News from the School of IAS
When environmental research is lost: Dr. Melanie Malone featured in The New York Times
The New York Times interviewed Dr. Melanie Malone, an environmental science professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences at UW Bothell, as part of their “Lost Science” series. Her research team was mapping dangerous soil and water pollutants along the Duwamish River when the EPA canceled her $1.2 million grant. Read The New...
June 5, 2026
IAS Professor Jin-Kyu Jung teams with former faculty and MFA alum to write an essay on “Surfacing Urban Ghosts.”
Dr. Jin-Kyu Jung, former IAS Professor Dr. Ted Hiebert, and Master of Fine Arts alum, Noor Alnaaz Islam, ’25, have published an essay in Performance Research titled, “Surfacing Urban Ghosts: Buried cities and electromagnetic imaginations.” The Haunted Seattle project examines alternative maps and perceptions of Seattle’s underground cityscape and the hidden histories that shape it....
May 29, 2026
Dr. Minda Martin’s “Old Growth” wins Best Experimental Short Film
Professor Minda Martin’s short film “Old Growth” (2026) receives Best Experimental Short Film from the Arizona International Film Festival. “Old Growth” explores the beauty and fragility of the Pacific Northwest’s Hoh Rainforest. What began as a poetic tribute to an ancient forest evolved into a reflection on climate change, wildfire, and deforestation, using immersive imagery...
May 29, 2026
IAS students help shape policy in Olympia
A group of students from University of Washington Bothell’s School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences spent winter quarter in Olympia, working alongside lawmakers during the legislative session. They responded to constituents, attended hearings, tracked bills, supported advocacy efforts, and navigated the realities of public policy work in real time. For Jennifer Ramirez and Hiro Hirano-Holcomb,...
May 28, 2026
IAS Professors Santiago Lopez, Jin-Kyu Jung, and UW Bothell student, Haoye Zhang publish research in Urban Climate
IAS Professors Santiago Lopez and Jin-Kyu Jung, data visualization student Haoye Zhang, and Professor Bo Ae Chun from Kwandong Catholic University of Korea have published a research article in Urban Climate “Restored Wetlands as Urban Heat Mitigators: A UAS-Based Assessment of Land Use, Land Cover, and Surface Temperature in Bothell, Washington.” The study evaluated whether...
May 20, 2026
Dr. Georgia Roberts, 2026 UW Distinguished Teaching Award
Dr. Roberts‘ colleagues and students nominated her with the highest praise for this award, including her transformative, inclusive learning environments that connect interdisciplinary scholarship, critical inquiry and reflective practice to students’ lived experiences. As a recognized expert in American Studies with a focus on literature and popular music, Roberts has shaped UW Bothell through exceptional...
May 11, 2026
Dr. Becca Price, 2026 UW Distinguished Contributions to Lifelong Learning Award
Each year, the University of Washington recognizes members of our community whose work helps make our campuses stronger, more connected, and more compassionate through the Awards of Excellence. Among this year’s honorees is Dr. Becca Price, recipient of the 2026 UW Distinguished Contributions to Lifelong Learning Award. The award recognizes Price’s sustained and deeply principled...
May 11, 2026
Students explore the art of hand-drawn animation at UW Bothell
This winter, the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences launched a Hand-Drawn Animation course, taught by Masahiro Sugano, Senior Artist-in-Residence. Like many creative experiments, the course involved plenty of trial and error along the way. But according to Sugano, something meaningful emerged through the process: a shared sense of discovery, persistence, and joy in learning...
May 6, 2026
Shannon Cram presents at the Rachel Carson Forum
IAS faculty member Dr. Shannon Cram presented at the annual Rachel Carson Forum at Evergreen State College. Hosted by the Masters of Environmental Studies Association (MESA), this year’s forum considered the theme, “Ecology and Intersectionality in Theory and Practice.” Dr. Cram shared research about nuclear waste remediation and genetic previvorship, with a particular focus on...
May 6, 2026
Jennifer Atkinson co-authors paper on climate change and youth mental health in PLOS Climate
Working with colleagues at UW Seattle and King County Public Health, Dr. Jennifer Atkinson published An Expert-Informed Framework for Promoting Adolescent and Young Adult Mental Health and Well-being Amidst Climate Change in the Public Library of Science (PLOS) journal. Their study synthesizes insights from professionals in public health, education, and clinical and community sectors to...
April 20, 2026