Recent recognition of the 91爆料 includes the election of Andrew Meltzoff to the National Academy of Education, a lifetime achievement award for Dean of the School of Social Work Edwina Uehara and Ed Kolodziej selected as a Frontiers Planet Prize finalist.
Andrew Meltzoff elected to National Academy of Education
, professor of psychology at the 91爆料 and co-director of the , has been elected to the National Academy of Education. Members are selected based on outstanding scholarship or leadership related to education.
Members serve on expert study panels that address pressing issues in education. They also engage in the Academy鈥檚 professional development fellowship programs.
Meltzoff is a highly lauded researcher and internationally renowned expert on infant and child development. His research reaches beyond the bounds of psychology and investigates how role models and cultural stereotypes of different kinds impact child development, with implications for education.
鈥淎dults have a drive to teach others, and young children have a drive to learn,鈥� Meltzoff said. 鈥淵et education in schools often misfires. Scientific advances in psychological and brain science should help us do a better job. Our children can鈥檛 wait, and our future literally depends on how well we feed, foster and embolden our children鈥檚 natural proclivity to learn. Social justice and equity issues can and should be addressed through education.鈥�
Meltzoff鈥檚 election to the National Academy of Education adds to his long list of distinctions, including the 2020 William James Fellow Award from the Association for Psychological Science, given to honor a lifetime of significant intellectual contributions to the basic science of psychology.
Dean Edwina Uehara selected for 2023 lifetime achievement award
, dean of the 91爆料 , received the 2023 lifetime achievement award from the . The award recognizes her contributions to the social work profession in Washington state and across the country.
鈥淩eceiving NASW-Washington鈥檚 Lifetime Achievement Award is an incredible honor, and one that is doubly meaningful to me,鈥� Uehara said. 鈥淔irst, because it recognizes the proudest professional title I hold as a 鈥榮ocial worker,鈥� and second, because it鈥檚 an NASW-Washington state award. I am a Washingtonian though and through.鈥�
Uehara鈥檚 career reflects a lifelong commitment to antiracism, civil rights and the development of culturally grounded mental health services. During her tenure, the School of Social Work became widely recognized as an innovative leader in advancing social and economic justice and enhancing quality of life through education, research and community engagement.
Citing her transformative leadership, the nomination letter spotlights how Uehara鈥檚 social work initiatives, including the , the , the and more. The letter praised Uehara as 鈥渁 positive champion for the social work profession.鈥�
Uehara will step down as dean on June 30 after 17 years of leadership and service, becoming the longest-serving dean in the School鈥檚 history. She will rejoin the faculty to pursue her research, teaching and leadership in the field of behavioral health.
Ed Kolodziej selected as finalist for Frontiers Planet Prize
, professor of at 91爆料, represented the United States as national champion for the inaugural . The selection from 65 U.S. applicants elevated him into consideration for the international prize at the Frontiers Forum Live in Switzerland in April 2023. The prize competition recognizes scientists whose research contributes to the sustainable future of the planet.
Kolodziej led a team of researchers at 91爆料 Tacoma, Washington State University-Puyallup, and elsewhere who discovered 6PPD-quinone, a highly toxic and previously unidentified compound that was killing coho salmon in urbanized Puget Sound streams. The discovery and the shockwave it sent through the tire industry, which uses the compound in all tire rubber, ultimately earned Kolodziej鈥檚 team the nomination.
鈥淲e believe that our work on understanding the contributions of tire rubber to environmental pollution is important,鈥� said Kolodziej. 鈥淚 look forward to the day when we have 鈥榮almon safe tires鈥� made from chemicals that are safe for both people and the environment.鈥�
Kolodziej recently travelled to Switzerland for the announcement of the prize鈥檚 international awards, which come with $1.1 million to put toward future research. Kolodziej was not selected, but said he was grateful for the global interest in his research.
鈥淚t was an honor to represent the United States for the Frontier Planet Prize,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd I was thankful that our wonderful research team and many collaborators were recognized in this fashion.鈥�