UW and the Community

A set of letters dating back to the 1940s led Devin Naar to study the history of Sephardic Jews. Now he heads the UW's Sephardic Studies Initiative and oversees an archive of Sephardic materials that is among the nation's largest.

Philosophy graduate student Amy Reed-Sandoval has spent the past three summers leading a philosophy program for children in Oaxaca, Mexico, guiding conversations on everything from individual rights to the nature of happiness.

With so many fantasy novels and their on-screen adaptions set in neo-medieval times, EMP looked to members of a UW medieval studies group to help with its new exhibit on the fantasy genre.

When scientists studying the deadly H5N1 “bird flu” virus reengineered it to be transmissible in humans, the potential for the virus to become a public security threat intensified.

Through a national program, ten high school students spent a recent Saturday as physicists, analyzing real data from the world's largest particle accelerator and discussing their findings with scientists at a national lab.

Black Cultural Studies students combined traditional coursework with community projects through a winter quarter collaboration with the Northwest African American Museum.

A&S alumni and siblings Gary and Carver Gayton have led extraordinary lives, following in the footsteps of their great grandfather Lewis Clarke, who escaped slavery to become a well-known abolitionist.

It began as a modest resource to address students' frequently asked questions, but Professor Quintard Taylor's BlackPast.org website now attracts 2.8 million visitors a year with its trusted information about African American history.

The new Dean of  the College of Arts and Sciences shares his thoughts about his role, the value of the liberal arts, and the state of higher education.

Graham Pruss knows a thing or two about being homeless, having lived through some tough times on the streets as a teen. So when he noticed a growing number of people living in their vehicles in his Seattle neighborhood, he was determined to help.

As Washington voters consider numerous hot button issues this election season, many are turning to the Living Voters Guide, an interactive online resource developed by UW students and faculty in conjunction with Seattle CityClub.

Making Connections, a program of the UW Women's Center, helps first-generation, low-income high school girls achieve their dream of going to college. For the past five years, the program has had a 100 percent success rate.

Math Circles, led weekly by UW students, introduce middle school students to the joys of mathematics. "You have captured the fire in my child!" comments one parent, impressed by the program.

A seminar course developed by and for graduate students aims to improve scientists' ability to explain their research to the public. Now participants will use their newfound skills as they speak at an upcoming public lecture series.