91�� Notebook – 91�� News

Q&A: 91�� professor lends human rights expertise to FIFA, 2026 World Cup

Lauren Kirschman — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 20:27:24 +0000

Anita Ramasastry, a professor of law at the 91��, is working with FIFA and host cities on human rights preparations ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Photo: Pixabay

As the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup inches closer, ’s schedule keeps getting busier.

“If I’m not teaching, I’m on a call dealing with the World Cup,” Ramasastry said.

Ramasastry, a professor of law at the 91��, is an expert in the convergence of business and human rights — a field she helped create. She was also an advisor to the United Nations Human Rights Council, the group that established standards to help governments regulate companies while also providing guidelines for�� those companies to navigate global human rights issues.

Anita Ramasastry Photo: 91��

Her expertise led to work with , which launched a stronger commitment to human rights after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. included its reliance on migrant workers to build stadiums, women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights. As a large global sporting body bigger than most multinational corporations, FIFA accepted that, like those companies, it has corresponding human rights commitments.

In the wake of that tournament, Ramasastry was asked to join FIFA’s human rights subcommittee as its independent human rights advisor. The committee commissioned on Qatar, which found that many migrants were uncompensated for their work, and others died or suffered injuries.��

As a result, the 2026 World Cup marks the first time each host bid had to include a human rights component, including the United Bid submitted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.��

Once that bid was accepted, cities also had to vie to host matches. Ramasastry drafted the human rights action plan for Seattle. Because of her global and local expertise, she’s also chairing the human rights expert advisory group for FIFA 2026, headquartered in Miami. She worked on the 2026 World Cup’s human rights framework, which served as a baseline for cities to create their plans.

91�� News caught up with Ramasastry to talk about the World Cup and human rights, Seattle’s action plan and more.

The point of having a human rights action plan is that you anticipate the harms that arise from the tournament and you try to mitigate them.

Anita Ramasastry91�� professor of law

What is a human rights action plan and what potential issues do they address?

Anita Ramasastry: For every city that’s going to host the tournament, in every country, there are going to be human rights impacts. How do you identify harms and risks to unhoused people that are connected to the tournament? How do you ensure that people have the right to assemble and protest? Are workers being fairly paid?��

There are all kinds of issues that arise that are connected to these sporting events. In different countries, there are different issues. Qatar had issues with migrant labor. In Russia, it was LGBTQ+ rights and discrimination. The controversy around Qatar happened after the bid was already awarded. The world tuned into what was happening there and started thinking about human rights.��

The point of having a human rights action plan is that you anticipate the harms that arise from the tournament and you try to mitigate them. It’s been a bumpy ride because the issues we’re now dealing with are not the issues we originally thought we were going to be dealing with. Immigration issues are very different now. The issue of protests and counterprotests weren’t necessarily top of the list before, but they are now very much an issue for cities.��

FIFA and the host cities also have a commitment to what we call “access to remedy.” If someone is harmed, there should be a way for them to be provided with relief and remediation. FIFA is going to have a grievance portal where people will be able to raise an issue and then FIFA is going to screen it.��

This is the largest and most decentralized World Cup ever. FIFA says its role is to protect human rights in the stadium and to protect the human rights of athletes and workers in the stadium. It’s the cities’ job to deal with fan festivals or other events happening outside the FIFA zone. This has been a challenge because the cities don’t get extra money to deal with this. My job is to say we want to protect people — the fans, the workers, the communities — that may get impacted.

What issues are most pressing for Seattle and how did you identify them?

AR: For the Seattle bid, I consulted local stakeholders and they identified what they saw as the top salient risks. The main topics were human trafficking, issues related to unhoused populations, the right to protest, workers’ rights and discrimination against certain communities.��

Now one of the biggest issues — and it’s challenging to address — is the rights of immigrant communities. We at the 91�� hosted a roundtable on safeguarding immigrant communities. We’re also working on a peaceful assembly toolkit about the rights of protestors — how they can ensure they’re doing things peacefully and lawfully.

Part of the idea is that the practices and protocols that are created for Seattle now can be used in the future. I’d love for Seattle to have good ways of dealing with things. When the MLB All-Star Game came to Seattle in 2023, there were . Those are exactly the issues we don’t want to have happen. If there’s a protest, we don’t want people to be harmed. We want to allow dissent in a proper way. It’s really about the legacy of: Are there mechanisms in place to address issues or, if there is harm, to resolve complaints in a way that helps people?

It’s really about the legacy of: Are there mechanisms in place to address issues or, if there is harm, to resolve complaints in a way that helps people?

Anita Ramasastry91�� professor of law

Can you elaborate on past issues that led to this being the first World Cup to require human rights to be part of the bidding process?

AR: I think it’s a combination of several things. One is that there were the human rights standards that arose out of the United Nations. , a former Harvard professor, helped draft those. And he had such authority that he was then able to go to FIFA and advise on embedding human rights into its operations. FIFA was amenable to changing its governance standards, not only because it was called out because of questions about Qatar, but because it had been implicated. There were and a whole investigation by the Department of Justice. And so with FIFA being ensnared in the bribery and corruption charges, it was open to these other reforms. It was kind of a confluence of events.

At the same time, there was similar pressure on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to do the same thing, so now the IOC also has its own commitment to human rights. It does work with host governments and they have ways in which human rights plans are mobilized. With the expertise we’ve developed at the 91��, I’m going to keep moving forward with our students. The Women’s World Cup may be coming to the U.S. in 2031 and the Olympics are in Los Angeles in 2028. Those are other opportunities to ensure safe events.

Speaking of your students, how do they engage with this work?

AR: I just taught a seminar this winter on human rights and the World Cup, so they were able to trace the journey from Qatar all the way to Seattle and beyond. We had people speaking about the World Cup, the LA Olympics and what it means to think about the World Cup going to Saudi Arabia in 2034, which is its own kind of interesting issue. Every week, students were able to meet with insiders — either in-person or virtually. The human rights officer from FIFA Zurich talked to them, as did the leader of the Dignity 2026 Coalition, which is a network of labor and human rights organizations uniting to protect groups who are at risk of adverse effects from the World Cup. Other speakers included former Olympic soccer gold medalist , who is the CEO of the Centre for Sport and Human Rights who worked on the United Bid, and , who graduated from the 91�� School of Law. She is the COO of the Seattle Reign and chaired the bid committee for Seattle. She now serves on the board of the Seattle 2026 Local Organizing Committee.

Students who want to do applied work helped write the Seattle bid. They were in the room for the roundtables we convened on immigration and peaceful protest, taking notes and writing summaries. My students have met with people who have dedicated their careers to human rights. For many of us, it’s about the people, right? No matter how much money is made, at the end of the day it should be made in a harm-free manner.

For more information, contact Lauren Kirschman at lkirsc@uw.edu.

Hear more from Anita Ramasastry

Anita Ramasastry will moderate “Workers’ Rights in Seattle during the World Cup,” a discussion with King County councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, on May 4 from 5-6:00 p.m.

The discussion is part of an ongoing speaker series from the 91�� Global Sport Lab where experts discuss the geopolitical, local and sporting implications of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup in Seattle. These sessions are free and open to all via livestream. Registration is required. Please follow to RSVP.

91�� researcher gives keynote speech on human-wildlife coexistence and climate adaptation at international roundtable

Lauren Kirschman — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 19:13:24 +0000

Briana Abrahms (second from right) gave the keynote speech at the International Parliamentary Roundtable on Human-Wildlife Coexistence held in Botswana in January. Photo: Briana Abrahms

once believed the focuses of her doctoral and postdoctoral work were completely different.��

She completed her doctorate in Botswana, studying how humans were changing large carnivore behavior. After earning her degree, she researched whale migration at the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). But while Abrahms was with NOAA, a historic heat wave off the West Coast was associated with an unprecedented rise in whales getting tangled in fishing gear. The event reminded her of studying in Botswana, when an extreme drought led to predators killing more livestock.��

“It struck me as important that you have two really different systems, yet in both cases an extreme climate event led to a change in human-wildlife interactions,” said Abrahms, an associate professor of biology at the 91��.

Those experiences led Abrahms to study how climate change is affecting human-wildlife interactions and increasing conflict around the world — from polar bear attacks on people to elephant destruction of agricultural areas. Her areas of expertise made her the ideal choice for keynote speaker at the held in Botswana in January.

Abrahms offered a global perspective on how climate change is impacting human-wildlife conflict while also providing specific insight on southern Africa, since she has worked in Botswana since 2011. The roundtable was hosted by the National Assembly of Botswana in partnership with through its program.

“It was really gratifying,” Abrahms said. “As a scientist, we’re often putting papers out and not knowing what reach they will have. You never really know where they’re going to go, if they’re going to go anywhere. To be featured so prominently in this intergovernmental parliamentary workshop was a career highlight.”

The roundtable brought together parliamentarians from Botswana, other African nations, the European Union, and beyond, alongside government officials, civil society leaders, local community representatives, conservation experts and international partners. Attendees focused on identifying solutions to human-wildlife conflicts while ensuring that the interests of citizens, local communities, ecotourism operators and wildlife advocates are reflected in policy.

Abrahms’ speech addressed the global impacts of climate change on human-wildlife coexistence.

She discussed increasing news reports of human-animal conflict, like kangaroos mobbing areas in Australia during droughts, and increased alligator attacks due to hurricanes in South Carolina. Previous research from Abrahms and her team revealed that the warming world is increasing human-wildlife conflicts. Another of her studies found that the overlap between humans and animals will increase substantially across much of the planet in less than 50 years due to human population growth and climate change.��

“These issues are definitely getting more attention and when I gave this talk, it resonated,” Abrhams said. “Afterward, there was a panel featuring different parliament members and every single one of them had their own stories of climate increasing conflict in their countries, whether it was from a hurricane or a drought or a heat wave.”

Despite the wide variety of animal species and climate events — floods and hurricanes in Sri Lanka, droughts in Botswana and more — Abrahms was struck by how frequently climate change exacerbated these problems. She was heartened, though, by how many people from around the world came together to share experiences, success stories and challenges.

Some national-level policy recommendations that came out of the roundtable included predictable compensation and insurance mechanisms for when human-wildlife conflicts occur. Experts also suggested land-use planning that recognizes wildlife corridors as well as human needs. Among the other ideas: Investment in community resilience and climate-smart livelihoods, parliamentary oversight and a wildlife coexistence fund.��

Public outreach is also an important piece, Abrahms said.

“That would help people prepare and hopefully prevent some of these conflicts from occurring,” Abrahms said. “Governmental fiscal planning also could help by anticipating that there will be increased strain on a system and extra money could be put into a fund for use during extreme climate events.”

Abrahms left the roundtable impressed with how much the attendees genuinely cared about the environment, as well as their interest in learning from each other and about her work.

“It was a very grounding experience,” Abrahms said, “and it was nice to be part of a policy-oriented audience. There is a huge amount of money and resources and personnel and expertise aimed at alleviating these problems. In that respect, it was uplifting.”

For more information, contact Abrahms at abrahms@uw.edu.

New faculty books: Ordinary people and the global legal order, imperial policing, making of modern Taiwan, and poetry

Lauren Kirschman — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 19:40:30 +0000

New faculty and stuff books from the 91�� include those covering imperial policing, international law and the public, the making of modern Taiwan and poetry.

Recent books from 91�� faculty and staff include those from legal studies at 91�� Tacoma, international studies, political science, history, and Asian languages and literature.��

91�� Tacoma assistant professor collaboration with Policing in Chicago Research Group

“” was collaboratively authored by , assistant professor of legal studies at 91�� Tacoma, and the Policing in Chicago Research Group. They developed the book in dialogue with those on the front lines of struggles against racist policing in Black, Latinx and Arab/Muslim communities.

“Imperial Policing” analyzes the connections between three police “wars” — on crime, terror and immigrants — with a focus on the weaponization of data and the coordination between local and national agencies to suppress communities of color and undermine social movements. Topics include: high-tech, data-based tools of policing; racialized archetypes; the manufacturing of criminals and terrorists; the subversion of sanctuary city protections; and abolitionist responses to policing, such as the Erase the Database campaign.

The book contains analysis and ideas for solutions at a critical political moment, and serves as a rare, vital example of scholars working directly with community organizations to map police networks and intervene in policing practices.

“‘Imperial Policing’ is an important offering that decenters normative modes of knowledge production and the academy itself and instead provides a model for collaborative knowledge production and change work that academics ought to take up and consider,” Ravichandran said. “This book deepens abolitionist analyses of U.S. Empire and broadens abolition as a necessary global coalitional framework.”

Modern Taiwan through an agrarian lens

“” is a recent book by , associate professor of international studies at the 91��.

The book recounts the history of modern Taiwan through the lens of agrarian development. Starting in the 1950s, Taiwan sent international development missions to over two dozen nations across the Global South. From the 1950s to 1990s, Taiwan’s GDP per capita grew by 800%. While researching this growth, an article caught Lin’s attention: a report of how Taiwan’s efforts surrounding improved varieties of broccoli rabe would solve hunger, famine and malnutrition.

“How could broccoli rabe make the world a better place?” Lin wrote in a blog post about his book. “Over the next decade, I traced the arc of agricultural development in libraries and archives across the world, from Ithaca, New York to Shanhua, Taiwan. The more I delved into this question, the more I unearthed a time when Taiwan’s contributions to the world weren’t in advanced semiconductors, but rather rice and vegetables.”

In “In the Global Vanguard,” Lin examines how Taiwanese technicians and agricultural scientists introduced new crop varieties, extended new agricultural technologies and extolled the virtues of a Taiwanese approach to development across the Global South.��

Lin argues the missions eventually shaped how the Taiwanese conceived their place in the world. At the same time, the Nationalist party-state of Taiwan co-opted agrarian science to position Taiwan as a modern nation, legitimizing the government’s authoritarian rule by martial law.

Ordinary people and the global legal order

“” examines an important, and often underappreciated, actor in international law.��

Written by , professor of political science at the 91��, the book is of interdisciplinary interest due to its combination of constitutional and international law theories and a wide range of quantitative and qualitative data.

When considering who counts in the international legal order, most answers focus on governments, leaders, generals, lawyers or other elites. Wallace integrates insights from law and political behavior to advance the idea of “popular international law,” where ordinary people are considered important legal actors.

“Drawing on a blend of experiments, conventional polling, media coverage and historical cases, this book shows the ways in which national publics can have an impact on core functions of international law,” Wallace said. “Insights from the book offer an account of international legal politics from below — taking seriously the place of ordinary people in international affairs.

Co-authored book began with love of 18th century poetry

“” is a new book co-authored by the 91��’s , associate professor of history, and , professor of Asian languages and literature. True to its subtitle, the book emerged from friendly conversations they had about early 18th century poetry in Urdu — a language that was called Rekhtah at the time.

Their interdisciplinary conversations led to the growing conviction that the diverse roots of this important vernacular tradition had become obscured through selective attention to a handful of poets associated with rarified imperial courtly environments. Poetic networks had become erased as poems were taken out of their social contexts and isolated in separate tomes by author.��

“Vali Dakhani and the Early Rekhtah Networks” presents the evidence to reconstruct these lost literary networks of Urdu’s formative past. The book reframes the history of Urdu within the diverse context from which it emerged: lively social gatherings, bazaars, shrines and multiple courts of 18th-century South Asia, highlighting its engagement with diverse regional cultures and communities in South Asia.��

The cover illustration, an 18th-century canvas by Mughal painter Chitarman II, vividly depicts the many literary references to “Lovers and Beloveds” featured in the poetry of this period, inviting the reader to join the authors in sharing its pleasures.

For more information, contact Lauren Kirschman at lkirsc@uw.edu

Faculty/staff honors: Lifetime achievement award, Plyler Prize, Rome Prize fellowship

Victoria T Tyron — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 21:28:47 +0000

Recent recognition of the 91�� includes the Kenneth S. Norris Lifetime Achievement Award, the Earle K. Plyler Prize for Molecular Spectroscopy & Dynamics, the inaugural Trevisan Prize in the Theory of Computing, the John Gaus Award from the American Political Science Association, the Washington Governor’s Award for Outstanding Leadership, and the Rome Prize Fellowship in Environmental Arts & Humanities.

Affiliate professor of biology receives 2026 Kenneth S. Norris Lifetime Achievement Award��

, a research scientist and affiliate professor in the in the Department of Biology at the 91��, was honored with the ��from the��. The award recognizes exemplary lifetime contributions to science and society through research, teaching, and service in marine mammalogy.��

Over a 40-year career, Moore’s research has focused on cetacean ecology, acoustics, and natural history, particularly in the Arctic. A prolific researcher, she is widely recognized as a pioneer in using marine mammals as ecosystem sentinels in this rapidly changing region. Over decades of studying whales, Moore has helped scientists understand the health of ocean environments and how they are changing over time. Her work provides critical insight into the impacts of climate change in the Arctic and how marine ecosystems are responding. Her contributions to Arctic science have also been recognized with the��from the International Arctic Science Committee and the 2023��from the Alaska SeaLife Center; she is also a science adviser to the Washington State Academy of��Sciences,��and was appointed Commissioner��of the�� in 2022.

Natt-Lingafelter professor of chemistry awarded 2026 Earle K. Plyler Prize��

,��professor of chemistry at the 91��,��was��awarded the 2026�� from the American Physical Society for her impactful contributions to the anharmonic vibrational spectroscopy and dynamics of molecular radicals, ions, and clusters. Established in 1976, the prize honors pioneering spectroscopist Earle K. Plyler and is sponsored by the Journal of Chemical Physics. The prize will be presented at the APS Global Physics Summit, the world’s largest physics research conference, in March 2026.

McCoy’s research focuses on theoretical chemistry, where she develops methods to understand how molecules move, vibrate, and exchange energy. Her work has helped scientists better understand the fundamental behavior of molecules—providing insight into how chemical reactions occur and how energy flows through molecular systems. Much of her recent work has focused on hydrogen-bonded systems and, specifically, proton transport. She is also interested in exotic molecules, like CH5+ and H5+, which have been proposed to exist in the interstellar medium. These advances help lay the groundwork for progress in areas ranging from atmospheric chemistry to materials science.

91�� joint professor of mathematics and computer science awarded inaugural Trevisan Prize��

91�� professor ��has received the�� for his breakthrough contributions to the study of optimization problems.��Rothvoss��holds joint appointments in the Department of Mathematics and the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering and was honored in the mid-career category—a recognition of his impactful work over the course of his career.

for outstanding work in the theory of computing is sponsored by the Department of Computing Sciences at Bocconi University and the Italian Academy of Sciences. Awardees receive a one-time monetary prize and a medal and are invited to give public lectures at Bocconi University. The award ceremony and lectures took place in January 2026.

Rothvoss��has built a distinguished record of contributions to theoretical computer science and discrete optimization. He shares that “over the years my focus has changed a bit…I worked on approximation algorithms, which deal with finding provably good solutions to NP-hard problems in polynomial time.” His work has since shifted toward discrepancy theory and the theoretical foundations of linear and integer programming.��In simple terms,��Rothvoss��studies��the mathematics��behind making��optimal��decisions��in��highly complex��systems. His research helps reveal when efficient solutions are��possible and optimization problems can be solved.��

Political��science��professor��receives John Gaus Award��

,��professor of��political��science at the 91��,��received the��from the American Political Science Association��(APSA).��

The John Gaus Award is presented annually to honor a lifetime of exemplary scholarship in the joint tradition of political science and public administration. Prakash was selected unanimously for the award in recognition of a career devoted to advancing scholarship at the intersection of political science and public administration. A nomination letter noted that Prakash’s research, particularly on environmental issues, has helped bring environmental concerns into public administration in a variety of ways, including examining how businesses and NGOs can fill governance gaps. At the same time, the letter highlighted how his work explores the risks of these nontraditional governance mechanisms, including potential issues such as regulatory capture and accountability deficits.��

Prakash’s research spans environmental governance, public policy, and global political economy. Over the course of his career, he has published eight scholarly books and more than 130 articles in peer-reviewed journals, with his work cited more than 18,000 times across the field. As part of the honor, Prakash presented the Gaus Lecture at the APSA Annual Meeting in September 2025.

Washington Sea Grant��interim��director��receives��governor’s��leadership��award��

, interim director of Washington Sea Grant, received the��, which recognizes exemplary leadership and service to the state of Washington.

Little was honored for her work supporting the state’s coastal communities through Washington Sea Grant’s research, outreach, and partnership-driven initiatives.��

Little has dedicated more than 15 years to strengthening Washington’s coast through strategic vision, inclusive practices, and sustained investment in community-centered programs. Under her leadership, Washington Sea Grant delivered nearly $250 million in services and economic benefits statewide between 2021 and 2024, reflecting the program’s broad impact across coastal and maritime communities.��

“A big thank you to the team at Washington Sea Grant for the nomination,” Little said.��“I’m��deeply grateful to work alongside such thoughtful colleagues, who are so dedicated to our shared work.��I’m��so honored by this recognition from the��governor. This award really is a testament to the impact of Washington Sea Grant’s work in serving the state’s coastal communities.”

Biology��professor��awarded Rome Prize Fellowship in Environmental Arts & Humanities��

, professor of biology��at��the 91��,��was awarded��the prestigious in the new Environmental Arts & Humanities category by the��. This pilot fellowship supports collaborative projects that explore how human beings relate to, experience, and interpret the natural world.

In partnership with Katharine Ogle, lecturer��of��English at��the University��of Southern California, Summers will pursue a project titled��“Piscis Romana.”��Their work draws on��natural history��research conducted at the Friday Harbor Laboratories to investigate the links between marine life,��ecology,��and poetic expression.��

“This��award will allow��Katie Ogle and��me to��further explore the links between poetry and natural history that have been developed by a group of us at Friday Harbor Labs,”��Summers said.��

Summers’ biological research spans marine and aquatic systems with a strong emphasis on understanding organismal form,��function,��and the broader natural-history context in which��species��evolve and interact. Partnering��with Ogle, he will extend that scientific inquiry into the realm of arts and humanities, looking at how the natural world inspires literary forms,��metaphors,��and cultural narratives.��

With this Rome Prize fellowship, Summers joins a competitive cohort selected from��nearly 1,000��applicants and will spend several��months in��residence at the Academy in Rome, working among scholars and artists from around the world.��

Q&A: ‘MELA’ documentary demonstrates how art and local communities can enhance scientific projects

Sarah McQuate — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 18:59:53 +0000

Vivek Hari Sridhar, 91�� assistant professor of biology, flies a drone in Blackbuck National Park for the MELA project. Photo: Praneetha M.

A recent documentary about the breeding habits of antelopes in India includes the story of how engaging with artists and local communities can help researchers share the importance of their work.

“MELA,” short for Mating Ecology of a Lek-breeding Antelope, is a short film about a research project that studies the mating behavior of blackbuck, an antelope species native to India and Nepal. During mating, male blackbuck aggregate into certain areas, called “leks,” to perform a series of feats to try to impress females.

This story of “MELA” is told in three chapters. The first chapter summarizes the science behind the project, including the technical challenges associated with creating continuous and sweeping drone footage across an entire lek. Then the second and third chapters focus on the researchers’ work with artists and local communities.

, a 91�� assistant professor of biology, is one of the leaders of the MELA project, which started when he was a postdoctoral research associate at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior and the University of Konstanz in Germany. 91�� News asked him for details about the project and the documentary.

As scientists, we engage in evidence-based storytelling. We gather data and then we analyze and interpret it to reveal something new about the natural world. In that sense,��science can be thought of being a form of art.

Vivek Hari Sridhar91�� assistant professor of biology

How did this project get started?

Vivek Hari Sridhar: It started in 2019 when the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior put out a global call for collaborative research projects that addressed broad questions related to how animal societies emerge and function. The call was meant to support teams of two or three postdoctoral researchers.

The timing was perfect because I was in the latter stages of my doctoral degree. As part of my doctoral research, I discovered how animals choose between spatially separated objects. I developed a theory and validated my model predictions in both vertebrates and invertebrates under controlled laboratory conditions. For my postdoc, I wanted to explore if the theory could tell us something about spatial decisions made by animals in the wild.

I teamed up with , now an assistant professor at the Birla Institute of Technology & Science, and , a postdoc at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior. For her doctoral research, Akanksha had already worked with blackbuck and had recorded a few drone-based videos of the lek. This got me excited because leks seemed like the perfect study system to extend my doctoral work. Hemal is a computer vision and machine learning expert who develops software to process large-scale drone footage. Hemal was crucial in the establishment of our art-science collaborations.

The project developed from our common commitment toward supporting junior researchers in the field, working with local communities and establishing a research project in India, our home country.

Chapter 2 of the documentary talks about art and science. Can you talk about how they are similar?

VHS: Artists use various media — writing, visual art, performances, etc. — to try to understand the world around them and to tell the stories that matter most to them. As scientists, we engage in evidence-based storytelling. We gather data and then we analyze and interpret it to reveal something new about the natural world. In that sense, science can be thought of being a form of art.

What was it like working with artists on this project?

VHS: It was an incredible learning experience! I worked with , a German-based institution that brings artists and scientists together, for my artist residency.

At first I was nervous. The idea of working on something artistic myself felt daunting. Retrospectively though, it was one of the most rewarding experiences. I met several interesting people over the years and collaborated with many of them. They helped me realize that I had several stories that I wanted to share that I couldn’t do solely through science. Working with writers and sound artists, I have since been able to explore a creative side of myself that I didn’t know existed.

Chapter 3 explains that it was important to engage with the community where you did this research. Can you talk about why that is?

VHS: As academics, we spend much of our time within the confines of the university, engaging with literature within our field and building on those ideas. And while these are extremely important aspects of the job, it is only one of the many sources of inspiration, especially in the context of studying animal behavior — people in local communities spend their lives surrounded by these animals every day.

Conversations with the locals gave us a head start in terms of understanding the natural history and activity patterns of these animals. A great example of this is when the locals told us about the location of a new lek. Because leks are traditional mating grounds, they’re occupied by males year after year. We intended to conduct our study on a lek that had been around for nearly 40 years. But then the locals told us about a second location with a larger aggregation of males. This information allowed us to monitor both sites, which led to a whole new line of research inquiry.

Beyond science, I also believe we have an ethical obligation to let people know what we’re doing. Many people from these communities are curious to know why we’re visiting their corner of the world. Once we learned what interested different community members, we were able to engage with them accordingly. For example, we took some children birding because they were fascinated with our use of binoculars.

What do you hope people who watch the documentary will learn?

VHS: Perhaps that science is not just a knowledge-seeking endeavor — it’s also a human-endeavor. We can do more impactful work when we work together with other people from various walks of life. Here, we came together as three scientists collaborating with artists, local communities and students to produce what we believe is something more than “just science.”

But doing this work takes time, effort and resources. In a fast-paced and productivity-focused society, it is important to stop and consider what is important to us. We were fortunate to have the time and opportunity to shape our work and we hope this inspires others to think beyond the immediate call of their jobs.

This research was funded by a Collaborative Research Grant funded by the Department for the Ecology of Animal Societies at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior and the Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour at the University of Konstanz.

For more information, contact Sridhar at behavior@uw.edu.

Q&A: 91�� course uses the Olympic Games as a historical lens

Lauren Kirschman — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 19:22:29 +0000

As the 2026 Winter Olympics unfold in Italy, 91�� students are learning about the history of the Games. Photo: Pixabay

Before the 91��’s winter quarter even started, told his “Modern Olympic Games” class one of the questions that would be on the final exam: “What is something that happened in the 2026 Winter Olympics that you can understand better because of something you’ve learned in this course?”

“There is not yet an answer to that question,” said Haddad-Fonda, a part-time lecturer of history at the 91��, “but there will be by the end of the quarter.”

As Haddad-Fonda’s students watch this month’s Winter Olympics in Italy, they are also learning in the classroom about the history of the Games. The course covers subjects ranging from ideology and national identity to race and the position of women in society.

91�� News talked with Haddad-Fonda to learn more.

What makes sports such an effective window into history?

Kyle Haddad-Fonda: This is a 100-level course, and the majority of students taking it are first-year students aiming to fulfill a general education requirement. I see the course as a kind of sampler platter of 20th-century history. Students may not know coming in that they would be really interested in Native American history or Nazi Germany or some aspect of women’s history — but they’re going to get exposed to a little bit of everything. What ties it all together is Olympic competition. Sports are inherently about race and gender and politics.

In class, I get to tell stories about some truly wild things that have happened in the Olympics. I’ve talked already this quarter about a dehydrated whose trainer refused him water but gave him strychnine mixed with egg white, a dubbed the prettiest girl at the Olympics who was kicked off the team for having the audacity to drink champagne, and a whose coronation as the world’s greatest athlete was upended when a teammate poisoned his orange juice. But after I tell these stories, the next step is to stop and say, “Okay, why does this matter on a deeper level? What can this one athlete’s experience tell us about the world?”

Where did the idea for this course come from?

KHF: I’ve been mulling it over for years, and now seemed like the right time to do it because the Winter Olympics are happening at the same time.

This is the seventh academic year in a row that I’ve taught the history of the Cold War. After a few years of teaching the same course, the content gets pretty well set. I started to realize that the only changes I was making to the lectures was to add short anecdotes about sports. Students responded really well. Including the occasional bit of sports content became a strategy for illustrating complicated ideas in a relatable way.

Last year, I advised a senior thesis by a history major who had previously taken my Cold War course. I had spent maybe 30 seconds in class talking about how the Catholic Church in Italy as part of its broader campaign against communism around the time of the 1948 Italian election. This student was a soccer fan, and she went and did a lot more reading about the role of soccer in postwar Italy. A year later, she came to me and said that just that one comment had helped her to realize that sports were something she could take seriously as an academic topic. She ended up writing her senior thesis about athletes who defected from communist countries during the very short period between the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union. This student’s enthusiasm for viewing sports as a window into deeper historical phenomena gave me that final push to decide I was ready to create this course.

What is one of your favorite topics that you cover in the class?

KHF: Just last week, we talked about the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, after which about a third of the athletes on the Hungarian team . Those Olympics happened in the immediate aftermath of the Hungarian Revolution and the Soviet crackdown. There was a 16-year-old Hungarian swimmer named Zsuzsa Ördög who had to make a decision all by herself about whether she was going to defect to the U.S. or return home to her family. She ended up moving to Mercer Island because she was by the family of a 16-year-old American swimmer, Nancy Ramey, who had won silver in the butterfly.

One of the reasons I mentioned Ördög was to contrast her story with that of Hal Connolly and Olga Fikotová. Connolly was an American who won a gold medal in the hammer throw in 1956; Fikotová was a Czechoslovakian who won gold in the discus in the same Olympics. While they were competing in Melbourne, . Three months after the Olympics, Connolly went to Prague, where he and Fikotová got married. Then they moved to the U.S. The American media was delighted by a love story that transcended the Iron Curtain. In class, I showed my students a clip of the newlyweds appearing on the game show “.”

Before the next Olympics, Fikotová wrote to the Czechslovakian Olympic Committee saying she was ready to represent Czechoslovakia a second time. She got a letter back saying that the committee no longer considered her to be Czechoslovakian. Fortunately, her U.S. citizenship came through about a week before the U.S. Olympic trials, so she showed up — as the reigning Olympic champion — and made the U.S. team. She went on to represent the U.S. at four Olympics and even carried the flag in 1972.

Fikotová’s experience of moving to the U.S. was markedly different from what happened to the Hungarians who defected at the same Olympics. For starters, by the Olympic rules at the time, athletes couldn’t change national allegiance for political reasons. The only way for somebody who had represented one country to compete for another was if a woman changed her nationality by marriage. So while Fikotová could throw the discus for the U.S., Hungarian athletes had no recourse. Ördög went on to set an American record in the breaststroke, but there was no way she could ever swim in the Olympics again. Quite a few of the Hungarians who defected to much fanfare in 1956 subsequently decided to return quietly to Hungary and resume their former lives. Their stories offer a great illustration of the hard choices that faced ordinary people who got caught up in Cold War rivalries.

Do you anticipate any crossover into the course from more recent Olympics, and even the current Olympics?

KHF: While it’s tricky to talk about the ongoing Olympics from a historical framework, I do plan to bring my course all the way into the 21st century. My students will get to evaluate whether host cities have lived up to the promises they have made about using the Olympics as a catalyst for urban transformation. And we’ll talk about the ways that the Olympics have legitimized authoritarian regimes and examine how activists have articulated calls to boycott the games.

All of these are themes that have been building over the entire quarter. I recently talked about William May Garland’s plans to use the 1932 Summer Olympics to build Los Angeles. You have to start there in order to make sense of London’s efforts to rejuvenate the East End or Paris’s campaign to restore the Seine. By the time we talk about calls to boycott the Olympics in 2014 and 2022, we will have already discussed boycott efforts — successful or unsuccessful — in 1936, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984 and 1988.

All this history matters especially much right now because our own country is gearing up to be the next Olympic host. I know my students are going to watch the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles — in fact, one of them has entered the lottery to buy tickets. When they do, I need them to be empowered to look beyond the headlines. I want them to understand that all the controversies that will inevitably swirl around those games spring from 130 years of contentious, messy historical precedent.

For more information, contact Lauren Kirschman at lkirsc@uw.edu.

ArtSci Roundup: January

Lauren Zondag — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 19:39:22 +0000

Come curious. Leave inspired.

For those near and far, we invite you to start the year with us through a range of events, performances, exhibitions, podcasts, and more. And as January comes to a close, see what’s happening in February.

In addition,��.

ArtSci On Your Own Time

Podcast: (Henry Art Gallery)
Frequencies is a creative audio project where a cohort of artists, writers, and community members are invited to contribute sonic responses to the Henry’s exhibitions. The series serves as an aural companion to the work on view and can be experienced either in-gallery or before or after visiting. In lieu of a traditional museum guide in which historical and contextual insights are gleaned, these responses provoke further thought and exploration demonstrating that interpretations of contemporary art can be as varied as the individuals who encounter it.

Book: (History)
This book examines spaces, practices, and ideologies of incarceration in the ancient Mediterranean basin from 300 BCE to 600 CE. Analyzing a wide range of sources—including legal texts, archaeological findings, documentary evidence, and visual materials—Matthew D. C. Larsen and Mark Letteney argue that prisons were integral to the social, political, and economic fabric of ancient societies. Ancient Mediterranean Incarceration traces a long history of carceral practices, considering ways in which the institution of prison has been fundamentally intertwined with issues of class, ethnicity, gender, and imperialism. By foregrounding the voices and experiences of the imprisoned, Larsen and Letteney demonstrate the extraordinary durability of carceral structures across time and call for a new historical consciousness around contemporary practices of incarceration. .

Dive deeper with Letteney during the , , and .

Week of January 5

January 7 | (Music)
A free lunchtime performance featuring 91�� School of Music students in the North Allen Library lobby. Presented in partnership with 91�� Libraries. Free.

January 8 | (Jackson School of International Studies)
Alongside China’s rapid economic growth and urbanization, the country has witnessed an unprecedented wave of rural-to-urban migration. Educating this large population poses considerable challenges to the nation’s household registration (hukou)–based education system. Addressing the educational needs of migrant children is not only essential for promoting social equity and cohesion, but also carries profound implications for China’s long-term economic development and social progress. Since the central government issued a 2001 directive requiring destination cities to provide public education for migrant children, their access to urban schools has improved substantially, however, reforms related to high school admissions have progressed more slowly. This lecture addresses the data gathering structure created by the author and examines how these policies influence family migration decisions and the educational outcomes of migrant children. Free.

January 8 | (Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture)
Part of Burke’s Free First Thursday series, the museum opens its collections spaces from 4:30 to 7:30 PM. Visitors can explore behind‑the-scenes labs and storage, and speak with researchers, staff, and volunteers about their work. Free.

January 9 | (School of Drama)
School of Drama faculty Nikki Yeboah, Jasmine Mahmoud, and Odai Johnson share recent scholarship on women and performance, followed by conversation. Coffee provided. Free.

Closes January 11 | ��(Henry Art Gallery)
Spirit House investigates how contemporary artists of Asian descent challenge the boundary between life and death through art. A thematic exploration of the work of thirty-four Asian American and Asian diasporic artists, Spirit House asks the question, what does it mean to speak to ghosts, inhabit haunted spaces, be reincarnated, or enter different dimensions? Inspired by spirit houses, small devotional structures found throughout Thailand that provide shelter for the supernatural, this exhibition considers how art can bridge the gap between this world and the next. Free.

Admission to the Henry is free to all visitors.

Week of January 12

Online – January 12 | ��(Jackson School of International Studies)
Presented by Edward Alden, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations; John Koenig, U.S. Ambassador (ret.) and 91�� Lecturer; and Jacqueline Miller, President and CEO of World Affairs Council-Seattle. Trump in the World 2.0 is an online series of talks and discussions featuring guest speakers and faculty exploring global perspectives on a second Trump administration. Free.

91�� students: Interested in taking this as a 2-credit/no credit course? Visit MyPlan for complete course details.

Online – January 12 | (Simpson Center for the Humanities)
Drawing on his new book, Pan-African Futurism, Dr. Reginold Royston will discuss technology and role of Pan-Africanism in the fields of international development, diaspora and politics in Ghana and beyond.

January 13 | (School of Art + Art History + Design)
The question to consider during dinner and conversation: How can we bring together emerging, established, and elder leaders in the conversation around liberation? This program is part of the year-long Liberation Book Club series exploring liberation through shared texts, art, film, music, and workshops. Free.

Online option – January 14 | Philosophical Nonviolence and the Democratic Ideal with John Wood Jr. (Public Lectures)
Too often, democracy is narrowly defined by the act of voting, reducing the citizen’s role to mere electoral participation. However, a truly thriving democratic society is one in which full inclusion is built upon a foundation of cultural goodwill between distinct communities. This vision of a beloved community—rooted in the philosophy of nonviolence—was championed by Martin Luther King Jr. It is this philosophy that we must revive to bridge the deep political and cultural divides that threaten American democracy today. Free.

January 15 – 18 | (featuring 91�� School of Music faculty and students)
In addition to papers by scholars from around the country, the festival features keynote talks and performances by internationally acclaimed musicians and writers. Free.

January 16 | ��(Political Science)
As a part of the Severyns Ravenholt Seminar in Comparative Politics, this lecture features Jihyeon Bae, Ph.D. Student.��Free.

January 17 |��(Meany Center for the Performing Arts)
Karim Sulayman — lauded for his “velvety tenor and pop-star charisma” (BBC Music Magazine) — joins guitarist Sean Shibe, whose “music-making is masterful, beautiful and convincing in every way” (The Times, UK), for an intimate recital of music ranging from the Middle Ages to the present. This compelling musical journey examines the close cultural and musical ties between East and West, reflecting the artists’ personal experiences with roots in Lebanon and Japan.

Week of January 19

January 22 | (School of Music)
The acclaimed piano–percussion quartet Yarn/Wire performs contemporary works by 91�� composition students and alumni in an evening of innovative new music.

January 22 – 25 | (Dance)
The inaugural Grad Lab Concert debuts an evening-length work co-created and performed by 91�� MFA candidates Jake Bone, marco farroni leonardo, Alice Gosti, Jillian Roberts, and Tracey Wong. Through five distinct artistic perspectives, the piece weaves a vibrant tapestry of movement—exploring lineage, experimentation, and care.

Online – January 22 | ��(History)
Catherine Conybeare is the first woman to write a biography of Augustine since Rebecca West. She has received awards and fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the American Council of Learned Societies and the National Endowment for the Humanities, amongst others. She is the Leslie Clark Professor in the Humanities at Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania.��Free.

Online option – January 22 | (Jackson School of International Studies)
Professor Nicholas de Villiers of University of North Florida, contends in his book that we need to theorize both queer time and space to understand Taiwan-based director Tsai Ming-liang’s cinematic explorations of feeling melancholy, cruisy, and sleepy. Building on those arguments, this presentation starts with a reading of Tsai’s short film It’s a Dream (2007)—set in a movie theater in Malaysia—as a microcosm of Tsai’s themes and motifs of sleep/dreaming, cruising, nostalgia, and the space of the cinema. It then addresses Tsai’s “post-retirement” (after 2013) films and museum installations, including the queer Teddy award-winning digital feature film Days (Rizi, 2020) shot in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Thailand, and the short film The Night (2021) shot in Hong Kong in 2019. Free.

January 22 | (Stroum Center for Jewish Studies)
Mark Letteney will be joined by Stroum Center faculty and history professor Joel Walker and classics professor Sarah Levin-Richardson to discuss the book, unpack what role prisons played in ancient societies and how this history continues today, and answer questions. Free.

January 23 | (Meany Center for the Performing Arts)
Celebrated Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes performs an eclectic solo recital featuring works by Schumann, Janáček, and Kurtág.

January 23 | (Classics)
This year’s McDiarmid Lecture features Kirk Ormand (Oberlin College). Free.

January 23 | (Political Science)
Presented by Barry Rabe,Arthur F. Thurnau Professor Emeritus; Professor Emeritus of Public Policy; Professor Emeritus of Environmental Policy; Professor Emeritus of the Environment; Professor Emeritus of Political Science. Free.

January 25 | (Burke Museum)
Uncover an ancient marine creature in the dig pit, compare your footprint to a giant sauropod, and learn about the mighty animals of the Mesozoic.

Week of January 26

Online – January 26 | ��(Jackson School of International Studies)
Presented by Roberto Dondisch, Distinguished Fellow Stimson Center; Lecturer, 91�� and Bonnie Jenkins, U.S. Ambassador (ret.); Visiting Professor, George Washington University. Trump in the World 2.0 is an online series of talks and discussions featuring guest speakers and faculty exploring global perspectives on a second Trump administration. Free.

91�� students: Interested in taking this as a 2-credit/no credit course? Visit MyPlan for complete course details.

January 28 | (Stroum Center for Jewish Studies)
Miriam Udel will discuss her new book, Modern Jewish Worldmaking Through Yiddish Children’s Literature. Free.

Online – January 29 | (Jackson School of International Studies)
The U.S. intervention in Venezuela recalls a painful history of similar actions by the United States in the region. Since the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, responses around the world have ranged from celebrations by the Venezuelan diaspora to protests against U.S. imperialism and the violation of Venezuelan sovereignty. Underscoring the importance of historical knowledge of inter-American relations, this virtual roundtable will feature 91�� professors Ileana Rodríguez-Silva (History) and Sebastián Rubiano-Galvis (Law, Societies & Justice), political scientist and Simón Bolivar University professor Colette Capriles, and historian of Venezuela and New York University Professor Alejandro Velasco, who will shed light on the invasion. Free.

January 29–31 | (Meany Center for the Performing Arts)
Ephrat Asherie’s choreography remixes street and club dance styles with the live Latin jazz of Grammy‑winner Arturo O’Farrill in Shadow Cities.

January 29–February 8 | (School of Drama)
In this new translation of Chekhov’s ”serious comedy of human contradictions”, a group of artists and dreamers meet in the countryside and wrestle with the costs of ambition, unspoken longings, and the harsh realities of artistic pursuits. Set against a backdrop of love, passionate aspirations, and the search for meaning,��The Seagull��captures the fierce hopes and quiet heartbreaks of an artistic career.�� Directed by MFA Student Sebastián Bravo Montenegro.

January 30 | (German Studies)
Presented by Alexandra Sterling-Hellenbrand, Professor of German and Global Studies at Appalachian State University.��Free.

ArtSci Roundup goes monthly!

The ArtSci Roundup is your guide to connecting with the 91��—whether in person, on campus, or on your couch.

Previously shared on a quarterly basis, those who sign up for the Roundup email will receive them monthly, delivering timely updates and engaging content wherever you are. Check the roundup regularly, as events are added throughout the month. Make sure to check out the ArtSci On Your Own Time section for everything from podcasts to videos to exhibitions that can be enjoyed when it works for you!

In addition, if you like the ArtSci Roundup, sign up to receive a monthly notice when it’s been published.

Do you have an event that you would like to see featured in the ArtSci Roundup? Connect with Lauren Zondag (zondagld@uw.edu).uw.edu).

ArtSci Roundup: December

Lauren Zondag — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 19:24:48 +0000

Come curious. Leave inspired.

For those near and far, we invite you to end the year with us through a range of events, performances, exhibitions, podcasts, and more. As you begin to shape your December plans, don’t miss the inspiring events still to come this November.

In addition,��.

ArtSci On Your Own Time

Henry Art Gallery Exhibitions Closing in January:

Influenced by non-verbal communication, Kim merges graphic and musical notation with American Sign Language. Her compositions uniquely address her experience as a Deaf individual in a hearing-centric society and broader societal influences on whose voices hold sway.

This presentation is the second rotation in a two-part series showcasing new additions to the Henry’s permanent collection. Artists featured in this presentation highlight both locally and globally recognized figures, including Sarah Cain, Fiona Connor, Demian DineYahzi’, Mary Ann Peters, and Carrie Yamaoka, among others.

Spirit House investigates how contemporary artists of Asian descent challenge the boundary between life and death through art. A thematic exploration of the work of thirty-four Asian American and Asian diasporic artists, Spirit House asks the question, what does it mean to speak to ghosts, inhabit haunted spaces, be reincarnated, or enter different dimensions? Inspired by spirit houses, small devotional structures found throughout Thailand that provide shelter for the supernatural, this exhibition considers how art can bridge the gap between this world and the next.

Admission to the Henry is free to all visitors.

Podcast: ��(Jackson School of International Studies)
Launched in 2021 with 91�� Professor Daniel Bessner and writer Derek Davison, “American Prestige,” the winner of the 2025 Signal Awards “silver” medal, offers an in-depth analysis of U.S. foreign policy and international affairs, and has featured guests such as actor Morgan Spector and HuffPost senior diplomatic correspondent Akbar Shahid Ahmed.

Exhibitions in the Community: (Art + Art History + Design)
Eight students graduated in June 2025 with their Master of Fine Arts degrees and just a few months later, are already making impressive moves in their artistic careers with work being featured at the Tacoma Art Museum, 4Culture, and more!

Podcasts: (91�� Magazine)
From Indigenous Jazz to conversations about how to live with uncertainty and discomfort without disconnecting from our shared humanity, listen to podcasts and radio shows from 91�� alumni and faculty.

Events Happening in December

December 1 | ��(Music)
Phyllis Byrdwell leads the 100-voice Gospel Choir in songs from the Gospel tradition.

December 1 | (Slavic Languages & Literature)
91�� professor, translator, and writer José Alaniz discusses his latest book, Comics of the Anthropocene: Graphic Narrative at the End of Nature, the first full-length monograph to explore how US comics artists have depicted environmental destruction, mass extinctions, and climate change. He will be joined in conversation by fellow artists Megan Kelso, Leonard Rifas, and T Edward Bak.��Free.

December 2 | (Political Science)
The 91�� Political Science Department welcomes Hayko Bağdat to the stage with 91�� Professor Asli Cansunar for a discussion on minority rights, freedom of expression and belonging in Turkish politics today. Drawing on personal stories, they’ll explore what it means to speak truth, to live in exile for that truth, and to carry both love and loss for a country from afar. Free.

December 2 | (Art + Art History + Design)
Our question to consider: What is the soundtrack to liberation? This year-long program series hopes to honor our commitment to social justice and to gather our community to think about the work of liberation through shared texts, art, film, music, conversation, and workshops. Unlike your traditional book club all the reading and study happens together, so no need to prepare.

December 3 | ��(Music)
A free lunchtime performance featuring 91�� School of Music students in the North Allen Library lobby. Presented in partnership with 91�� Libraries.��Free.

December 4 | (Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture)
Part of Burke’s Free First Thursday series, the museum opens its collections spaces from 4:30 to 7:30 PM. Visitors can explore behind‑the-scenes labs and storage, and speak with researchers, staff, and volunteers about their work.��Free.

December 4 | (Simpson Center for the Humanities)
Over the past quarter-century, the Simpson Center has established itself as an internationally recognized model for leading-edge humanities research. Its work—from scholarly gatherings to fellowship programs to publications—has been transformative for faculty, students, and staff at the 91��. The new faculty director of the Simpson Center, Professor Lynn M. Thomas, invites you to celebrate the impact of the Center’s work and to raise a glass to honor Professor Kathleen Woodward’s legacy of leadership at the Simpson Center.��Free.

Online Option – December 4 | The Office of Public Lectures presents: Healthcare Where All Can Thrive: Advocating For Older LGBTQ Adults with Carey Candrian (Graduate School Public Lectures)
Healthcare can be challenging for anyone—but for older LGBTQ individuals, the barriers are often deeper and more complex. This talk explores how thoughtful, inclusive communication can transform healthcare experiences, making every person feel truly seen, heard, and respected. Free.

December 4 | School of Music Performances
Free

Free

December 5 – 13 | (Drama)
Part farce, part protest, this sharp and timely comedy explores Capitalism and economic survival with wild humor and a lot of heart. Directed by Bradley Wrenn, as part of our Producing Artists Laboratory, They Don’t Pay! We Won’t Pay! brings riotous laughter to a situation that feels all too close to home.

December 7 | ��(Meany Center for the Performing Arts)
Join Cantus for a reflection on the meaning and joy of the holiday season with a program that the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune deemed “as joyful a celebration of the season’s spirit as any caroling party you’re likely to attend this year.”

December 7 | (Music)
The 91�� Modern Music Ensemble (Cristina Valdés, director) presents diverse and innovative programming from the mid-20th century to the present. Free.

December 8 | ��(Asian Languages & Literature)
In this talk, David Spafford, Associate Professor of Premodern Japanese History at the University of Pennsylvania, takes a closer look at the complexities of sixteenth-century Japan and unpacks why this particular moment in history matters so much — and how the hit Shogun series does (or doesn’t) help us understand it. Free.

December 9 | (Meany Center for the Performing Arts)
Through a captivating multimedia performance, Feinstein breathes life into iconic songs, blending holiday classics and more. The concert includes a wide-ranging selection of favorites with melodies that promise an unforgettable evening celebrating the magic of the holiday season.

December 11 | (Meany Center for the Performing Arts)
Dianne Reeves — one of the pre-eminent jazz vocalists in the world today — brings her fresh interpretations of Christmas standards to Meany for a night of holiday magic. Her brilliant virtuosity, improvisational prowess and unique jazz flair are showcased in a set of music from her celebrated album, Christmas Time Is Here.

December 18 |

Read the book ahead of time, or join to learn more about the selection. The��December book is The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

Polly Olsen, Burke Museum Tribal Liaison, will discuss The Serviceberry and illustrate the book’s core concept, the gift economy. After the conversation, explore the museum on your own and see examples of lessons from The Serviceberry in the galleries.

December 18 – 20 | (Dance)
From improvisation and playful experiments, to a soft collision with movement, each work has a distinct choreographic style. The evening asks us to consider different modes of relation: between artists, across decades, in conversation with lineage, and with embodied inquiry. In collaboration with 91�� Associate Professor Rachael Lincoln.

December 31 | (Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture)
Enjoy fossilized fun at five drop-in stations designed for young learners ages 3–8. Hold fossils and casts at the touch table, make scientific discoveries in the dig pit, create a craft to take home, and collect a new stamp each month in your Fossil Finders Passport.

ArtSci Roundup goes monthly!

The ArtSci Roundup is your guide to connecting with the 91��—whether in person, on campus, or on your couch.

In addition, if you like the ArtSci Roundup, sign up to receive a monthly notice when it’s been published.��

Do you have an event that you would like to see featured in the ArtSci Roundup? Connect with Lauren Zondag (zondagld@uw.edu).

ArtSci Roundup: November

Lauren Zondag — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 00:21:33 +0000

Come curious. Leave inspired.

We invite you to connect with us this November through a rich and varied schedule of more than 30 events, exhibitions, podcasts, and more. From chamber opera premieres and public lectures to Indigenous storytelling and poetry celebrations, there’s something to spark every curiosity. Expect boundary-pushing performances, thought-provoking dialogues on memory and identity, and cross-disciplinary collaborations—November is a celebration of bold ideas and creative energy.

As you plan for the end of the year, take a look at what’s coming up in the December ArtSci Roundup.

In addition, .

ArtSci On Your Own Time

Closing November 8 | (Art + Art History + Design)
This Fall MFA exhibition at the Jacob Lawrence Gallery showcases emerging artists’ work. Free.

Closing January 11 | (Henry Art Gallery)
A thematic exploration of the work of thirty-four Asian American and Asian diasporic artists, Spirit House asks the question, what does it mean to speak to ghosts, inhabit haunted spaces, be reincarnated, or enter different dimensions?

Book Club:��“The Four Winds” by Kristin Hannah��(91�� Alumni)
Readers’ Choice! Author (and 91�� alum – BA, Communication, ’83 ) Kristin Hannah highlights the struggles of the working poor during the Great Depression in this novel. Elsa is an awkward wallflower who is raising her two children on the family farm. As the Dust Bowl hits, she must choose between weathering the climate catastrophe in Texas or moving her family west to follow rumors of jobs in California.��Free.

Books, podcasts, etc: (91�� Magazine)
This spring, 18,883 degrees were conferred upon graduates of all three 91�� campuses. We estimate there are just under 600,000 living alumni of the 91��. And the 91�� supports or sustains 100,520 jobs, making it the fifth-largest employer in the state. No wonder we’re always hearing about new books, music, podcasts, and film projects from the 91�� community. Read on for a few recent accomplishments from Huskies in the media.

Week of November 3

November 1 | (Meany Center for the Performing Arts)
A West Coast premiere of a chamber opera by composer Matthew Aucoin and director Peter Sellars, based on poems by Jorie Graham. The performance explores embodiment and identity in an age of transformation.

Ed Yong

Online Option – November 4 | Becoming a Birder (Graduate School Public Lectures)
This talk considers birding not only as a scientific and recreational practice but as a way of seeing and being—attuned to classification, memory, imagination, and care. Free.

November 4 | (Simpson Center for the Humanities)
A public lecture on the use—and misuse—of historical analogy in politics, focusing on Holocaust memory and the complexities of comparison in historical discourse. Free.

November 5 |(DXARTS)
Hum Under the Riverstone explores different forms of connection and dialogue that can unfold among various kinds of intelligences: human, natural, and machinic. The title of this project draws inspiration from Édouard Glissant and his concept of archipelagic thinking. Free.

November 5 | (Music)
A free lunchtime performance featuring 91�� School of Music students in the North Allen Library lobby. Presented in partnership with 91�� Libraries. Free.

Online Option – November 5 | (Jackson School)
What does it mean to commemorate a genocide? This is the overarching question governing this academic panel as its presenters ruminate over the mass killings that transpired in Indonesia between 1965 and 1966 which saw an estimated deaths of at least 500,000 alleged communists and their sympathizers, among others. Free.

November 6 – 16 | (Drama)
A new devised performance piece created under the direction of Adrienne Mackey with 91�� students, set in a dystopian workplace where employees inhabit modular rooms and confront disconnection, routine, and possibility.

November 6 | (Political Science)
Bart Wilson is the Kennedy Endowed Chair in Economics & Law and the director of the Smith Institute for Political Economy & Philosophy at Chapman University, and author of Humanomics (with Vernon Smith), The Property Species, and Meaningful Economics. Free.

November 6 | (American Indian Studies)
A series to prepare for the Film Screening & 91�� Symphony Performance: Healing Heart of the First People of This Land on February 6, 2026 ().��Free.

November 6 | (Henry Art Gallery)
Part artist talk, part lecture-performance, this presentation by artist Chloë Bass will use the lens of public art today to explore feelings as a type of knowledge. RSVP encouraged. Free.

November 6 | (Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture)
Part of Burke’s Free First Thursday series, the museum opens its collections spaces from 4:30 to 7:30 PM. Visitors can explore behind‑the-scenes labs and storage, and speak with researchers, staff, and volunteers about their work. Free.

November 6 | (Meany Center for the Performing Arts)
Renowned pianist Jon Kimura Parker returns to Meany with a dynamic solo program featuring Mozart, Beethoven’s Appassionata, Ravel’s Jeux d’Eau, and an Americana‑inflected selection including works by Chick Corea, John Adams, and Oscar Peterson.

November 7 | (American Ethnic Studies)
Celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Department of American Ethnic Studies (AES) and honor the 449 Japanese American 91�� students of 1941-42 whose education was interrupted and who were unjustly incarcerated during WWII. Pictures and memories will be shared from the families of The Long Journey Home honorees, followed by remarks from AES Chair Alexes Harris and faculty member Vince Schleitwiler. Free.

November 7 | (Political Science)
Megan Mullin, Faculty Director of the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation, discusses how scientific expertise shapes public decisions in the aftermath of disaster, drawing on lessons from the 2025 Los Angeles fires. Hosted by the Center for Environmental Politics. Free.

November 7 | (Anthropology)
Anthropologist Tracie Canada draws from long-term ethnographic research to explore how Black college football players navigate and resist the structural harms of college athletics. Canada is the Andrew W. Mellon Assistant Professor of Cultural Anthropology at Duke University and director of the HEARTS Lab. Free.

November 8 | (Henry Art Gallery)
As part of the Spirit House exhibition, this reading explores grief, memory, and the porous boundary between life and death through storytelling across cultures. Free.

November 8 | (Meany Center for the Performing Arts)
This special tribute celebrates Amadou’s musical legacy with Mariam’s iconic vocals, longtime band members, and new music from their forthcoming album L’Amour à la Folie. A legendary duo blending Malian blues with Afropop, disco, and rock influences.

Week of November 10

November 12 | ��(Drama)
In conjunction with the School’s upcoming production of OMMIA Break Room, this panel discussion centers on collaborative creation across multiple fields of study with notable faculty speakers from across the Seattle campus.

November 12 | ��(Honors)
As it becomes increasingly woven into our daily lives, public trust in science— or the lack thereof — matters more than ever. Join a dynamic conversation among 91�� Interdisciplinary Honors faculty whose scholarship and teaching engage natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities, as they explore what happens when scientific research and scholarship are misunderstood, mistrusted or misused. Free.

November 12 | (Jackson School of International Studies)
A panel discussion on the new edited volume Spaces of Creative Resistance: Social Change Projects in 21st-Century East Asia, exploring how scholars, artists, and activists respond to inequality, environmental degradation, and social disconnection across Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Featuring Andrea Arai, Jeff Hou, and James Lin. Free.

November 13 | (American Indian Studies)
Composer Bruce Ruddell, Musicians Adia tsi sʔuyuʔaɫ Bowen (Upper Skagit) and
Ben Workman Smith (Tolowa), Conductors Ryan Dudenbostel and David Rahbee, with John-Carlos Perea (Mescalero Apache/German/Irish/Chicano) as discussant. A series to prepare for the Film Screening & 91�� Symphony Performance: Healing Heart of the First People of This Land on February 6, 2026 ().��Free.

November 13 | (Simpson Center for the Humanities)
Philosopher Marshall Abrams challenges standard population-level views of evolution by emphasizing the unique role of individual organisms and their environments. Drawing from his book Evolution and the Machinery of Chance, Abrams explores how evolution unfolds within dynamic “population-environment systems.” Free.

November 13 – 14 | and (Music)
91�� Jazz Studies students perform in small combos over two consecutive nights of original tunes, homage to the greats of jazz, and experiments in composing and arranging. Free.

November 14 | ��(Political Science)
PhD Student Ryan Reynolds presents, “Structurally Induced Anxiety and Anti‑War Voting: Military Social Networks and Presidential Elections.” Free.

November 14 | (Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures)
A multilingual poetry gathering celebrating the ghazal, a poetic form rooted in Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Urdu, and more. Participants will recite ghazals in their original languages with English translations, reflecting on sound, translation, and the form’s enduring vitality. Free.

November 16 | (Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture)
Explore ancient technologies, identify animal bones, sort shells, and enjoy a flintknapping (stone tool‑making) demonstration. Burke archaeologists and community partners present hands‑on activities and share stories about artifacts and historical practices. Free with museum admission; free for Burke members.

Online Option – November 16 | (Jackson School of International Studies)
The Stroum Center for Jewish Studies brings together scholars and community members to discuss the meaning and impact of Spanish and Portuguese citizenship offers to descendants of Sephardic Jews. Featuring Rina Benmayor, Dalia Kandiyoti, and Professor Devin E. Naar. In-person registration required. Free.

Week of November 17

November 18 | ��(Chemistry)
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry recognizes the architects of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi. Professors Dianne Xiao and Doug Reed from the Department of Chemistry will introduce MOFs and discuss their importance.
November 18 | (Art + Art History + Design)
Join a Narcan training workshop followed by a pizza party and conversation focused on community care, harm reduction, and accessibility. Part of the year-long Liberation Book Club series exploring liberation through shared texts, art, film, music, and workshops. Free.

November 18 | (Music)
91�� voice students of Thomas Harper and Carrie Shaw perform art songs and arias from the vocal repertoire. ��Free.

November 18 | (Jackson School)
Forty years after the US pulled out of South Vietnam, a Vietnamese martial arts master returns to the waters that claimed his wife and children during their escape in hopes of finding their grave. The screening will be followed by a virtual discussion with members of the GETSEA consortium. Free.

November 20 | (Henry Art Gallery)
Co-presented with the 91�� School of Art + Art History + Design, this conversation will address the role of historical research in DeVille’s object-based and performance practice, as well as her alchemical way of transforming found materials into psychically charged paintings, sculptures, and installations. Free.

November 20 | ��(American Indian Studies)
A series to prepare for the Film Screening & 91�� Symphony Performance: Healing Heart of the First People of This Land on February 6, 2026 ().��Free.

Online – November 20 | (Geography)
Alums share how their geography degrees have shaped careers in climate risk, procurement, and user experience design. Featuring Sadie Frank (CEO, N4EA), Nina Mesihovic (Enterprise Contracts Specialist, WA State), and Anirudh Ramanathan (Senior UX Researcher). Moderated by Professor Sarah Elwood. Free.

November 20 | (Jackson School of International Studies)
Historian Edward Wright-Ríos explores the enduring and evolving practice of pilgrimage among Mexican Catholics, challenging common misconceptions and revealing why this tradition remains vital in modern life. Free.

November 20 | (Music)
The Campus Band (conducted by Solomon Encina) and Concert Band (conducted by Yuman Wu) present their Fall Quarter concert at Meany Hall—Katharyn Alvord Gerlich Theater. The program features works by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Steven Bryant, Clifton Williams, Richard Saucedo, Frank Ticheli, and others.

November 21 | (American Indian Studies)
As the days grow shorter, we gather in for a gathering with friends, family, and community to appreciate some long-form storytelling. Free.

November 21 | (Music)
The 91��’s graduate-student-led choral ensembles—the University Singers, 91�� Glee, and Treble Choir—present an eclectic end-of-quarter concert.

November 21 | (Simpson Center for the Humanities)
This symposium brings together global wetland scholars to propose four analytical interventions in wetland studies, namely: rethinking the undisciplined wetland; post-colonial/settler politics of the wetland; shifting spatial geographies and temporalities of the wetland; and finally (counter) mapping the wetland. Free.

November 23 | (Music)

91�� music students perform music from the Baroque era under the direction of Tekla Cunningham. Free.

November 24 | (Music)
The 91�� Studio Jazz Ensemble and Modern Band present a shared program featuring a mix of repertory selections, original compositions, and inspired arrangements. This performance offers a dynamic evening of jazz that highlights the talents of 91��’s student musicians.

ArtSci Roundup goes monthly!

The ArtSci Roundup is your guide to connecting with the 91��—whether in person, on campus, or on your couch.

In addition, if you like the ArtSci Roundup, sign up to receive a monthly notice when it’s been published.

Do you have an event that you would like to see featured in the ArtSci Roundup? Connect with Lauren Zondag (zondagld@uw.edu).

Story pole celebrating Coast Salish peoples installed on 91�� campus

Lauren Kirschman — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 14:38:41 +0000

Five years before a 25-foot story pole was installed outside Denny Hall on the 91�� campus, (Sugpiaq/Alutiiq) had a vision.

A Native Alaskan, Haakanson understands the importance of recognizing a land’s native peoples. So, when he looked around the 91��’s Seattle campus, he found himself wondering: Where is the Coast Salish community? The Burke Museum houses Coast Salish pieces, he said, and there are small works in other buildings. But representation was noticeably missing from the actual grounds.

Al Charles (Lower Elwha Klallam), Tyson Simmons (Muckleshoot) and Keith Stevenson (Muckleshoot) carved the story pole that’s now on the 91�� campus. Credit: Sven Haakanson

Haakanson, a 91�� professor of anthropology, wanted to change that. He first started by talking to Al Charles, a carver from the Lower Elwha Klallam��Tribe, and then to Tyson Simmons and Keith Stevenson, of the Muckleshoot Tribe, to get their thoughts on bringing a story pole to the 91��. They were all on board, but Haakanson didn’t approach the university until about a year later.

A celebration of the story pole will be held by the carvers on Sept. 18. The Coast Salish ceremony consists of one speaker and invited witnesses who will observe the dedication of the story pole to the space. The carvers will then offer gifts to those who worked behind the scenes to bring the pole to campus. “We should be educating ourselves about where we are,” Haakanson said. “Having the story pole there for all of us to learn from, celebrate and enjoy is another wonderful way of learning about the tribes that are here.”

��is also available for use.

He had just been offered the position to chair the Department of Anthropology. While discussing ways to retain him at the 91��, Haakanson asked for a story pole to be commissioned for the 91�� Seattle campus.

“It was kind of an odd ask for retention,” Haakkanson said. “But this is a wonderful way to promote, lift up and celebrate the Coast Salish peoples, whose land we’re on.”

Story poles, like the one installed on 91��’s campus (above), were specifically created to share and teach Coast Salish legends, histories and stories. Photo: 91�� Department of Anthropology

and indicates the cultural group of Indigenous peoples who speak or spoke these languages. Coast Salish peoples have lived in present-day western Washington and southwestern British Columbia for more than 10,000 years. The 91�� is located on land that touches the shared waters of the Suquamish, Tulalip and Muckleshoot nations.

The Coast Salish people carve story poles, while totem poles are a broader category of carved wooden monuments from the Pacific Northwest. Story poles were specifically created to share and teach Coast Salish legends, histories and stories.

“Story poles are meant to tell stories,” Haakanson said. “With totem poles, they are talking about their clans and their histories. Story poles are about histories, as well, but the Coast Salish have used story poles to tell a story about an event, a legend or where we are now.

“ We see a lot of totem poles here, but totem poles are from up north. I love what totem poles represent, and I love the symbolism, but we should also be supporting local communities in their form, in their way. This is one way for students and visitors to learn about who the Coast Salish peoples are.”

Charles, Simmons and Stevenson submitted a proposal for the pole, which Haakanson then relayed to the university. The project was approved, and work on the log started a year and a half ago.

“The carvers turned this from a vision into the story pole itself,” Haakanson said. “They put in not just a lot of time and work, but also so much care and thought. To me, it’s not just a phenomenal piece of art but a celebration of the Coast Salish peoples.”

The title of the story pole is skʷatač dxʷʔal x̌ʷəlč, which translates to “From the Mountain to the Coast Salish Sea.” From the top down, images on the pole are Mount Rainier, women’s weavings, the holding two orcas, four salmon that represent four rivers, Coast Salish peoples and��the Coast Salish Sea.

Carving of the story pole that’s now installed on the 91�� campus began a year and a half ago. Credit: Sven Haakanson

The aluminum back features the North Star at the top and water and mountains in in the middle. Underneath are three canoe prows from the Northwest Coast, the Salish Coast and the West Coast.

“What I really loved about the story pole is it celebrates and recognizes the original peoples and symbolizes our responsibility, as the community now, to care for our environment from the mountains to the sea.” Haakanson said. “They have this symbolism embedded in the story pole.”

For more information, please contact Haakanson at svenh@uw.edu.

91���� Notebook – 91���� News

Q&A: 91���� professor lends human rights expertise to FIFA, 2026 World Cup

What is a human rights action plan and what potential issues do they address?

What issues are most pressing for Seattle and how did you identify them?

Can you elaborate on past issues that led to this being the first World Cup to require human rights to be part of the bidding process?

Speaking of your students, how do they engage with this work?

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New faculty books: Ordinary people and the global legal order, imperial policing, making of modern Taiwan, and poetry

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Co-authored book began with love of 18th century poetry

Faculty/staff honors: Lifetime achievement award, Plyler Prize, Rome Prize fellowship

Affiliate professor of biology receives 2026 Kenneth S. Norris Lifetime Achievement Award��

Natt-Lingafelter professor of chemistry awarded 2026 Earle K. Plyler Prize��

91���� joint professor of mathematics and computer science awarded inaugural Trevisan Prize��

Political��science��professor��receives John Gaus Award��

Washington Sea Grant��interim��director��receives��governor’s��leadership��award��

Biology��professor��awarded Rome Prize Fellowship in Environmental Arts & Humanities��

Q&A: ‘MELA’ documentary demonstrates how art and local communities can enhance scientific projects

Q&A: 91���� course uses the Olympic Games as a historical lens

What makes sports such an effective window into history?

Where did the idea for this course come from?

What is one of your favorite topics that you cover in the class?

Do you anticipate any crossover into the course from more recent Olympics, and even the current Olympics?

ArtSci Roundup: January

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ArtSci Roundup goes monthly!

ArtSci Roundup: December

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ArtSci Roundup: November

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Week of November 3

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ArtSci Roundup goes monthly!

Story pole celebrating Coast Salish peoples installed on 91���� campus

91�� Notebook – 91�� News

Q&A: 91�� professor lends human rights expertise to FIFA, 2026 World Cup

91�� researcher gives keynote speech on human-wildlife coexistence and climate adaptation at international roundtable

91�� Tacoma assistant professor collaboration with Policing in Chicago Research Group

91�� joint professor of mathematics and computer science awarded inaugural Trevisan Prize��

Q&A: 91�� course uses the Olympic Games as a historical lens

Story pole celebrating Coast Salish peoples installed on 91�� campus