UPDATE Aug. 20, 2026: This story has been updated to include a faculty member who was originally omitted.听

Twelve faculty members at the 天美影视传媒 have been elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences. They are among 30 scientists and educators from across the state July 16 as new members. Election recognizes the new member鈥檚 鈥渙utstanding record of scientific and technical achievement and willingness to assist the Academy in providing the best available scientific information and technical understanding to inform complex policy decisions in Washington.鈥�

New WSAS members are selected by current members or by their election to national science academies. All 11 UW faculty members were voted on by current WSAS members:听

, chair and PACCAR Endowed Professor of mechanical engineering and adjunct professor of neurological surgery and of aeronautics and astronautics, for 鈥渟ignificant contributions to scientific understanding of multiphase and biomedical flows, including the role of fluid mechanics on arterial disease, heart failure, biomedical devices, and surgical planning for respiratory disease, through work combining rigorous experimentation and analysis that has influenced both engineering and clinical practice.鈥�

, professor of materials science and engineering, for 鈥減ioneering research on structure鈥損rocessing鈥損roperty relationships and the aging of hard tissues that has shaped modern oral health science, and for influential contributions to advanced manufacturing, biomechanics, and bioinspired materials 鈥� coupled with exemplary educational leadership 鈥� that have made a lasting impact across disciplines and the STEM community.鈥�

, professor of health economics and Stergachis Family Endowed Director of The CHOICE Institute, for 鈥減ioneering health economic methods 鈥� including causal estimation of personalized treatment effects, cost-effectiveness frameworks, and value-of-information analysis 鈥� that have shaped national drug pricing policies, international discussions on the economics of innovation, and the scientific foundations of the economics of precision medicine.鈥�

, affiliate professor of health services and biostatistics and professor in the Public Health Sciences Division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, for 鈥減ioneering statistical models that transformed cancer early detection and screening policy, reshaping national and global guidelines and advancing equitable public health decision鈥憁aking, and for exceptional leadership, cross鈥慸isciplinary collaboration, and mentorship, influencing generations of scientists.鈥�

, Charles O. Cressey Endowed Professor of social work and executive co-director of the Indigenous Wellness Research Institute, for 鈥減ioneering research across historical trauma, cultural buffers, and healing; substance use/misuse prevention; indigenous health disparities and family wellness; and youth health interventions.鈥�

, Endowed Professor in Prevention in the School of Social Work and director of the Social Development Research Group, for 鈥渃ontributions to the economic assessment of prevention programs addressing substance abuse and mental health, and for advancing community-engaged research, and effective communication of findings to different audiences.鈥�

, director of and research professor in the UW School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, for 鈥渓eadership and contributions in ecosystem-based management, salmon conservation, urban ecology, and pioneering contributions to the development of social-ecological approaches to environmental problem solving.鈥�

, research professor of epidemiology and associate director for public health sciences at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center for 鈥渋ntegrating large鈥憇cale genomic, environmental, and tumor data to advance colorectal cancer prevention and reduce population disparities, and for her leadership at Fred Hutch, shaping precision prevention and population health science.鈥�

, affiliate professor of environmental engineering and chief scientist and laboratory fellow emeritus at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, for 鈥渉is seminal leadership and sustained contributions to soil and agricultural science and environmental geosciences, spanning basic and applied research, university-level teaching and mentoring, and exceptional service.鈥�

, professor of bioengineering, the Dr. James B. Bassingthwaighte Endowed Faculty Fellow in Bioengineering, director of the Center for Translational Muscle Research, and听 associate chair of research and translation for the Department of Bioengineering, for 鈥渋nternationally recognized leadership in discovering the molecular mechanisms of contractile dysfunction with familial genetic mutations that lead to muscle dysfunction with disease, the design of novel, targeted therapies, and training the next generation of scientists and engineers to have further impact in understanding and treating heart failure and skeletal muscle diseases.鈥�

Dr. , professor and chair of radiology in UW Medicine, for 鈥渃ontributions to the science and clinical practice of radiological imaging and for leadership in national programs and professional and scientific societies that advance academic radiology.鈥�

, affiliate professor of civil and environmental engineering and chief scientist at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, for “pioneering the integration of climate science with power systems studies through computational, data-driven, experimental approaches, resulting in significant cost savings for energy customers and a safer, more reliable grid.”

Additionally, Dr. , professor emerita of global health and of medicine and epidemiology in the UW School of Medicine, was elected to the WSAS Board of Directors. Wassersheit has been a member of WSAS since 2008. An infectious disease physician and epidemiologist, Dr. Wasserheit played a central role in launching the UW Department of Global Health and served as chair from 2014-2022. She also served as co-director for the UW Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness. She was the founding chief of the U.S. National Institute of Health鈥檚 Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Research Branch, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention鈥檚 STD/HIV Prevention Program and director of the FHCRC-based HIV Vaccine Trials Network. Her work on epidemiological synergy between HIV and sexually transmitted infections has shaped prevention policy worldwide.

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Every year, nearly 2 million young Americans experience homelessness. which can be both a crucial source of emotional support and a barrier to receiving services such as housing or medical care. Studies have shown that Some may choose veterinary care for their animals over obtaining health care for themselves. 听

The Seattle One Health Clinic was designed to address those barriers. Led by the operated in collaboration with the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and supported by two nonprofit organizations, the clinic offers free veterinary care alongside its medical services. A paper 听in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health found that the integrated approach increased access to preventative medical care for both people and their pets.听

鈥淚t鈥檚 truly integrated 鈥� human and animal providers working together is a unique approach,鈥� said , lead author of the paper and a postdoctoral researcher in the Center for One Health Research.听

At the One Health Clinic, a nurse practitioner and veterinarian, often accompanied by veterinary students, provide primary care services while UW students volunteer as patient navigators, helping to coordinate care and address shared health needs such as extreme weather, environmental contaminants and zoonotic disease. The clinic also helps clients document their pets as emotional support animals, which enables them to access a wider range of housing and other services. 听

鈥淭丑别 data clearly shows that this model of care is building trust,鈥� Rejto said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 special to see holistic care that takes into account the environment, the animal, the person and their relationships in society, to provide care to these young people. It鈥檚 incredibly important for people to have preventative care, and that in turn has a great impact on public health.” 听

The study analyzed medical and veterinary records of clinic visits between 2019 and 2022. The majority of human participants were 23 years old or younger. Of the 88 human clients who visited the clinic during that period, 75 saw a health care provider at least once, and 40 patients established care for the first time in at least the past two years. Most of those patients returned for at least one follow-up appointment within two years of their first visit.听

Most significantly, nearly 80% of all visits to the One Health Clinic resulted in clients receiving human health care. That includes 69% of visits where clients initially intended to seek care only for their pets.听

鈥淎dding veterinary care to a primary care clinic creates a supportive environment that is vastly different from a typical medical care facility鈥�, said co-author , one of the founders of the One Health Clinic and director of the UW Center for One Health Research, who is also a UW professor of environmental and occupational health sciences and an associate professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine. 鈥淭his unique atmosphere encourages clients to seek care for themselves as well as their animals.鈥澨�听

A fully integrated model may be a new concept to many, requiring novel partnerships between human health and veterinary professionals, Rejto acknowledged. But the results suggest that health care providers should give greater consideration to the health impact of the human animal bond between people and their pets.听听

鈥淧otentially a good start would be to increase collaboration and communication between animal and human health care, to have human health facilities that are in communication with veterinary facilities. That could help identify diseases and shared environmental risks,鈥� Rejto said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about expanding providers鈥� and human health care workers鈥� framework for addressing health.鈥�听

Other authors include , senior research coordinator and center manager at the Center for One Health Research; , a UW assistant professor of global health and of epidemiology and deputy director of the Center for One Health Research; Hannah Fenelon, Michael Xie, Alice Tin and Erin Tabor of the UW Center for One Health Research; of the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine; Kate Schneier and Andrew Nee of Neighborcare Health; and Amanda Richer of Uplift Consulting.听

This research was funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Nursing Research Training Program in Global Health Nursing at the UW, the New Tudor Foundation, and by a gift from the now-shuttered Y/YA Shelter 鈥淧eace for the Streets by Kids from the Streets.鈥� Funding for the publication of this study was provided by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ (ASPCA) Open-Access Publishing Fund.

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UPDATE (Aug. 2, 2024): A previous version of this story misstated Paul Kinahan’s name.

Fifteen faculty members at the 天美影视传媒 have been elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences. They are among 36 scientists and educators from across the state . Selection recognizes the new members鈥� 鈥渙utstanding record of scientific and technical achievement, and their willingness to work on behalf of the academy to bring the best available science to bear on issues within the state of Washington.鈥�

Twelve UW faculty members were selected by current WSAS members. They are:

• , associate professor of epidemiology, of health systems and population health, and of child, family and population health nursing, who 鈥減ossesses the rare combination of scientific rigor and courageous commitment to local community health. Identifying original ways to examine questions, and seeking out appropriate scientific methods to study those questions, allow her to translate research to collaborative community interventions with a direct impact on the health of communities.鈥�
• , the Shauna C. Larson endowed chair in learning sciences, for 鈥渉is work in the cultural basis of scientific research and learning, bringing rigor and light to multiculturalism in science and STEM education through STEM Teaching Tools and other programs.鈥�
• , professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, 鈥渇or her sustained commitment to community-engaged, science-driven practice and policy change related to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of mental health, with a focus on providing effective, sustainable and culturally appropriate care to people with serious mental illness.鈥�
• , the David and Nancy Auth endowed professor in bioengineering, who has 鈥渃harted new paths for 30-plus years. Her quest to deeply understand protein folding/unfolding and the link to amyloid diseases has propelled her to pioneer unique computational and experimental methods leading to the discovery and characterization of a new protein structure linked to toxicity early in amyloidogenesis.鈥�
• , professor of environmental and occupational health sciences, of global health, and of emergency medicine, who is 鈥渁 global and national leader at the intersection of climate change and health whose work has advanced our understanding of climate change health effects and has informed the design of preparedness and disaster response planning in Washington state, nationally and globally.鈥�
• , professor of bioengineering and of radiology, who is 鈥渞ecognized for his contributions to the science and engineering of medical imaging systems and for leadership in national programs and professional and scientific societies advancing the capabilities of medical imaging.鈥�
• , the Donald W. and Ruth Mary Close professor of electrical and computer engineering and faculty member in the UW Clean Energy Institute, who is 鈥渞ecognized for his distinguished research contributions to the design and operation of economical, reliable and environmentally sustainable power systems, and the development of influential educational materials used to train the next generation of power engineers.鈥�
• , senior vice president and director of the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, the Joel D. Meyers endowed chair of clinical research and of vaccine and infectious disease at Fred Hutch, and UW professor of medicine, who is 鈥渋s recognized for her seminal contributions to developing validated laboratory methods for interrogating cellular and humoral immune responses to HIV, TB and COVID-19 vaccines, which has led to the analysis of more than 100 vaccine and monoclonal antibody trials for nearly three decades, including evidence of T-cell immune responses as a correlate of vaccine protection.鈥�
• , professor of political science and the Walker family professor for the arts and sciences, who is a specialist 鈥渋n environmental politics, international political economy, and the politics of nonprofit organizations. He is widely recognized as a leader in the field of environmental politics, best known for his path-breaking research on the role firms and nongovernmental organizations can play in promoting more stringent regulatory standards.鈥�
• , the Ballmer endowed dean of social work, for investigations of 鈥渉ow inequality, in its many forms, affects health, illness and quality of life. He has developed unique conceptual frameworks to investigate how race, ethnicity and immigration are associated with health and social outcomes.鈥�
• , professor of chemistry, who is elected 鈥渇or distinguished scientific and community contributions to advancing the field of electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, which have transformed how researchers worldwide analyze data.鈥�
• , professor of bioengineering and of ophthalmology, whose 鈥減ioneering work in biomedical optics, including the invention of optical microangiography and development of novel imaging technologies, has transformed clinical practice, significantly improving patient outcomes. Through his numerous publications, patents and clinical translations, his research has helped shape the field of biomedical optics.鈥�

Three new UW members of the academy were selected by virtue of their previous election to one of the National Academies. They are:

• , professor of atmospheric and climate science, who had been elected to the National Academy of Sciences 鈥渇or contributions to research and expertise in atmospheric radiation and cloud processes, remote sensing, cloud/aerosol/radiation/climate interactions, stratospheric circulation and stratosphere-troposphere exchanges and coupling, and climate change.鈥�
• , the Bartley Dobb professor for the study and prevention of violence in the Department of Epidemiology and a UW professor of pediatrics, who had been elected to the National Academy of Medicine 鈥渇or being a national public health leader whose innovative and multidisciplinary research to integrate data across the health care system and criminal legal system has deepened our understanding of the risk and consequences of firearm-related harm and informed policies and programs to reduce its burden, especially among underserved communities and populations.鈥�
• , division chief of general pediatrics at Seattle Children鈥檚 Hospital and a UW professor of pediatrics, who had been elected to the National Academy of Medicine 鈥渇or her leadership in advancing child health equity through scholarship in community-partnered design of innovative care models in pediatric primary care. Her work has transformed our understanding of how to deliver child preventive health care during the critical early childhood period to achieve equitable health outcomes and reduce disparities.鈥�

In addition, Dr. , president and director of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and of the Cancer Consortium 鈥� a partnership between the UW, Seattle Children鈥檚 Hospital and Fred Hutch 鈥� was elected to the academy for being 鈥減art of a research effort that found mutations in the cell-surface protein epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which plays an important role in helping lung cancer cells survive. Today, drugs that target EGFR can dramatically change outcomes for lung cancer patients by slowing the progression of the cancer.鈥�

the Boeing-Egtvedt endowed professor and chair in aeronautics and astronautics, will join the board effective Sept. 30. Morgansen was elected to WSAS in 2021 鈥渇or significant advances in nonlinear methods for integrated sensing and control in engineered, bioinspired and biological flight systems,鈥� and 鈥渇or leadership in cross-disciplinary aerospace workforce development.鈥� She is currently director of the Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium, co-director of the UW Space Policy and Research Center and chair of the AIAA Aerospace Department Chairs Association. She is also a member of the WSAS education committee.

鈥淚 am excited to serve on the WSAS board and work with WSAS members to leverage and grow WSAS鈥檚 impact by identifying new opportunities for WSAS to collaborate and partner with the state in addressing the state鈥檚 needs,鈥� said Morgansen.

The new members to the Washington State Academy of Sciences will be formally inducted in September.

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Two 天美影视传媒 researchers have been named AAAS Fellows, according to an by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. They are among 502 newly elected fellows from around the world, who are recognized for their 鈥渟cientifically and socially distinguished achievements鈥� in science and engineering.

A tradition dating back to 1874, election as an AAAS Fellow is a lifetime honor, and all fellows are expected to meet the commonly held standards of professional ethics and scientific integrity.

This year鈥檚 UW AAAS fellows are:

, the Lloyd E. and Florence M. West Endowed Professor of Chemistry and a researcher with the UW Clean Energy Institute, is honored for her contributions to the development of nanoscale materials, which are in the size range of approximately 1 to 100 nanometers, for applications in energy and advanced electronics. For reference, 1 nanometer is about 100,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair. Cossairt investigates how crystalline nanoscale materials come together, grow and shrink and react with other compounds and photons. Her research includes synthesizing materials with novel physical and surface chemistry properties, such as inorganic quantum dots with use in lighting, displays, catalysis and quantum information technology. A UW faculty member since 2012, Cossairt has earned numerous honors, including a Sloan Research Fellowship, a Packard Fellowship, an NSF CAREER Award and a teacher scholar award from the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation. She also co-founded the Chemistry Women Mentorship Network to provide support, encouragement and career-development opportunities for women in the chemistry field.

, professor of pharmacy and of global health, was recognized for his work to better monitor the safety of essential medicines and vaccines, especially in low- and middle-income countries. He directed a study assessing the safety of antimalarial drugs among pregnant people in sub-Saharan African nations and has been involved in several other initiatives to assess the safety of vaccines used during pregnancy. He researches the global burden of antimicrobial resistance and has strengthened pharmacy services in numerous countries. Dr. Stergachis is an elected member of the National Academies of Medicine, fellow of the American Pharmacists Association and fellow of the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology. He holds adjunct faculty appointments in the Departments of Health Metrics & Evaluation and in Epidemiology.

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Three current UW scientists were among the authors of the assessment, which summarizes climate change that has already occurred, and that is projected in coming decades. This fifth edition includes two new chapters, on economics and on social systems and justice.

, a professor of global health and of environmental and occupational health sciences, was an author on the chapter on . Ebi also co-authored the human health chapter of the fourth assessment, released in 2019, and was a contributing author to the same chapter in

“It is indisputable that climate change is harming human health and well-being, from exposure to extreme weather and climate events, changes in the geographic range and seasonality of infectious diseases, alterations in air quality, reductions in food- and water-security, and impacts on mental wellness,” Ebi said. “Historically marginalized and under-resourced communities face greater harms and exacerbations of health inequities. Future health risks could be reduced, but not eliminated, by strengthening health systems, implementing effective adaptation measures, and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.”

Dr. , a professor of environmental and occupational health sciences, of global health and of emergency medicine, was an author on the chapter. Hess was previously a lead author of the human health chapter in the third assessment.

“We have ample evidence that climate change is worsening air pollution 鈥� in part due to increasing wildfire smoke and pollen levels 鈥� and there are clear and worsening impacts on human health,” Hess said. “These impacts are felt most acutely in low-income communities and communities of color. But we also know that smart policies and coordinated action can simultaneously reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and improve health for all, particularly the most impacted.”

, a research scientist at the Climate Impacts Group, was a co-author of the . She also contributed to a cross-cutting section , a new feature that centralizes critical information on key trends.

鈥淭丑别 Fifth National Climate Assessment includes more information on response actions and emphasizes action at the state and local levels,鈥� Raymond said. Since 2018, Raymond said, adaptation plans and actions at the city and state level have increased by about a third across the U.S.

Raymond also highlighted the increased focus on engagement in the assessment process, and special steps that have been taken to increase the accessibility of the assessment to wider audiences.

鈥淭丑别 process included more opportunities for public engagement, and the fifth assessment includes some great new communication features 鈥� Spanish translation, a six-episode podcast series, 92 art pieces featured throughout the assessment and forthcoming regional webinars and workshops,鈥� Raymond said.

also co-authored the Northwest chapter while she was affiliated with the UW Climate Impacts Group. Asinas is now at the Urban Ocean Project in Brooklyn, New York.

听

For more information, contact Ebi at krisebi@uw.edu, Hess at jjhess@uw.edu and Raymond at clrfire@uw.edu.

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October 17, 7:30pm |听Kane Hall

Among the most striking everyday phenomena is the emergence of life from inanimate matter. William Bialek, professor at Princeton University, will explain how we know this everyday phenomena, which involved a quiet revolution in the ability to do physics experiments on living systems, in all their complexity.

A number of features of the living world hold a special fascination for physicists. On a dark night, eyes can count individual quanta of light. When we point to the source of a sound, we are measuring time differences of just a few millionths of a second. Even though each bird in a flock sees only a few neighbors, thousands of them can agree on a single direction and speed to fly. William will use these examples to show how these remarkable observations point toward deeper and perhaps more general theories, in the physics tradition.

Free |

October 19, 11:30am – 1:00pm | , Communication Building

Join the Translation Studies Hub for a lunchtime colloquium. Despite playing a significant role, translation often goes unremarked in scholarship and curricula on cultural histories of the environment. Jason Groves will share possibilities for introducing translation to the environmental humanities classroom. Cristina S谩nchez-Mart铆n will describe the design and implementation of a community-based translation module in ENGL 370, 鈥淚ntroduction to English Language鈥� and how students approached English(es) as a situated language practice, learning what it means to tell collective stories of translation while dwelling in incomplete closures.

Free |

October 19, 4:00 – 6:00pm | Hans Rosling Center

This author talk will bring attention to medical apartheid and how it heavily affects black and brown communities across the globe. Listen to prominent, multi award-winning, and independent health journalist Vidya Krishnan present an author talk followed by a Q&A titled Plagues, Philanthropies and the End of Imagination hosted by the School of Public Health, Department of Global Health and the South Asia Center.

Stay around for a reception following the event.

Free |

October 19, 5:00 – 6:00pm | Allen Library

The Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Graduate Research Cluster is hosting a conversation with Julia Quinn, author of the听Bridgerton series, in conjunction with UW Libraries.

Julia Quinn is a best-selling author of historical romance fiction whose novels have appeared on听The New York Times听Best Sellers List and have garnered world-wide popularity. Her听Bridgerton听series was adapted for Netflix in 2020, and has since graced the screens of audiences all over the world, being crowned one of the streaming platform鈥檚 most popular shows of all time.

Free |

October 19, 7:30pm | Kane Hall

This lecture will reflect on the future of computing and the implications for science, business, and society, led by Dario Gil, IBM Senior Vice President and Director of Research.

Working at the intersection of information and biology, artificial intelligence advances and permeates through more applications affecting business and science. Powerful models are now emerging, enabling AI to create in new domains. Society is witnessing the growth of a new computing paradigm combining physics and information鈥攓uantum computing. Quantum computing has the potential to solve problems out of reach for even the most powerful supercomputers.

Free |

October 20, 7:30pm | 听Brechemin Auditorium

Faculty guitarist Michael Partington celebrates the release of his eleventh solo CD, “Concoctions from the Kitchen,” dedicated to the music of American composer Bryan Johanson. Featuring pieces written during the last five years, including “The Illustrated Guitar,” “Oranges,” and “Sonatine-Cahier,” the program also includes some of Johanson’s popular Preludes. The composer will be in attendance, and will take audience questions during a post-concert Q&A.

Free |

October 22, 10:00am – 3:00pm | 听Burke Museum

Celebrate International Archaeology Day with fun activities for all ages at the Burke Museum. Learn about ancient technologies, identify animal bones, sort shells, watch a flintknapping (stone tool making) demonstration, and more.

Find out more about archaeology techniques from Burke archaeologists and event partners as they share tabletop activities, and stories about artifacts and belongings.

Free – $22 tickets |

Beginning in October | 鈥淲ays of Knowing鈥� Podcast

鈥淲ays of Knowing鈥� is an eight-episode podcast connecting humanities research with current events and issues. This season features faculty from the UW College of Arts & Sciences as they explore race, immigration, history, the natural world 鈥� even comic books. Each episode analyzes a work, or an idea, and provides additional resources for learning more.

The podcast is a new collaboration between the The World According to Sound and the UW.

Free | More info

Have an event that you would like to see featured in the ArtSci Roundup? Connect with Lauren Zondag (zondagld@uw.edu).

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The American Geophysical Union Sept. 13 that five 天美影视传媒 faculty members have been elected as new fellows, representing the departments of astronomy, Earth and space sciences, oceanography, global health, and environmental and occupational health sciences.

The Fellows program recognizes AGU members who have made exceptional contributions to Earth and space sciences through a breakthrough, discovery or innovation in their field. The five UW honorees are among 54 people from around the world in the 2023 Class of Fellows. AGU, the world’s largest Earth and space sciences association, annually recognizes a select number of individuals nominated by their peers for its highest honors. Since 1962, the AGU Union Fellows Committee has selected less than 0.1% of members as new fellows.

Also honored by AGU this year are three UW faculty members, from the departments of Earth and space sciences and atmospheric sciences, who have received other awards.

Here are the UW鈥檚 five new AGU Fellows:

, professor of Earth and space sciences, studies which characteristics of Earth help this planet support life, and whether life might be found on other planets. His work spans astronomy, biology and geology, on planetary environments including Earth, Mars, Venus and icy moons, as well as planets outside this solar system. He is the author of 鈥淎strobiology: A Very Short Introduction鈥� for the layperson and 鈥淎tmospheric Evolution on Inhabited and Lifeless Worlds鈥� for researchers.

, who holds the Karl M. Banse Endowed Professorship in oceanography, explores the limits and ecological contributions of microbial life in deep ocean and polar regions, focusing in recent years on how microbes adapt to the extreme conditions of Arctic sea ice. In addition to a research and teaching career, Deming founded what is now the UW Center for Environmental Genomics and helped establish the nation鈥檚 first graduate training program in astrobiology.

, professor of global health and of environmental and occupational health sciences, has been conducting research on the health risks of climate variability and change for nearly 30 years. She focuses on estimating current and future health risks of climate change, designing adaptation policies and measures to reduce risks in multi-stressor environments, and estimating the health co-benefits of mitigation policies. Ebi is also founding director of the UW , or CHanGE.

, professor of astronomy, is an astrobiologist and planetary astronomer whose research focuses on听predicting, acquiring and analyzing observations of planetary atmospheres and surfaces. In addition to studying planets within our solar system, she is interested in exoplanets 鈥� those outside the solar system 鈥� and听how they might reveal the presence of life. With the UW鈥檚 Virtual Planetary Laboratory, she uses models of planets and planet-star interactions to generate plausible planetary environments and spectra for extrasolar terrestrial planets and the early Earth.

, professor and chair of Earth and space sciences, is a geochemist and glaciologist whose research focuses on polar climate and ice sheets in the Arctic and in Antarctica. He is best known for his analyses of Antarctic ice cores using measurements of oxygen and hydrogen in the ice to better understand how climate has varied in the past, over hundreds to thousands of years.

In addition to the newly elected fellows, UW faculty members are also recognized in several subject-specific awards and lectures:

, professor of atmospheric sciences, will deliver the in December at the AGU鈥檚 fall meeting. Alexander studies the relationship between climate change and the chemical composition of the atmosphere. She looks at the pathways by which atmospheric pollutants form, how those chemical pathways can vary, and what that means both for present-day air quality and for the future of climate change.

, research assistant professor of Earth and space sciences, has received the for his research modeling natural disasters using geodesy, or the shape of the Earth鈥檚 surface, and seismology. Crowell pioneered ways to use GPS and related data in earthquake and tsunami early warning systems. He is currently using this data to better understand natural disasters as they unfold and develop a risk-mitigation framework for coastal hazards such as tsunamis.

, research assistant professor of Earth and space sciences, has received the . Journaux uses modeling and experiments to explore the conditions in extreme environments on other planets, and how that might affect their ability to harbor life. He is a member of the science team for NASA鈥檚 upcoming Dragonfly mission, which will characterize the chemistry and habitability of Saturn鈥檚 largest moon, Titan.

, a researcher at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory with an affiliate UW faculty position in oceanography, has received the .

All honorees will be recognized in December at the AGU鈥檚 fall meeting in San Francisco.

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Outdoor workers in the world鈥檚 lower-latitude tropical forests may face a greater risk of heat-related deaths and unsafe working conditions because of deforestation and climate warming, according to a led by The Nature Conservancy, the 天美影视传媒 and Indonesia鈥檚 Mulawarman University.

In the study, researchers found that increased temperatures of 0.95 C (1.7 F) in the deforested areas of Berau Regency, Indonesia, between 2002 and 2018 were linked to roughly 118 additional deaths in 2018, and 20 additional minutes of daily conditions too hot for humans to work in safely. Future climate warming of 2 C (3.6 F) above 2018鈥檚 levels could increase deaths in Berau by 20% (approximately 282 additional annual deaths) and another five unsafe work hours per day 鈥� even without greater deforestation.

鈥淎mbient heat exposure and internal body heat from heavy physical work can increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke 鈥� which can be fatal 鈥� as well as acute kidney injury and traumatic injuries,鈥� said听 co-author , associate professor and assistant chair of environmental and occupational health sciences in the UW School of Public Health.

Researchers point out that the increase in heat-related deaths with a 2 C rise in global temperatures would be comparable to mortality from other long-term public health challenges in Asia, such as tobacco smoking. In addition, they write, 鈥渨orkers in Berau are already adapting to hotter temperatures due to deforestation, suggesting those engaged in outdoor work may already be approaching their adaptive capacity through behavioral adaptations.鈥�

The study in Lancet Planetary Health used publicly available and secondary data such as satellite monitoring of forest cover, temperatures, climate models, population densities, and the report published annually in The Lancet by the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Researchers focused on Berau as an area emblematic of tropical forest regions facing rapid deforestation.

鈥淎pproximately 800 million people live and work in the world鈥檚 tropical forest nations,鈥� Spector said. 鈥淭丑别se forests can act as natural air conditioners and sequester carbon, thus having implications for both climate change adaptation and mitigation. Information from this modeling study should be considered in discussions about trade-offs between economic welfare, human health, the natural environment and decisions about climate change adaptation and mitigation.鈥�

Other UW authors of the study are , graduate student, and , professor and Tamaki Endowed Chair, in the Department of Atmospheric Science; and , professor of global health and environmental and occupational health sciences in the School of Public Health. For complete list of authors and more about the study see The Nature Conservancy鈥檚 .

The study was supported by a pilot research grant from the UW Population Health Initiative.

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To better identify and prevent future pandemics, the 天美影视传媒 has become a partner in a five-year global, collaborative agreement with the U.S. Agency for International Development. The newly launched Discovery & Exploration of Emerging Pathogens – Viral Zoonoses, or DEEP VZN project, has approximately $125 million in anticipated funding and will be led by Washington State University.

The effort will build scientific capacity in partner countries to safely detect and characterize viruses which have the potential to spill over from wildlife and domestic animals to human populations.

“The DEEP VZN project provides an exciting chance to better understand why the world is experiencing more frequent and severe outbreaks of zoonotic infectious diseases transmitted between animals and people,鈥� said Dr. , a co-principal investigator for USAID DEEP VZN and professor of environmental and occupational health sciences in the UW School of Public Health.

鈥淭his means gaining knowledge about new viruses that could cause problems in the future, and the ecosystem changes that appear to be driving the process of viruses jumping between species,鈥� Rabinowitz added. 鈥淭丑别 hope is that this improved understanding will lead to prevention of future pandemics and more resilient ecosystems.鈥�

Rabinowitz is also director of the and co-director of the .

The project plans to initially partner with five countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to help local organizations carry out large-scale animal surveillance programs within their own countries safely and test samples for viruses using their own laboratory facilities. This will avoid the process of having to ship samples to other countries for testing and build an international network of laboratories capable of quickly responding to disease outbreaks.

鈥淪ince the vast majority of viruses that ignite pandemics have their origin in nonhuman animals, it is critical that we figure out which of the many new zoonotic viruses that we are now identifying are most likely to jump species into humans, spread easily from person to person and cause severe disease or death,鈥� said Dr. , a co-principal investigator in the project and chair of the UW Department of Global health.

鈥淭丑别 focuses on a proactive, integrated systems approach to pandemic preparedness that has brought together internationally recognized leaders in the kinds of laboratory methods that will make it possible for the DEEP VZN team to fully sequence and characterize novel viruses in unprecedented breadth and depth,鈥� said Wasserheit, co-director of the Alliance. 鈥淚n addition, the Alliance鈥檚 approach catalyzed collaborations between these lab-based scientists; One Health leaders working at the interface of human, animal and environmental health; and leaders in Global Health who will work with colleagues in focus countries to identify high-risk locations and subpopulations at the human-animal interface.鈥�

The DEEP VZN project will focus on finding previously unknown pathogens from three viral families that have a large potential for viral spillover from animals to humans: coronaviruses, the family that includes SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19; filoviruses, like Ebola virus; and paramyxoviruses, such as Nipah virus. With 70% of new viral outbreaks in people originating from animals, understanding future threats helps protect the U.S. as well as the partner countries.

The goals are ambitious: to collect over 800,000 samples in the five years of the project, most of which will come from wildlife; then to detect whether known and novel viruses from the target families are present in the samples. When those are found, the researchers will determine their zoonotic potential, or the ability to be transmitted between animals and humans.

This process is expected to yield 8,000 to 12,000 novel viruses, which researchers will then screen and genome sequence for the ones that pose the most risk to animal and human health.

The UW听Medicine听laboratory effort, led by听Dr.听Alex Greninger,听assistant professor of laboratory medicine and pathology at 天美影视传媒 School of Medicine, will use听the听cutting-edge research expertise of five internationally recognized UW Medicine laboratories to听develop innovative techniques and provide reference and support activities for virus detection and characterization by in-country labs.

鈥淚t鈥檚 time to get to work and find some new viruses. We will be building capacity in other countries to be able to find new viruses and characterize them in hopes to better understand coronaviruses and other viruses circulating in the world,鈥� said Greninger.

The UW Medicine labs:

• The will coordinate听qRT-PCR and broad serology assay development and in-country training, viral genome recovery and viral glycoprotein characterization.
• The David will model novel viral glycoproteins to determine risk potential based on in silico screens for potential human receptor affinity.
• The听David has detailed mechanisms of viral attachment and entry for novel paramyxoviruses and coronaviruses and will extend these biochemical studies to novel viral glycoproteins discovered in DV.
• will determine the degree and mechanisms of innate immunity evasion in human cells by novel viruses.
• The will produce recombinant proteins for in-country serological analysis as it has done for SARS-CoV-2.

The UW Department of Global Health will apply its experience in more than 145 countries and expertise in capacity strengthening through the International Training and Education Center for Health, or I-TECH, to support sustainable sampling and strengthen in-country laboratory programs.

In addition to UW and WSU, USAID DEEP VZN includes virology expertise of The Washington University at St. Louis, as well as data management and in-country expertise of public health nonprofits PATH, based in Seattle, and FHI 360, based in North Carolina. These partners have extensive established presence and partners in countries in the target regions.

鈥淭o make sure the world is better prepared for these infectious disease events, which are likely to happen more frequently as wild areas become increasingly fragmented, we need to be ready,鈥� said Felix Lankester, lead principal investigator for USAID DEEP VZN and associate professor with WSU鈥檚 Paul G. Allen School for Global Health. 鈥淲e will work to not only detect viruses but also build capacity in other countries, so the United States can collaborate with them in carrying out this important work.鈥�

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For more information, contact Jake Ellison at Jbe3@uw.edu

This story was adapted from a Washington State University .听

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In the first听month听of the听COVID-19听pandemic, nearly all 50听states announced听restrictions on gatherings and听businesses, and most issued stay-at-home orders, aiming to听curb听disease transmission and听avoid听overburdening health systems.

States听eased听those听policies听based on politics as much as听COVID-19听death rates听or听case counts, according to new research from the 天美影视传媒.听The researchers also found听that states with large Black communities,听despite those communities being听hit hardest by the pandemic, also lifted restrictions earlier.

In general,听the听听in听Perspectives on Politics听found听that states with Republican governors听and听a听larger听vote share听for听Donald听Trump in 2016听eased their restrictions听two听weeks听earlier听than states with Democratic governors听and听smaller Trump vote shares, all else equal.

鈥淭丑别听push by Trump to politicize social distancing policy听came at a critical time:听In April 2020, cases were听still very high听in many states.听Many听Republican governors听pulled the trigger on easing too early,鈥澨齭aid听lead author听, a听professor of political science at the UW.

The听study is the latest from听the听听led by Adolph. Last year, the team published papers on the influence of politics on social distancing policies听and听mask mandates听and, like the latest research, found that a governor鈥檚 political party was a key driver in what are听ostensibly听public health decisions.听There听was a 鈥渘ear-immediate politicization of this public health crisis,鈥� the authors wrote in their new paper, exacerbated when then-President Trump declared that听.

The new study looked at when states eased five听policies, beginning in mid-April 2020: stay-at-home orders; limits on gatherings; closures of nonessential businesses such as gyms听and movie theaters; and听restrictions on the operation of听restaurants and听bars.听In all five categories, researchers found that Republican-led states听eased听restrictions听on indoor activity听earlier听than Democratic-led ones, but by early July听2020,听all states had eased at least one听social distancing policy.

The team analyzed those moves taking into account other听factors听鈥斕齢ealth听indicators听such as COVID-19听deaths, confirmed cases听and听test positivity rates,听along with听other听variables听such as governor鈥檚 political party, Trump鈥檚听share of the vote in 2016,听state听population density听and some听demographic characteristics.

Public health indicators did play a role, the researchers point out,听as states with听better trends in听epidemiological indicators听could be听expected听to ease restrictions听two weeks (an听average of 14.1 days) ahead of states听where听trends in听case counts and deaths听were听worsening or improving more听slowly. But the听influence听of听COVID-19 trajectories听was slightly less than that of the governor鈥檚 political party and the share of Trump voters.听All else equal, states听with a Republican governor and a majority of Trump voters听could be听expected to begin easing restrictions just over two weeks听(an average of 14.5 days)听ahead of Democratic-led states.

鈥淪ince March听2020,听state-level decisions听on听the response to听COVID-19听have been听influenced听by politics as much as听鈥� and sometimes more than 鈥斕齪ublic health data and evidence on evolving pandemic needs.听In the U.S.,听this听has happened for听,听, vaccination and testing requirements,听travel restrictions 鈥斕齟verything,鈥澨齭aid听,听a study听co-author听and doctoral听candidate听in听political science听at the UW.

The authors warn听that听polarized听politics听could further听hinder听how听future public health emergencies听are听handled in the United States.听For instance,听following the initial loosening of social distancing restrictions,听.听Yet a听fragmented听approach听toward COVID-19听continued through the summer and fall of 2020, culminating in听a听devastating winter surge听and deepening听partisan听divisions.

鈥淧ublic health听inherently involves political considerations and trade-offs, so听completely听divorcing politics from听public health听decision-making and policy implementation听isn鈥檛 really听an听option.听Instead,听we should听recognize how听public health policy and practice听occur听within听existing political听environments, and听actively听work within those systems to ensure听strong science听and timely data can inform听decisions,鈥� said听, a study co-author and doctoral student in global health at the UW.

The team also analyzed the听association between the听loosening of restrictions and听a state鈥檚 Black population, given the听.听Indeed,听states with larger percentages of their population identifying as Black saw COVID-19 social distancing policies eased nearly a week听(an average of听6.7 days)听earlier than states with a smaller Black population 鈥� a finding that may mirror patterns of systemic racism and enduring neglect toward听Black communities听in the U.S.

鈥淭丑别 COVID-19 pandemic continues to exact an uneven toll for individuals and communities, especially people of color and frontline听workers who face higher exposure to the virus. Each decision to reduce听COVID-related protections听places听already marginalized groups听at risk,听and needs to be made very carefully.听This was true in 2020,听and听it remains true today,鈥澨鼳dolph听said.

The study was funded by听the听Benificus听Foundation and听the UW Center for Statistics and the Social Sciences.

In addition to听Adolph, Bang-Jensen, and听Fullman, co-authors were听, professor and chair of political science at the听UW;听,听,听听and听, all doctoral students in political science at the UW; and听, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto听who completed this work while a doctoral student in political science at the UW.

For more information, contact Adolph at cadolph@uw.edu.

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