Population Health

A recent Scientific American feature explores how the catastrophic 1918 influenza pandemic seemed to quickly slip from public discourse. Scientific American published letters they received, including one from Tabitha Grace Mallory, affiliate professor of international studies at the UW.

"As the first few days of the new year plopped themselves on my calendar, echoes from last year emanated, as if refusing to relinquish its grip on a twisted, telenovela-esque reality," writes Oscar Rosales Castañeda, a lecturer in American ethnic studies at the UW.

UW researchers found a run-in with police is much more devastating for Black children than it is for white kids. Annie McGlynn-Wright, who did the research while pursuing her doctorate in sociology at the UW, is interviewed.

Twenty moments from a year like no other — captured through the lenses of UW photographers.

Some hope is on the horizon this week with the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. Of course, it’s not a silver bullet in this pandemic. Certain groups of people remain especially vulnerable. They include detainees at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma. A report by the UW Center for Human Rights is mentioned.

Jonathan Kanter, director of the Center for the Science of Social Connection, offered UW News some suggestions for a healthy and, yes, happy, holiday season.

Jane Simoni, professor of psychology at the UW, talks about the mental health challenges people are experiencing during the winter amidst the pandemic. [Segment begins at :25.]

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said researchers are still investigating whether people who have been vaccinated can spread the novel coronavirus. Carl Bergstrom, professor of biology at the UW, explains why this is important. [This is part of the Dec. 4 issue of "Health 202."]

With vaccines and a new administration, the pandemic will be tamed. But experts say the coming months “are going to be just horrible.” Carl Bergstrom, professor of biology at the UW, is mentioned.

“Beyond damage repair, Biden has big plans for American energy. In my view, not all of them are realistic. Yet their actual purpose may be as starting points for negotiation,” writes Scott Montgomery, lecturer of international studies at the UW.

We know spending the holidays on our own will keep our loved ones healthy. That doesn’t make it any easier. But there’s joy to be found in solitude. We spoke to experts in stress and connection who told us how to navigate the complicated emotions around spending the holidays alone. Jonathan Kanter, research associate professor of psychology at the UW, is quoted.

There’s a Norwegian term for deliberately embracing time spent outside, for both the mental and physical benefits. It’s frifluftsliv, something Alaskans will find familiar, in spirit if not in name. And some say it’s a way to cope with the many limitations on life during a pandemic. Andy Meyer, assistant teaching professor of Scandinavian studies at the UW, is quoted.

The governors of Iowa and North Dakota recently announced mandates that require people to wear masks in public. Both leaders previously resisted mask rules but issued them in the past week as daily COVID-19 cases spiked in their states, overrunning hospitals and intensive care units. Christopher Adolph, associate professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.

The 2020 census has been subject to court fights, shifting deadlines and pandemic-related process adjustments. Sara Curran, director of the UW Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology, explains the developments with this year’s count.

Honors Peer Educator Zoe Mertz felt more engaged than ever by this year’s online Global Challenges event, saying: "I really appreciated the range of knowledge and disciplinary experience the speakers brought to the conversation; and the topic felt immediate and relevant to students in all disciplines." A video recording of Drs. Bushnell, Spigner and Koutnik's Nov. 12 discussion on communicating crises across a divided public is available to view and to share.