News from the Office of Connected Learning
One Iced Americano, Please: A Recollection of Globalism, Space, and Belonging in Korean Café Culture by Rebekah Song
During her study abroad in South Korea, Rebekah reflects on café culture as a powerful example of globalism, where international influences are reimagined through local creativity, aesthetics, and values. From iced Americanos to uniquely crafted desserts, cafés became spaces of community, belonging, and cultural connection, shaping her understanding of how everyday rituals can create meaningful...
November 10, 2025
Expanding the definition of conservation
Jackelyn Garcia entered UW Bothell planning to study medicine but discovered her passion for environmental science after joining a research project on plant evolution. With support from her mentor, she became a Doris Duke Conservation Scholar, where she explored diverse approaches to conservation and realized her calling in environmental work. The fellowship shaped her career...
November 3, 2025
Visualizing Success: A Summer Internship in Data by James Chen, Digital Scholars 2025
Q&A with James Chen, Digital Scholars Intern 2025. What was your summer internship like? I worked with the University of Washington Bothell Advancement Team specifically in Alumni Engagement where I collaborated with the team to work on two major projects: employers for alumni and a breakdown of a past fundraising event. The first project, employers for alumni, we pulled from two separate UW databases and...
November 3, 2025
A Quick Guide to Things Not Discussed by Rayyan Salam
Rayyan’s study abroad experience in Rwanda revealed the often unspoken realities of studying abroad, from being constantly surrounded by people to the intensity of immersive research and reflection. Through deep academic engagement and everyday cultural connections, she began to see society, politics, and herself in new ways. The experience strengthened her confidence, challenged her identity,...
October 29, 2025
Rwanda-more than nation building by Kalkidan Kabeto
Kalkidan’s study abroad in Rwanda became one of the most meaningful experiences of her life. By learning about nation-building, reconciliation, and community healing after the 1994 Genocide, she saw how deeply psychology is connected to everyday life. Visiting organizations like Never Again Rwanda showed her how young people use conversation, education, and compassion to build...
October 23, 2025
What Germany Can Teach Us About Our Past by Charity Wangari
During her study abroad program in Berlin, she explored how the city openly confronts its difficult history through memorials, museums, and everyday sites of remembrance. These experiences made her reflect on how the U.S. often avoids similar acknowledgment, leading to unexamined patriotism and political pride. Walking through Berlin’s historical spaces showed her that remembrance doesn’t...
October 23, 2025
Using light to hear the whales
Researchers from UW Bothell’s School of STEM and the UW’s School of Oceanography are testing how existing underwater fiber optic cables can be repurposed to monitor endangered marine mammals, particularly Southern Resident orcas. Led by Dr. Shima Abadi and supported by a $1.5 million grant from Allen Family Philanthropies, the project aims to improve understanding...
October 15, 2025
Exploring Ecuador: our professor literally had class outside by Jenivee Marie Sarmiento
A first-gen, non-traditional student shares how studying abroad in Ecuador and the Galápagos transformed her perspective on health, community, and the environment. Through hands-on GIS research, cultural immersion, and exploring diverse ecosystems from Andean villages to the Galápagos Islands, she gained a deeper understanding of how land, people, and biodiversity are interconnected. The experience strengthened...
October 13, 2025
The harmful side of English holly
Elliott Church’s undergraduate research, which began with UW Bothell, revealed that English holly harms native forest plants, leading to Washington state listing it as a Class C noxious weed. His decade-long work, published in Natural Areas Journal, shows the lasting impact of student research and encourages others to pursue similar opportunities. Discover more opportunities through...
October 10, 2025
Internships channel student passion for the environment
UW Bothell students joined the first cohort of the Urban Stream Ecology Internship, partnering with the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation to monitor the health of two urban watersheds in Northern King County. Guided by Dr. Dana Campbell and community mentors, students collected baseline water quality data, learned field techniques, and explored how human activity...
October 9, 2025
