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News & events

[em]Washington Engineer[/em] - October 2017

In the October 2017 issue:

  • Dean's Message
  • Research - People of color exposed to more pollution; DNA sequencing tools' cybersecurity risks; Smartphone selfies screening for pancreatic cancer
  • Campus News - UW names second CSE building the Bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science & Engineering; UW to host $15.6M NSF-funded center; UW advances the future of neural engineering
  • Events - 2017 College of Engineering Lecture Series
  • In the Media - A clever way of transmitting data on the cheap; Disturbing new evidence of how the Trump era is boosting misinformation and propaganda; Latina engineers push to defy odds in tech and increase their numbers
     

Dean's Message

The dean touches on research to identify racial disparities in air pollution exposure and security vulnerabilities in DNA processing, and the new Bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science & Engineering. Read message »

Michael Bragg

Research

County polution map People of color exposed to more pollution from cars, trucks, power plants during 10-year period
The U.S. made little progress from 2000 to 2010 in reducing relative disparities between people of color and whites in exposure to harmful air pollution, according to a new study from UW civil and environmental engineers. They found disparities in NO2 exposure were larger by race and ethnicity than by income, age or education, and that relative inequality persisted across the decade.
The Guardian | US News and World Report | Esquire | KING5 | Oregon Public Broadcasting

 
sequencing machine output DNA sequencing tools lack robust protections against cybersecurity risks
A new UW study finds evidence of poor computer security practices and hygiene throughout the DNA processing industry. The team also demonstrated for the first time that it is possible — though still challenging — to compromise a computer system with a malicious computer code stored in synthetic DNA.
The Wall Street Journal | MIT Technology Review | Gizmodo | The Verge | Slate | The Atlantic

 
person using cancer screening app New app uses smartphone selfies to screen for pancreatic cancer
BiliScreen is a new smartphone app developed by UW computer scientists, electrical engineers and medical researchers that can screen for pancreatic cancer by having users snap a selfie and detecting signs of jaundice in a person’s eye.
BBC News | Reader’s Digest | Cosmopolitan | IEEE Spectrum | USA Today

 

Campus News

architectural rendering of new CSE building UW names second CSE building the Bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science & Engineering
The UW has named its new computer science building under construction as the Bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science & Engineering, made possible by more than $30 million in gifts from Microsoft Corp. and a group of local business and philanthropic leaders who are longtime friends of the couple. The new building will double the space available for the University’s Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering.
The Wall Street Journal | The Seattle Times | GeekWire | Bloomberg | Fortune

 
MEMC faculty UW to host $15.6M NSF-funded center for innovation, education in materials science
The UW is home to a new national center of excellence for research, education and training in materials science. The Molecular Engineering Materials Center, funded by a $15.6 million, six-year grant from the National Science Foundation, will initially focus its research on nanocrystals and thin films — toward goals such as developing new materials for applications in clean energy, photonics and quantum computing.
Seattle Times | GeekWire

 
neurosurgeon looking at results Investing in innovation: UW advances the future of neural engineering
The intersection of engineering and neuroscience promises great advances in health care. The UW is establishing itself as a global leader in the field spurred on by the College of Engineering’s significant investments in faculty and cutting-edge research in neural engineering.

 

Events

Lillian Ratliff 2017 College of Engineering Lecture Series
Engineering the Data Revolution: Making Cities Smarter for Drivers
Nov. 7, Kane Hall 120
Urban congestion is made worse by slow-cruising vehicles hunting for curbside parking. Join electrical engineering assistant professor Lillian Ratliff to learn how she is using city data streams to develop novel algorithms to alleviate congestion and collaborating with SDoT to improve Seattle’s traffic and parking.

 

In the Media

Data transmission chip A clever way of transmitting data on the cheap
The Economist | Sept. 16, 2017
A long-range, frugal new chip from University of Washington electrical engineers and computer scientists could be just what a smart city needs.
MIT Technology Review | IEEE Spectrum | Engadget | NBC News

 
Kate Starbird Disturbing new evidence of how the Trump era is boosting misinformation and propaganda
Mother Jones | Sept. 7, 2017
UW Human Centered Design and Engineering assistant professor Kate Starbird documents the recent escalation of social-media warfare.

 
Cecilia Aragon Latina engineers push to defy odds in tech and increase their numbers
NBC News | Oct. 3, 2017
As the lack of diversity in the tech world continues to garner headlines, Latina engineers continue to face an uphill battle. HCDE professor Cecilia Aragon is interviewed about the work that still needs to be done.