News
![A collage of five students](https://www.engr.washington.edu/sites/engr/files/styles/large/public/media/images/2021/04/gix-innovation-competition_0.jpg.webp?itok=YR1S6wY8)
Mon, 04/19/2021 | GIX
Engineering team places second in GIX innovation competition
For this year’s challenge, which focused on addressing agricultural challenges, the ECE student team developed MicroPlant, an automated plant moisture monitoring and control system.
![Side by side maps of Seattle color-coded based on normalized sidewalk reach between normative walking profile and manual wheelchair user profile. The map on the left shows more extensive NSR for the normative walking profile compared to the map on the right.](https://www.engr.washington.edu/sites/engr/files/styles/large/public/media/images/2021/04/taskar-plos-one-ppna-seattle-maps-blog.jpg.webp?itok=K1YG1uqn)
Wed, 04/14/2021 | Allen School News
Urban accessibility
Taskar Center researchers offer a roadmap for more robust modeling of pedestrian mobility on a city-wide scale.
![a collage of students that participated in the challenge](https://www.engr.washington.edu/sites/engr/files/styles/large/public/media/images/2021/04/EIC-2021-Blog-post-image_1100px.png.webp?itok=GFG_jr2y)
Wed, 04/07/2021 | Foster Blog
Environmental innovation wins
Student teams placed second and won special prizes in the 2021 Alaska Airlines Environmental Innovation Challenge.
![the cover of the volume](https://www.engr.washington.edu/sites/engr/files/styles/large/public/media/images/2021/04/TPL_Cover_1-25-21_front-375x290.png.webp?itok=QB4UhCfU)
Mon, 04/05/2021 | UW News
‘Telling Stories’: Imagined tales of artificial intelligence presented by the UW Tech Policy Lab
For “Telling Stories: On Culturally Responsive Artificial Intelligence,” the UW Tech Policy Lab collects stories of AI and its effects on future life. The lab is an interdisciplinary collaboration of the UW Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, Information School and School of Law.
![a medical form titled Alzheimer's Disease on a clipboard next to a brain x-ray, medication, and syringes](https://www.engr.washington.edu/sites/engr/files/styles/large/public/media/images/2021/03/alzheimers.jpg.webp?itok=EXX72eYH)
Mon, 04/05/2021 | College of Engineering
Alzheimer’s research gets a boost
Bioengineering startup AltPep advances its technology for the early detection and treatment of Alzheimer’s and other amyloid diseases.
![woman holding in a smartphone in front of her face](https://www.engr.washington.edu/sites/engr/files/styles/large/public/media/images/2021/04/cristina-zaragoza-cMVRsfY8R3Q-unsplash.jpg.webp?itok=_UGGken3)
Thu, 04/01/2021 | UW News
New system that uses smartphone or computer cameras to measure pulse, respiration rate could help future personalized telehealth appointments
A University of Washington-led team has developed a method that uses the camera on a person’s smartphone or computer to take their pulse and respiration signal from a real-time video of their face.
![Kueh lab image T cell timer](https://www.engr.washington.edu/sites/engr/files/styles/large/public/media/images/2021/03/Kueh-display-image.png.webp?itok=iAR-F9g1)
Wed, 03/31/2021 | Department of Bioengineering
Delayed action gene switch controls when stem cells become T cells
Bioengineering assistant professor Hao Yuan Kueh has uncovered a molecular timer used by stem cells to control when they differentiate, or turn into a specialized cell type.
![microvasculature 3D structure](https://www.engr.washington.edu/sites/engr/files/styles/large/public/media/images/2021/03/Zheng-microvasculature-display.png.webp?itok=KUD6iVuG)
Wed, 03/31/2021 | Department of Bioengineering
New approach builds capillaries in full 3D complexity
Bioengineering associate professor Ying Zheng has developed a technique that replicates microvasculature in full 3D complexity using multiphoton ablation and laser-guided cellularization.
![carbon fiber](https://www.engr.washington.edu/sites/engr/files/styles/large/public/media/images/2021/03/Composites360px.jpg.webp?itok=KAichZaT)
Thu, 03/25/2021 | College of Engineering
The carbon fiber state
How Washington became a global epicenter for advanced carbon fiber.
![Azadeh Yazdan](https://www.engr.washington.edu/sites/engr/files/styles/large/public/media/images/2021/03/Azadeh_Yazdan.jpg.webp?itok=5mAlHLeC)
Mon, 03/22/2021 | Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
A larger, clearer window into the brain
UW researchers have received a National Institutes of Health grant to lead a team in creating a unique device for brain study.
![Nathalie Thelemaque](https://www.engr.washington.edu/sites/engr/files/styles/large/public/media/images/2021/03/web_slider_natalie_v2-1.jpg.webp?itok=hetzOjPC)
Thu, 03/18/2021 | UW Graduate School
Building for sustainability
Doctoral student Nathalie Thelemaque is studying infrastructure's impact on the environment and communities so she can create sustainable systems.
![Woman gives a box of masks to a donation drive at a UW parking lot.](https://www.engr.washington.edu/sites/engr/files/styles/large/public/media/images/2021/03/Donations-photo-1.jpg.webp?itok=bVVWIB7I)
Wed, 03/10/2021
Helpful behavior during pandemic tied to recognizing common humanity
A new University of Washington study links helpful behavior during the pandemic, such as donating medical supplies, to individuals’ feelings of connection to others.
![A small white box on a table and a person sitting in front of it (their back is to the camera)](https://www.engr.washington.edu/sites/engr/files/styles/large/public/media/images/2021/03/Alexa_heart_rhythmWEB003.jpg.webp?itok=pO4Oexyr)
Tue, 03/09/2021
Alexa, do I have an irregular heart rhythm? First AI system for contactless monitoring of heart rhythm using smart speakers
UW researchers have developed a new skill for a smart speaker that acts as a contactless monitor for both regular and irregular heartbeats.
![Sheldon Levias writing on a whiteboard](https://www.engr.washington.edu/sites/engr/files/styles/large/public/media/images/2021/03/Copy-of-20170727-Engineering-076.jpg.webp?itok=NjNbb8G2)
Mon, 03/08/2021
Making connections
When Sheldon Levias came to the UW as an engineering student, he never imagined the path he would travel as an educator and adviser.
![illustration of a person putting a ballot in ballot bos with text "The Long Fuse: misinformation and the 2020 election"](https://www.engr.washington.edu/sites/engr/files/styles/large/public/media/images/2021/03/TheLongFuse.jpg.webp?itok=Wc900XK_)
Fri, 03/05/2021
UW Center for an Informed Public co-authors report on mis- and disinformation surrounding the 2020 U.S. election
The Election Integrity Partnership, a nonpartisan coalition of research institutions, including the University of Washington, released its final report on voting-related mis- and disinformation during the 2020 U.S. elections.
![A collage of student headshots](https://www.engr.washington.edu/sites/engr/files/styles/large/public/media/images/2021/03/HIC-2021.jpg.webp?itok=1xZ3Ib_C)
Fri, 03/05/2021
Engineering students win big
Engineering teams placed second, third, and won special prizes in the 2021 Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge.
![Portrait of Professor Karen Thomas Brown](https://www.engr.washington.edu/sites/engr/files/styles/large/public/media/images/2021/02/news-kat-b-022221.jpg.webp?itok=0ZjFQF4t)
Mon, 02/22/2021
Professor Karen Thomas-Brown named new Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
"In this position, Karen will lead the college’s ongoing efforts to become an accessible, welcoming, and inclusive community."
![atomic force microscopy image of a surface with nine shapes attached](https://www.engr.washington.edu/sites/engr/files/styles/large/public/media/images/2021/02/Fig3E.jpg.webp?itok=HEhToTKV)
Fri, 02/19/2021 | UW News
‘Small moon’ shapes allow DNA devices to attach precisely
A team of engineers has developed a technique that allows the precise placement of molecules formed from folded DNA in not only a specific location but also in a specific orientation.
![Colleen O’Connor](https://www.engr.washington.edu/sites/engr/files/styles/large/public/media/images/2021/02/Colleen-Headshot-cropped_360px.jpg.webp?itok=aSgUvP8F)
Fri, 02/19/2021 | UW Graduate School
How Colleen O'Connor is helping kids love science
The bioengineering doctoral student is supporting a more diverse field of STEM learners through community outreach.
![Mary Lidstrom](https://www.engr.washington.edu/sites/engr/files/styles/large/public/media/images/2021/02/MaryLidstrom_news.jpg.webp?itok=1aMIiVhD)
Fri, 02/19/2021 | UW News
Vice Provost for Research Mary Lidstrom stepping down after 15 years
Dr. Mary Lidstrom, professor of chemical engineering and of microbiology, will step down on Aug. 31 as the UW’s Vice Provost for Research.
![airplane](https://www.engr.washington.edu/sites/engr/files/styles/large/public/media/images/2021/02/2318437557_56a648c43e_k_360px.jpg.webp?itok=v9rJa9nb)
Thu, 02/18/2021 | Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics
New law of physics finds a sweet spot for aircraft efficiency
Newly discovered law of physics provides the blueprint to boost aircraft efficiency.
![Booga Gilbertson](https://www.engr.washington.edu/sites/engr/files/styles/large/public/media/images/2021/02/Booga-Kayaking.jpg.webp?itok=7qxMhH-T)
Fri, 02/12/2021 | Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Looking ahead to give back
UW alumna Booga Gilbertson has established the “You Rock” Endowed Scholarship in Electrical & Computer Engineering. The fund will help support undergraduate students, especially those from rural communities or who have lacked educational opportunities in STEM or computer science.
![Jessica Ray, James Carothers and Ayokunle Olanrewaju](https://www.engr.washington.edu/sites/engr/files/styles/large/public/media/images/2021/02/inspiring_faculty.jpg.webp?itok=xHRkGdtw)
Wed, 02/10/2021 | UW News
1,000 inspiring Black scientists
A list of 1,000 inspiring Black scientists published by Cell Mentor in December 2020 includes CEE Assistant Professor Jessica Ray, ChemE Associate Professor James Carothers and ME Acting Assistant Professor Ayokunle Olanrewaju.
![Mari Ostenford Portrait](https://www.engr.washington.edu/sites/engr/files/styles/large/public/media/images/2021/02/mari-ostenford-nae-2.jpg.webp?itok=3YA_NVN8)
Wed, 02/10/2021 | National Academy of Engineering
Mari Ostendorf elected to NAE
ECE professor Mari Ostendorf has been elected to the 2021 National Academy of Engineering.
![a still photo of a beating heart tissue against a red background with illustrated hearts](https://www.engr.washington.edu/sites/engr/files/styles/large/public/media/images/2021/02/Valentines-EHT-thumb.jpg.webp?itok=6K1-iebK)
Mon, 02/08/2021
Engineering that tugs at the heartstrings
UW researchers engineer miniature beating heart tissues that allow them to study a range of topics in human health.