01. ALIEN INVADERS: Marine Invasive Species in the Pacific Northwest and Beyond
University of Washington Tacoma
Invasive non-native species are recognized as the world's second-greatest threat to biodiversity after habitat loss. They also affect our economy and health. As with weeds on land, alien invaders in the sea are often spread by people. UWT environmental science faculty and students have worked with Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium to develop the country's first exhibit on marine aliens, now seen by about 500,000 people annually. Our goal is to give the public tools and knowledge to stem the tide of damaging invasions; one tool, a field guide to marine alien species, is a "takeaway" at our showcase. We also present exciting results from research teams working to see just how invaded Washington's waters are and how invasive species affect marine protected areas.
http://www.tacoma.washington.edu/news/051502_gen.html

02. Exploring Neuroscience: Research, Discovery, and Leading-Edge Patient Care
School of Medicine
Each year, 50 million Americans are affected by neurological conditions. Treatment and diagnosis requires collaboration, novel new therapies, and management of a staggering amount of data. Test your brain's amazing adaptive powers, handle some actual brains, and witness how UW Medicine advances neuroscience through highly successful cross-disciplinary research and technologies:
- Harborview's Gamma Knife Center and The Regional Epilepsy Center – celebrated for their research and treatment of brain and seizure disorders.
- The UW Human Brain Project and the UW Integrated Brain Imaging Center- two multidisciplinary efforts, generating and managing thousands of images of the brain and providing an extraordinary brain mapping resource for physicians and researchers.
- The Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center - international leaders in research aimed at understanding normal hearing, and restoring hearing through cochlear implants and regeneration of inner ear hair cells.
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html
http://www.uwnews.org/article.asp?articleID=1889

03. Improving Regional Smiles Through Dental Research and Community Service
School of Dentistry
It is estimated that eighty percent of dental disease in the State if Washington is found in twenty percent of the population. This population is largely rural, poor, and young. A variety of community outreach experiences comprise the School of Dentistry's 4-year curriculum, providing students with opportunities to serve patient populations that experience significant barriers to receiving dental care. The School's community-based outreach programs also reinforce the importance of cultural sensitivity when providing health care. Through long-standing relationships with several of these communities, significant research programs have been developed with the aim of understanding the biological and behavioral components that contribute to oral health disparities in this region. This combination of service and research is a necessary investment to improve the region's oral health.
http://depts.washington.edu/nacrohd/
http://www.washington.edu/eplt/research/reports.shtml
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/oralhealth

* To see a video-on-demand of this showcase, click here.

04. Storefront Studio: A Model for Sustainable Community Interaction
College of Architecture and Urban Planning
With the Storefront Studio, undergraduate and graduate architecture students from the University of Washington have set up their design studios in empty storefronts in the beleaguered hearts of economically disadvantaged communities. For six months at a time, the students study the present-day community, envision a future streetscape, and collaborate with interested building owners, business owners, and residents to improve building facades and pedestrian amenities. Support for the façade projects come from a city economic development fund which provides a grant to building owners for the cost of materials. UW students contribute design and construction budget consulting. Following on the success of a studio operated out of a former record store in the University District, the studio has moved to an empty storefront on main street White Center, and is currently working in the Central District and South Rainier.
http://www.uwnews.org/article.asp?articleID=2101

05. Center for Public Health Nutrition: Weighing in on a Healthier Washington
School of Public Health
The University of Washington Center for Public Health Nutrition (CPHN) was established in 2002 with funds from the vitamin anti-trust settlement by the State Attorney General. The Center's mission is to advance public health approaches to improve nutrition and physical activity through environmental and policy change. Building strong working partnerships and collaborations with public health practitioners, government agencies and community groups is central to our mission and helps shape obesity and chronic disease prevention and reduction efforts in Washington. This showcase highlights the epidemic of obesity in Washington and throughout the U.S. and provides examples of what CPHN and its partners are doing to improve the health of Washington communities. Visit us on the web at www.cphn.org.

06. CHANGING LIVES: Improving Business Through Technical Assistance and Multicultural Partnerships
Business School
The Business and Economic Development Program (BEDP) has been changing lives in economically distressed/emerging communities since 1995. We have helped hundreds of people to gain jobs, business owners to reach their goals, students to learn new skills, and many communities to increase economic vitality. More than 450 Business School students, faculty, and staff have been linked with 200 small, mostly minority-owned, businesses to provide thousands of hours of education and student consulting services in Seattle, the Yakima Valley, Tri-Cities and Spokane. BEDP provides scholarships to minority students to build the next generation's business leaders. We also publish groundbreaking research on minority business development. Recognized for innovative programming by the US Department of Commerce and the NW Minority Business Council, BEDP is helping to develop similar programs on the West Coast and in South Africa.
http://depts.washington.edu/busdev/BEDP_news.shtml

07. Real Challenges, Real Solutions: The Public Service Clinics
Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs
The Evans School's Public Service Clinics help nonprofits and public agencies make communities more livable, protect natural resources, and improve services for people. Each year, dozens of our students tackle real challenges in society and, collaborating with agency leaders and faculty, develop viable solutions. For example:

Because open space is a major issue for residents of Puget Sound, one project modeled growth and space needs by forecasting future employment density in urban growth areas.
Because protecting forests and watersheds costs money, another project proposed ways King County can move financial resources from urban to rural areas.
Because farm workers are critical for Washington's agriculture, a third project found ways to make farm worker housing more feasible and affordable.
Because life skills are essential for youth in foster care, a fourth project developed a "quality assurance" process for the Casey Family Programs' training models.
Does your organization have a challenge for the Public Service Clinics?

http://www.evans.washington.edu/research/psclinic/clinics/clinicdescriptions.html

08. Destination Mars!
College of Engineering
Will the next branch campus be on Mars? Maybe, with the Department for Aeronautics and Astronautics' many connections to the red planet! Three graduates of the program worked on the Mars Exploration Rover mission teams, while a fourth helped develop a robotic arm for another Mars mission. The Department is developing technologies for utilizing Martian resources in future missions, and a team of students is designing and building the carrier module to put mice into orbit, allowing scientists to study the effects of simulated Mars gravity. This is just one way UW students move beyond book learning to real-world experience. Stop by the showcase to see a life-sized Mars Lander, learn about the mice-in-space and Martian resource projects, and meet students who are getting an out-of-this-world education!
http://www.atmos.washington.edu/~mars/CTW/CTW-web.html

09. DXARTS: A Revolutionary New Program at the Frontier of the Arts
College of Arts and Sciences
The Center for Digital Arts and Experimental Media (DXARTS) is a new research center and degree-granting program unique to the University of Washington. The first of its kind in the world, the program establishes the UW as a leading institution for the creation and study of new and experimental genres of digital art and culture. DXARTS offers both BFA and Ph.D. degrees, with concentrations ranging from digital cinema, computer animation, and sonic arts to robotics, telematics and mechatronics. Designed around a revolutionary new model of creative practice, research, and discovery at the frontier of the arts, DXARTS supports the emergence of a new generation of hybrid artists by fostering the invention of new forms of art through expanded studio research which synthesize pioneering advances in digital computing, information technologies, science, and engineering.
http://www.dxarts.washington.edu

10. Learning about Politics through the Election Day Computer Simulation
College of Arts and Sciences
Election Day is more than a computer game—it's a project designed to raise public understanding of the electoral process in the United States. Those who play the Election Day simulation game can become more shrewd voters, more effective campaign volunteers, or even better candidates for public office. Players learn about political parties, public opinion, campaign financing, election law, political marketing, strategic planning, and the media. John Gastil, Associate Professor of Communication, developed the game in collaboration with undergraduate computer science students, with programming assistance from Ralph Shelton and original music by Dan Jacobson. Stop by and see how the game works for your own use or for use by your students. Those wishing to distribute the game can obtain a non-exclusive license.
http://www.election-day.info/

11. Citizen-Driven Protection of the Marine Environment
Friday Harbor Laboratories
The Northwest Straits Commission has instituted a new paradigm of citizen-driven management of marine resources. Under its auspices, each of the seven Washington counties that border the northwest Straits of Juan de Fuca has established a Marine Resources Committee made up of citizen-volunteers
In 1997, faced with a declining "bottomfish" fishery, the San Juan County Marine Resources Committee established a system of voluntary Marine Protected Areas within which fishing would be discouraged.
University of Washington undergraduate apprentices, graduate students, and researchers have worked closely with the San Juan County Marine Resources Committee in providing answers to such basic questions as:

• How many reserves are needed, and how big should they be?
• How (and how soon) will we know the Marine Reserves are working?
• Are voluntary reserves as effective as mandatory reserves?

http://www.nwstraits.org/
http://depts.washington.edu/fhl/

12. Investing in Successful Youth Development: Communities That Care® in Seattle
School of Social Work
The Seattle Communities That Care (CTC) Project aims to reduce the most prevalent barriers to learning that affect students in Seattle Public School District's secondary schools. The CTC system is built on the most current innovations in prevention science. It enables school and community leaders to use data collected from students themselves to determine the needs of their youth and to identify and adopt research-tested strategies to address those needs. As a result of the CTC project in Seattle Public Schools, nine tested, effective prevention programs have been implemented in 22 Seattle secondary schools. In an environment where resources are scarce and accountability is essential, the CTC system has brought much-needed tools to Seattle schools and communities for promoting the positive and healthy development of their youth.
http://www.seattleschools.org/area/ctc/whatisCTC.xml

13. Pharmacogenetics and Its Impact on Drug Safety
School of Pharmacy
The Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine are leading investigations to identify genetic mutations that predispose patients to drug-induced toxicities. Some drugs that are essential for the treatment of potentially fatal conditions can also cause life-threatening adverse drug reactions (ADR). Our research reveals that patients at risk for an ADR often inherit gene mutations that slow the rate of drug elimination from the body or alter the effects of the drug on body tissues. Our presentation highlights methods used to identify genetic mutations in patients receiving the anti-clotting drug warfarin and the immunosuppressant drug cyclosporine, and the impact of those variant alleles on the risk of an adverse event. We also explore strategies to employ genetic testing to improve clinical outcomes in a cost-effective manner.

14. Tacoma Japanese Language School Oral History Project: Identity, Citizenship, Belonging
University of Washington Tacoma
This project preserves in the public historical record the memories and experiences of former students of Tacoma's Japanese Language School (JLS), contributing to our understanding of pre-WWII urban Japanese life and identity negotiation in America. The historically unique experience of internment makes these negotiations over belonging particularly important. Opened in 1911 by immigrants wanting to educate their children in their native language and culture, the School became a focal point for Tacoma's Japanese community until forced relocation in 1942. Interview topics range from typical childhood days and lessons learned in the JLS to interactions with other communities and internment experiences. This project is timely and urgent as the former students age, and because the JLS building is slated for demolition this year. All interviews are videotaped and transcribed.
http://www.tacoma.washington.edu/news/110403.html
http://www.tacoma.washington.edu/news/070103b.html

15. Cities and Ecology: Working Together Instead of Apart
College of Forest Resources
College of Architecture and Urban Planning
College of Arts and Sciences
Urban ecology is an emerging field that addresses complex problems at the interface of urban growth, human wellbeing, and the functioning of Earth's ecosystems. The vision of our Urban Ecology program is to change the culture of graduate education from a traditional enterprise focused on an individual's discipline to one clearly emphasizing interdisciplinary teams. Students from widely varied backgrounds are immersed into interdisciplinary education through team teaching and team projects. Students develop research questions using real-world problems presented to them by outside clients. By integrating research and education, the Urban Ecology program is building a theoretical framework and a series of empirical studies to increase understanding of the drivers, patterns, and complex mechanisms that mediate the interactions between natural and human processes in urban ecosystems.
http://www.cfr.washington.edu/research.urbaneco/

16. Surgery Simulation: Increasing Patient Safety and Physician Quality
School of Medicine
The UW is globally renowned for developing and using medical simulation and surgical robotics for training and clinical practice, resulting in extraordinary advances in patient safety. Recently Dr. Carlos Pellegrini spearheaded the ISIS (Institute for Surgical and Interventional Simulation), a project that brings together some of the greatest minds in the field including Dr. Richard Satava and Dr. Mika Sinanan. In addition, Dr. Rob Sweet is applying virtual reality and has created and validated novel new medical applications, and Dr. Brian Ross has developed an anesthesiology simulator that demonstrates a full range of emergency symptoms, providing students and physicians with vital hands-on experience. These researchers and physicians are collaborating on technologies that are changing the field of medicine.
http://archives.thedaily.washington.edu/1996/011796/mann.html

17. Exploring Inner Space: The NEPTUNE Ocean Observatory
College of Ocean and Fishery Sciences
The UW has a leadership role in NEPTUNE, a revolutionary ocean observatory being built off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. The 3,000-km network of heavily instrumented fiber-optic/power cables will enable regional-scale, real-time, interactive observations and experiments with the ocean, the seafloor, and the biological communities that thrive in these environments. Hardwired to the Internet, the network will provide scientists, students, educators, and the public with virtual access to remarkable parts of our planet, rarely visited by humans. This exhibit includes recently collected imagery of submarine volcanoes, 700°F seafloor hot springs, and novel life forms that exist off our coast. UW oceanographers collected these images using robotic vehicles and the submersible Alvin from the Juan de Fuca Ridge, part of NEPTUNE's study area.
http://www.neptune.washington.edu/

* To see a video-on-demand of this showcase, click here.

18. The Simpson Center for the Humanities presents "Children of War"
College of Arts and Sciences
Through innovative on-campus and off-campus programs, the Simpson Center for the Humanities fosters scholarship, community, and education in the realms of art, literature, culture, and history. This winter, the Simpson Center extends that mission through "Children of War," bringing to campus the acclaimed and timely exhibition "They Still Draw Pictures: Children's Art in Wartime from the Spanish Civil War to Kosovo," curated by Professor Geist. An accompanying film series, an undergraduate course, and a public symposium will further illuminate the children's artwork as testimony to the destructive power of violence and the creative powers of imagination and expression. Drawing together survivors and historians, literary scholars and psychologists, artists and children's advocates, "Children of War" promises meaningful exchange and insight into war through children's eyes.
They Still Draw Pictures (PDF)

19. Books, Bytes, and Beyond: Undergraduates Tackle Research in a New Era
University Libraries and Office of Undergraduate Education
Engaging undergraduates in research became a national focus in higher education in the mid-1990s. This focus also became a priority at the University of Washington, where over the last decade the Undergraduate Research Program has helped to facilitate significant growth in this enterprise. UW students actively participate in research efforts spanning all fields, including the development of new medical technologies, studies of environmental change, and new views of history. The University Libraries, one of the largest research collections in the country, celebrates outstanding examples of scholarly inquiry through the "Library Research Award for Undergraduates," funded by the Kenneth S. Allen Foundation. This showcase highlights projects recognized by the Library Research Award for Undergraduates and the Mary Gates Endowment for Students, which provides scholarships to students involved in research.
http://www.lib.washington.edu/researchaward/

20. UW Bothell: Educating Leaders and Engaged Citizens for our Communities
University of Washington Bothell
At the University of Washington, Bothell, we focus on students. We are committed to teaching in a way which provides students with exceptional and personal educational experiences. Our integrated, inquiry-based, and team-based methods of teaching combine the very best of a liberal education. As a result, our students are active participants in their education; they are problem solvers in the classroom and in the field, not passive absorbers of information and theory. Small class sizes encourage interaction between students and a closer relationship with faculty who are actively involved in research both inside and outside the classroom. All of this yields graduates prepared to assume leadership roles in their communities.
http://www.bothell.washington.edu/

21. Robo-DAWGS!
College of Engineering
Watch robotic dogs play soccer as RoboDawgs and students strut their stuff. This UW team is so successful they have competed internationally in robotic soccer tournaments, and took 3rd place at the American Open last year. Despite the fun, serious learning goes on too. By programming the dogs to play soccer and continuously improving their performance, students are learning to build intelligent systems that can make decisions and react to their environments. Robotic science has implications beyond the cute dogs. Future applications of this technology will lead to robots that can explore, map and monitor the world around them, and even interact with each other to share information and coordinate their movements. For now, soccer-playing RoboDawgs offer hands-on learning at its best!
http://www.cs.washington.edu/ai/Mobile_Robotics/Aibo/

22. The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning: Huckabay Fellows
The Graduate School
Huckabay Teaching Fellowships are one-quarter awards intended to give graduate students an opportunity to work on a specific project focused on teaching and learning at the college or university level. Projects are proposed by students, who work with faculty teaching mentors, either from UW or from nearby colleges, universities, or community colleges, to collaborate with them in their projects. During the project, the collaborations between the Fellow and the Mentor will allow the student to benefit from the faculty member's expertise in teaching, while maintaining a focus centered on the student's teaching interests. These fellowships are funded by an endowment established by Durward and Susan Huckabay, UW alumni and Laureates, in order to further graduate education at the University of Washington.
http://www.grad.washington.edu/pff/huckabay.htm

23. Computer Animation: The Future of Filmmaking
College of Engineering
The next generation of filmmakers is already making movie magic at the UW College of Engineering! The digital animation program attracts students from a wide variety of fields, including art, architecture, computer science and music. In this truly interdisciplinary program, students produce short films and gain hands-on experience. They also learn from film industry veterans like directors, actors, puppeteers and lighting specialists. From one class in 1996 the program has become a nationally recognized center for animation research and education, where students innovate, create and develop new technologies. See the science behind movie marvels like Toy Story and Shrek, meet the filmmakers of tomorrow, and watch a few flicks at this entertaining showcase!
http://www.cs.washington.edu/ARL/

24. Early Learning and the Brain
College of Arts and Sciences
New scientific insights often come from unexpected and even humble places. Some of the most important discoveries about human learning and the brain have come from the crib and the nursery. Look at any child. What do you see? Most of us see a picture of innocence and helplessness, a clean slate. But in fact, what we see is the most powerful learning machine in the universe. We can learn as much looking in the crib or preschool as by looking in the petri dish or the telescope. In some ways we can learn more—we learn what it means to be human. Stop by the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences' engaging exhibit and discover for yourself the secret life of children. Learn more about your ex-self.
http://ilabs.washington.edu

25. Virtual Reality: Translating Technology into Patient Care
College of Engineering and School of Medicine
Virtual reality is easing patient pain, both psychological and physical. The Human Interface Technology Lab (HIT Lab) is a multi-disciplinary research and development lab improving people’s lives through the “interface” of brain and computer. Through a partnership between UW Medicine and the College of Engineering, virtual reality is being used to deal with phobias, treat terrorist victims suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and make the excruciating pain of wound treatment more bearable for burn victims. The lab has a small staff, but its innovative accomplishments are enormous, and many of the researchers are students. Come view one of the virtual worlds, talk to the staff and students, and learn about the exciting projects currently underway!
http://www.seattletimes.com/pacificnw/2004/0411/cover.html

26. Undergraduate Research in Materials: World Class Face to Face
Washington State University
Washington State University is a national leader in undergraduate research in materials science and engineering. The vision for the program is that research can be a transformational experience for all students and should not be reserved for only "honors" or "senior" students. Over six years a thorough revamping of our curriculum has lead to the establishment of a year-long thesis program and full time summer research experiences. Over 80 students have participated, leading to over 30 peer reviewed journal papers and international conference presentations. This showcase will feature selected students and highlight their projects, including: tin whisker growth in microelectronics for the space station; the development of new lasers; and the effects of hydrogen on fracture in the new hydrogen economy.

27. Improving Care of Older Adults: Northwest Research Group on Aging
School of Nursing
By 2030, 70 million Americans will be over 65—up from 33 million today. The Northwest Research Group on Aging conducts research, teaching and community programs aimed at improving quality of life for older adults, with an emphasis on Alzheimer's disease. Their research shows that regular exercise and behavior management reduces depression and improves physical health and function in people with Alzheimer's. The group also developed a training program for staff caregivers of residents with dementia in assisted living. The program, called Staff Training for Assisted Living Residents (STAR), is being tested at multiple sites in Washington, Illinois and Arkansas. Come see video used in the STAR training and learn about related behavioral programs and strategies developed to help older adults lead happier, healthier lives.

28. Exploring the Human Genome: A Revolution in Medicine
College of Engineering and School of Medicine
Mapping the human genome was an amazing feat, but now that critical data needs to be put to use. How does each cell use the information contained within? What can we learn about genetic mutation and treatment of disease by studying genomics? These are the types of questions now being explored through collaboration between UW Medicine and the College of Engineering. This innovative partnership fuses biomedicine and engineering for the advancement of health care. Students play an active role in this cutting-edge research, and the Genomics Outreach for Minorities program encourages minority students to become members of the genomics research team. Enter the fascinating world of genomics as you try out the lab equipment and meet the minds behind the revolutionary new science!

* To see a video-on-demand of this showcase, click here.

29. CAYAC: Advocating for Foster Youth, Educating Child Welfare Leaders
School of Law
What happens when a child "grows up" in foster care, when his or her parental rights are terminated but nobody steps in to fill the role of committed parent? The system has few, if any, provisions, leaving these youth without state supervision, without family, and often without a home. The Children and Youth Advocacy Clinic (CAYAC), an interdisciplinary clinic at the School of Law, educates students to advocate for youth in foster care so that each adolescent client establishes permanent connections with responsible, caring adults before leaving the system.

Stop by and hear the voices of youth who have turned eighteen and are struggling with homelessness. Learn about the approaches that CAYAC is taking to advocate for this vulnerable population.
http://www.law.washington.edu/clinics/child.html

30. Beaches, Salmon and Survival
College of Ocean and Fishery Sciences
Many of us benefit economically, socially and culturally from Puget Sound's nearshore beaches, marshes and swamps. The integrity of Puget Sound depends on the integrity of its shoreline. Nearshore productivity, biological diversity, water quality improvement and habitats for valued species, such as juvenile Pacific salmon, are particularly important. To understand these functions better, we are studying basic nearshore ecosystem processes ranging from a few square meters on the beach to circulation along the entire Sound. We are particularly interested in sediment movement, plankton productivity and the distribution of important biota—such as juvenile salmon—and their habitats—such as eelgrass—along the shoreline. The better we understand how nearshore Puget Sound works, the better chance that both salmon and our culture will survive in perpetuity.
http://www.prism.washington.edu/

* To see a video-on-demand of this showcase, click here.

31. Tomorrow's Teachers Making a Difference Today: UW and the Madrona School
College of Education
The UW College of Education is committed to helping high-needs schools close the achievement gap. Since 2001, College faculty members have coordinated a tutoring program at Seattle's Madrona School for fourth and seventh graders preparing for the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) exam.
For five weeks every spring, 40 UW undergrads interested in becoming teachers help Madrona students study for the WASL. Tutors and students go over sample WASL problems together. The individual attention is making a difference: Test scores for seventh graders are better across the board. Scores for fourth graders have improved in math, reading and writing. At Madrona, tomorrow's teachers are helping to close the achievement gap today.
http://admin.urel.washington.edu/uweek/archives/issue/uweek_story_small.asp

32. u b i t Research Program: Increasing Universal Benefit from Information Technology
Information School
The u b i t Research Program is concerned with increasing people's benefit from information technology in all areas of their lives. Universal benefit dictates that all people, regardless of their abilities, backgrounds, or experiences, are beneficiaries of IT. u b i t consists of related research projects, which integrate information science, human-computer interaction, and computer science disciplines. Research includes:

• Determining ways in which to characterize and measure universal benefit.
• Conducting studies to understand users' information behavior, work practices, or needs and to determine ways in which to increase their benefit from IT.
• Developing methodologies and tools to help designers to implement beneficial IT.
• Developing methodologies and tools to help users to benefit from existing IT.
• Determining ways in which to increase the number of underrepresented minorities who benefit from pursuing IT careers.

http://ubit.ischool.washington.edu/