz I Ensemble to perform Dec. 8 Religious politics now pervasive, says new book, 'The God Strategy' David Domke, a UW professor of communication, has coauthored a new book about religious language among politicians titled The God Strategy. UW-directed online project suggests roads and transit package voters might like While central Puget Sound voters were debating the merits of and then defeating the $18 billion package of roads and other transit projects called Proposition 1 last month, a smaller group of citizens was putting together its own proposals to improve the region’s congested transportation network. 2002 Alaskan quake left seven areas of California stirred but not shaken More evidence that Earth shaking can have an impact thousands of miles away. The 2002 Alaska earthquake caused tremors shortly afterward in California. Rising tides intensify non-volcanic tremor in Earth's crust For more than a decade geoscientists have detected what amount to ultra-slow-motion earthquakes under Western Washington and British Columbia on a regular basis, about every 14 months. Now University of Washington researchers have found evidence that these slow-slip events are actually affected by the rise and fall of ocean tides. Then and now: 20 years of growth, by the numbers In this week’s look back at University Week history, we consider a 1987 story about student enrollment, comparing it with today’s numbers. ETC.: campus news & notes What are your UW colleagues up to? One is involved in a contest celebrating the Helvetica typeface, one is a new Fellow of the IEEE, one is a new member of a science panel on Puget Sound and one is an author giving a book reading. Herb Kramer and the Scientific Instruments Department: Making problems ‘go away’ Doctors keep patients healthy, but Herb Kramer and his dozen technicians in the Scientific Instruments Department keep the equipment healthy. Free software brings affordability, transparency to mathematics Until recently, a student solving a calculus problem, a physicist modeling a galaxy or a mathematician studying a complex equation had to use powerful computer programs that cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. But a free, open-access tool based at the UW won first prize in the scientific software division of Les Trophees du Libre, an international competition for free software. UW has two finalists, one Marshall Scholar Jeffrey Eaton, a senior at the UW, has been selected as a Marshall scholar, one of the highest awards available to college graduates in the U.S. He and fellow UW student Graham Griffiths were finalists in the competition, which awards full scholarships for graduate study in England to about 40 American students annually. Submissions sought for 2008 online learning award Know a faculty member who has done innovative work in online learning? Nominate that person for the R1edu Award for Distinguished Faculty Contributions to Online Learning. Small renovation makes big difference in locker room turned library Some paint here, new furniture there, some rearranging and the little Drama Library in Hutchinson Hall has an open, comfortable new look. Doctoral education should evolve to accommodate change in students, career paths, report says The first multidisciplinary study to examine the status of doctoral students in the social sciences at least five years after receiving their degree concludes that doctoral programs need to be brought into the 21st century. Working conditions have changed and the demographics of graduate students have changed, it says, and 20 percent of those with social science doctorates do not work in academia. Architects, engineers ‘court’ UW in on-the-job version of speed dating Last week, the UW held a first-ever meeting of architect and engineer "suitors" with the people who will vote thumbs up or down on who gets to work on UW new design, construction or renovation projects. The response was strong. See the world and study it, too: UW launches travel-study tours program The biennial UW Theatre and Concert Hall Tour to London has been so popular that the UW is building on its success with a new series called Travel-Study Tours in February 2008. UWB Business Development Center gets support from Snohomish County With an investment of $15,000, Snohomish County became a founding partner of the Business Development Center at UW Bothell recently. The center provides consulting and other services for small businesses in the county. Still time to give: Combined Fund Drive extended through Dec. 14 Still haven’t contributed to the Combined Fund Drive? Don’t worry, there’s time. Officials have announced that the fund drive — the UW’s workplace giving program — has been extended for a week, through Dec. 14. Birds of Yellowstone lecture at the Burke Dec. 8 On Saturday, Dec. 8, the Burke Museum presents Terry McEneaney, staff ornithologist of Yellowstone National Park for over 20 years, who will share his insights into the complexities of bird conservation in Yellowstone. School of Dentistry and Children's to develop joint dental clinic The UW School of Dentistry and Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center are joining forces to combat childhood dental disease with the development of a new pediatric dental facility. Mitchell receives distinguished nursing research award Pamela Mitchell, associate dean for research in the School of Nursing, has received the 2007 Pathfinder Distinguished Research Award from the Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research. American College of Physicians state chapter honors Paauw Douglas S. Paauw, professor of medicine and head of the Section of General Internal Medicine at UW Medical Center, has received the ACP Washington Chapter’s Laureate Award. Scribner Award nominations due Feb. 29 Third annual Scribner Courage in Health Care Award nominations due Feb. 29. Operation Peanut Butter to aid Northwest Harvest food banks Life Sciences Discovery Fund offers 2008 grant opportunities Life Sciences Discovery Fund announces 2008 grant competitions -- LSDF 08-01 and 08-02. In brief Upcoming Health Sciences events Can you guess where this photo was taken? Guess correctly, and you might win a gift certificate to the University Book Store!