UW News and Information Web     |     UW News     University Week UW News+Community     VOLUME 26, NUMBER 2   |   10/2/2008  –  10/8/2008  |   UWEEK.ORG Finalists for UW police chief to visit campus You can meet the three finalists for chief of the UW Police Department at open forums Oct. 7, 9 and 16 in the HUB. Psychologists show experience may be the best teacher for infants UW researchers have found that infants who use a plastic cane as a tool to get an out-of-reach toy are better able to understand the goal of another person’s use of a similar tool than are infants who only watch an adult use a cane to retrieve a toy. Compared to all commercial carriers, log truckers have better safety record Traffic accidents involving log trucks are declining while those involving commercial trucks in general are increasing, a new report co-produced by UW and and WSU says. However, the log-trucking business is in jeopardy in Washington, thanks to increasing costs and decreasing revenues. Just in time for school: Free Adeona service tracks stolen laptops A new laptop theft-protection tool developed by UW researchers not only provides a virtual watchdog for your machine, but also does it without letting anybody but you monitor your whereabouts. Etc.: Campus news & notes A health promotion picnic, the Japan Foundation Award for Kenneth Pyle, emeritus fellowships for Jere Bacharach and Paul Brass, staff author Bruce Taylor in a “star” review, the Sequoia lifetime achievement award for Jerry Franklin — and UWPD’s Ray Wittmier and Tanesha Van Leuven make a child’s day with a hospital visit. Newsmakers UW professors comment about political polls, school standards and more. Official Notices Two opportunities for research grants and one for an exchange program in Slovenia. A tale of two dog owners — and the canines who love them Pam Selz and Kathy Hobson work for UW Medical Center’s Pathology Department and both own dogs — one’s a therapy dog and the other’s a retired sports champion. These are their tails, um, tales. Best of the best: Graduate School rewards student work with three new awards A geographer who journeyed to Egypt where she overcame gender bias to do her research is the winner of the UW’s first Dissertation of the Year Award. She is joined in the awards circle by an electrical engineer studying how the human ear processes speech and a naturopath who showed the ineffectiveness of St. John’s wort in treating ADHD. UW again receives grade of A- on sustainability The UW has once again made the grade with the Sustainability Endowments Institute — receiving an A- for its efforts in nine categories of sustainability for the second year in a row. It’s the highest grade the institute has given, and was attained by only 15 institutions. Historian Stephanie Smallwood wins Frederick Douglass Book Prize Stephanie E. Smallwood, associate professor of history, has been selected as the winner of the 2008 Frederick Douglass Book Prize, awarded for the best book written in English on slavery or abolition. The book has been called “a subtle, powerful study of the deep horrors of slavery and the slave trade.” National Geographic brings Young Explorers program to UW On Oct. 24 John Francis, a vice president at the National Geographic Society, will present an evening on field research and exploration. The following day, he and others will present a Young Explorers Grants Workshop. Registration for the workshop is required by Oct. 15. Consultants, subconsultants come together at second Capital Projects networking event It’s kind of like speed-dating, but for consultants who work with UW Capital Projects. A recent networking event was held to help connect prime consultants from the architectural/engineering community with possible subconsultants. Luce lectures consider religion and the U.S. presidential election The presidential election will be front and center when the annual Luce lectures begin Oct. 9. Collectively titled “What’s Religion Got to Do With It?” the lectures — to be held in Kane Hall — are free. Annual ‘Bridging the Gap’ Breakfast celebrates diversity Registration for the annual “Bridging the Gap” Breakfast is open until Oct. 6. The celebration of diversity, slated for Oct. 18, includes a buffet breakfast, award presentations, a reception with past distinguished honorees and live entertainment by Sam Chamblis. Attention gardeners: Bulb and plant sale at the Arboretum Hundreds of spring-blooming bulb selections and companion plants will be available at the Arboretum Foundation's Fall Bulb and Plant Sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6. Laughter is the best medicine during UW’s Work and Family Month celebration Do conflicts between professional and personal life leave you feeling stressed? Clear your mind with a laughter session at the HUB Oct. 7 and 21, as part of the UW’s celebration of National Work and Family Month. Also take advantage of on-site child care, retirement seminars and a Benefits Fair as the UW reminds employees, “Wherever you are in life… We’re here to help.” Shen to head national pharmaceutical group UW School of Pharmacy faculty member Danny Shen has been named president-elect of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. UW scientists discover link to range of pediatric disorders Researchers associate aberrations in a specific region of a chromosome with a broad range of disorders and levels of impairment in children. Proteins in seminal fluid affect reproductive success UW scientists discover new proteins in seminal fluid that may affect the odds of producing offspring. An outsider's view of the French health care system Lawrence Robinson, professor of rehabilitation medicine and vice dean of clinical affairs in the School of Medicine, spent the summer learning about the differences between health care systems in France and the United States. Photo exhibit displays the impact of the war in Iraq Health Alliance International is one of 30 sponsors of a photo exhibit depicting the realities of the Iraq War. The exhibit runs through Dec. 6. Can you guess where this photo was taken? Guess correctly, and you might win a gift certificate to the University Book Store!