College of Arts and Sciences

From dark matter to planet-crushing asteroids, four ways the telescope could alter our understanding of the universe. Mario Jurić, professor of astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

The UWAA is proud to honor six extraordinary students across the UW whose stories exemplify Husky adaptability, tenacity and resolve. Each student receives a scholarship and was recognized at the Homecoming football game on Sat. Oct. 21, 2023.

Artists and writers are up in arms about generative artificial intelligence systems—understandably so. These machine learning models are only capable of pumping out images and text because they’ve been trained on mountains of real people’s creative work, much of it copyrighted. Major AI developers including OpenAI, Meta and Stability AI now face multiple lawsuits on this. Emily M. Bender, professor of linguistics at the UW, is quoted.

This week, check out the Fall Concert hosted by DXARTS (Department of Digital Arts and Experimental Media), attend the Dance Graduate Research Symposium, listen to guest composer concerts, and more. October 25, 7:30pm | DXARTS FALL CONCERT: Ritual-Entropy-Storm, Meany Hall  Join the Department of Digital Arts and Experimental Media (DXARTS) as they host a Fall...

"Killers of the Flower Moon," the Martin Scorsese movie about my people, the Osage Nation of Oklahoma, brings to life the reign of terror we lived through a century ago, as if we were back there on those busy 1920s reservation streets, rubbing elbows with our own ancestors and their murderers. It is a powerful film, vividly and heartbreakingly accurate," writes Jean Dennison, associate professor of American Indian Studies at the UW.

"The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has reported that 2023 is already the most expensive year on record for weather and climate disasters in the U.S., with 23 separate disasters that have caused at least $1 billion each in estimated damages," writes Adrienne Russell, professor of communication and co-director of the UW Center for Journalism, Media and Democracy.

Israeli strikes on Gaza continue as the conflict between Hamas militants and Israel enters its eleventh day. The Israeli Defense Force now says more than 1,400 people were killed in the Oct. 7 massacre, where Hamas fighters targeted families in their homes, young people at a dance music festival and several Israeli military border bases. Hamas also captured nearly 200 hostages. The dead include Hayim Katsman, who studied at the UW Jackson School of International Studies. The UW's Liora Halperin, professor of history and international studies, and Smadar Ben-Natan, postdoctoral fellow in Israel studies, are quoted.

Companies are designing AI to appear increasingly human. That can mislead users — or worse. Emily M. Bender, professor of linguistics at the UW, is quoted.

Chandan Reddy, an associate professor of gender, women and sexuality studies and of the comparative history of ideas at the University of Washington, has been named a “Freedom Scholar” by the Marguerite Casey Foundation.

In a paper published Sept. 6 in Physical Review Letters, an international team of researchers in the United States, Germany and France reported that a distinctive strategy they have used shows real promise to be the first approach to measure the mass of the neutrino. Once fully scaled up, their collaboration — Project 8 — could also reveal how neutrinos influenced the early evolution of the universe as we know it.

Briana Abrahms, a University of Washington assistant professor of biology and researcher with the UW Center for Ecosystem Sentinels, has been named a 2023 Packard Fellow for Science and Engineering, according to an Oct. 16 announcement from the David and Lucille Packard Foundation. As one of 20 new fellows across the country, Abrahms, who holds the Boersma Endowed Chair in Natural History and Conservation, will receive $875,000 over five years for her research.

"To me, being a first-generation student means the ability to bring awareness to the only 3% of aged-out foster youth that go on to obtain a college degree. I aged out of foster care at 17 and college was something that felt unobtainable to me. By being a first-generation student, I can be a beacon of hope for foster youth, spread awareness about educational difficulties foster youth face, and break the cycle of trauma." - Sara Smith (B.S., Speech & Hearing Sciences, 2024)

"Transferring does not have to be a difficult or scary time. Make sure you are using every resource given. If you don't know where to look, that is what your advisor is for. Success for you is success for all those who made the resources available to use." - Reyna Smith (B.S., Speech & Hearing Sciences, 2024)

As a first-generation college graduate, my experience has had a profound impact on my approach to work and my connections with students and colleagues. I understand the unique challenges that first-gen students face, and I'm passionate about creating pathways for their success. I also feel a strong sense of kinship with colleagues who have similar backgrounds, and we share a deep commitment to supporting and empowering first-gen students.  - Travis Finney, Director of Development, College of Arts & Sciences

"First-generation students are pioneers. No one before us had the opportunity to do what we’re doing right now. It requires immense determination and resilience to continue moving forward into this wild unknown. Cultivate your support system, establish routines that nourish your mental, physical, and emotional health, and ask for help every time you need it. Remember: You are legitimate proof that anything is possible and you are worthy of success right now, as you are. Don't let anyone or anything keep you from achieving your dreams. You got this!" - Audrey Mikal (B.A., Sociology, 2025), Treasurer, First-Generation Leaders in Law