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 �r������, 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.

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.

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

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 UW 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?

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 UW, 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 UW 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 UW 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.

The �r������ has earned a Gold rating from the ​​Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, or STARS.

The STARS ratings, administered by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, are good for three years and are based on self-reported assessments. The UW has held a Gold rating from STARS since first participating in 2012.

“The STARS Gold rating is recognition of all the hard work being done across our campus by staff, students and faculty for sustainability,” UW Sustainability director Lisa Dulude said. “As we celebrate Earth Day in April, this achievement is a reminder of the UW’s commitment to embed sustainability in everything we do, and the benefits of this work for our environment and our community.”

The STARS report covers the UW in Seattle and includes questions on sustainability performance in academics, planning and administration, engagement and operations. About 380 schools worldwide have active STARS ratings. Gold is the second-highest tier. There are 17 schools that have achieved the highest Platinum rating. UW Bothell also holds a STARS Gold rating.

All STARS reports are public, and the .

STARS is the most wide-reaching sustainability report, and the information collected gives the UW a comprehensive view of its sustainability performance and allows for comparison to peer universities. It can also provide insight on areas where additional efforts might be needed.

The information is used to inform the UW’s Sustainability Action Plan, which sets out the University’s sustainability goals. The first Sustainability Action Plan was adopted in 2020, and the UW is currently in the process of creating an updated Plan, which will be finalized by summer 2026.

“The UW has long been a sustainability leader in higher education, as evidenced by our long track record of STARS Gold ratings,” Dulude said. “With the Sustainability Action Plan update, working groups have identified several areas to set measurable targets, which ensure we will continue that leadership.”

The UW’s sustainability efforts are also on show in recognition of Earth Day on April 22. Events organized by a variety of groups across the UW happen throughout the month, including volunteer opportunities, workshops and more. You can see the on the UW Sustainability site.

Lance brings more than 18 years of university leadership and legal experience to the role, serving for the past five years as chief of staff to the provost at Seattle University. Prior to that role, Lance served as SU’s associate university counsel from 2017 to 2021 and assistant to the executive vice president and assistant university counsel from 2010 to 2017.

“David stood out not only for the depth and breadth of his experience as a university chief of staff, but for the incredible esteem in which he is held by all who have worked with him. In addition, his deep knowledge and understanding of the local higher education landscape makes him the ideal person to fill this important role,” said President Jones.

Before joining Seattle University, Lance was an associate attorney for Miller Nash, LLP where his practice focused on higher education. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Marquette University, a juris doctorate from Seattle University School of Law and was an adjunct law professor from 2012 to 2016.

“Having been born and raised in Washington, I am honored to join the Husky family,” Lance said. “The UW stands as a leading public research university and prominent member of the AAU and Big Ten Conference. I look forward to serving alongside President Jones, Provost Serio and the UW community as we navigate the headwinds facing higher education, lead in this moment of change, and continue our work to educate students, care for patients, innovate and produce knowledge, and serve our communities, all for the common good.”

As chief of staff, Lance will serve as a senior advisor to the president, helping to drive strategic priorities and oversee the operations of the Executive Office of the President and Provost. He will work closely with campus and external partners to ensure alignment across the University, advance the institution’s strategic plan and strengthen collaboration among divisions. Lance will also support the administration’s engagement with the UW Board of Regents and help ensure the University’s mission and values are reflected in its leadership and decision making.

Lance is the youngest son of two Huskies — Stan Lance, who graduated with a master’s degree in 1972 and an MBA in 1975, and Nora Lance, who earned a bachelor’s degree in 1973.

Outside of work, Lance enjoys running and longs for more October baseball in Seattle. He also explores the Pacific Northwest’s trails, beaches and mountains with his wife, Christi, and three young kids.

Lance succeeds Hasoni Pratts, who served as chief of staff following the departure of Margaret Shepherd, who left the UW in September after serving at the University for��16��years.

[April 6] UPDATE: Flower petals are falling on the Quad as the trees lose their blossoms. The waning bloom is still quite a site but it’ll be a while before the trees are back on full display.

[March 23] UPDATE: The cherry trees are officially in peak bloom! Visit campus anytime in the next week or so to see the blossoms in all their glory.

[March 18] UPDATE: Recent temperature swings have slowed bud development for the Quad cherries. About half of the trees are still in peduncle elongation stage while half have moved on to the “puffy white” stage that precedes full bloom. Cool temperatures in the coming days may delay peak bloom as trees gradually blossom. Warm weather could produce a sudden transition. Check the live cams for updates.

[March 13] UPDATE: It’s snowing but the blossoms are still growing! The Quad cherries are now in the “peduncle elongation” stage, where the flower-bearing stalk extends from the bud. Some have also begun to flower.

Each spring, large crowds gather on the �r������ Quad to admire 29 puffy pink cherry trees making their seasonal debut. The trees begin to wake up as the weather warms, and this year, estimates suggest that they will reach “peak bloom” on March 20.

The UW’s iconic cherry trees achieve peak bloom when 70% of the blossoms have opened, but the week before and after still offer visitors an optimal viewing experience.

The cherry blossom visitors’ website provides updates on bloom status as well as details on transportation, activities and amenities. The cherry blossoms also have live video feeds for virtual viewing and their own social media accounts on and .

The cherry trees are both beautiful and ecologically significant. Tracking when the buds burst each year helps researchers predict peak bloom and determine how climate warming is impacting the trees, which were planted in the Washington Park Arboretum in 1936 and then relocated to UW in 1962.

This year, many plants began to emerge early as a mild winter gave way to spring. Recent UW research described how plants rely on both temperature and light cues to time their flowering. Temperature is particularly important to cherry trees, which estimate the arrival of spring based on how cold it has been. They accrue “chilling units” as winter progresses and “heating units” as it yields to spring.

“The buds need to accumulate a specific amount of chilling units before they can start accumulating the heating units. When it is not as cold, the chilling units accumulate much slower, so it takes them longer to wake up from dormancy, which is very counterintuitive,” said , a UW doctoral student of environmental and forest sciences.

Theil is now overseeing data collection on campus, with the help of approximately 20 undergraduate students. The researchers make observations as the trees begin to wake up and feed the data into a computer model that incorporates weather forecasts to predict peak bloom.

Historically, the onset of peak bloom has fallen between March 12 and April 3, with an average date of March 23. While the weather impacts peak bloom year to year, climate change drives longer term trends over multiple decades.

Research shows that bloom time has shifted approximately two days earlier each decade since the 1960s. Researchers began monitoring the trees in 2012 and referenced newspaper archives to estimate peak bloom dates for the preceding years.

“With the climate warming more rapidly in the spring, I expected to see the flowers blooming earlier,” said lead author , a recent doctoral graduate from the UW school of environmental and forest sciences. “But as we dove into the literature and examined the data, we saw a delay in bloom, as a result of winter warming in Seattle.”

The study focused on the Somei-yoshino, or Yoshino, cherry tree cultivar. These trees, sometimes called the Japanese flowering cherry, are found throughout Japan. They also line the National Mall in Washington D.C. and paint many Seattle neighborhoods pink in the springtime.

The bloom delay Maust observed applies only to Yoshino cherry trees in Seattle. In colder climates, such as Washington D.C., the trees have ample time to accrue chilling units. Still, the two populations are quite similar, genetically.

Propagation, or breeding more trees, occurs by grafting one tree onto another. This process limits genetic variability in favor of consistency. Because all Yoshino cherry trees are sterile clones of one another, they do not produce fruits or seeds, but they do reliably bloom in beautiful pink hues each spring.

For more information on bloom time, contact Theil at mtheil@uw.edu or Maust at�� amaust@uw.edu. For information about the Yoshino Genome Project, contact Steinbrenner at astein10@uw.edu.

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 UW School of Music students in the North Allen Library lobby. Presented in partnership with UW 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 UW 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.

UW 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 UW 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 UW 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 UW 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, �r������ 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.

UW 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 �r������ 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 UW—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).

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 UW 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: (�r������ 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 UW 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)
UW 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 UW Political Science Department welcomes Hayko Bağdat to the stage with UW 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 UW School of Music students in the North Allen Library lobby. Presented in partnership with UW 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 �r������. 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 �r������ 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 UW 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 UW—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).

, artist in residence and head of organ studies at the �r������, will be joined by students and colleagues on Friday, Oct. 31, to perform a concert of spooky organ classics and Halloween fun.

The concert will open with “Toccata and Fugue in D minor,” which Price will play on the organ. Most likely written by Johann Sebastian Bach in the Baroque period, the composition is strongly associated with Halloween and spooky films, including the Disney movie “Fantasia.”

“People will recognize that piece and sort of expect it,”�� Price said. “We will then have vocal students and instrumentalists from the UW School of Music, which will show how the organ can be an accompanying instrument, outside of just being a solo instrument. Each organist will bring their own character and style to their performances.”

Other concert selections include “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd,” “Pink Panther,” the Mexican folk song “La Llorona,” , and the American folk tune “The House of the Rising Sun.”��

“Events like this are important because they expose people to organ music that may not ever take the chance to go and hear an organ concert,” Price said. “It is a very popular event, and it’s oriented around popular music and familiar music. That makes it a fun experience.”

After graduating from Western Connecticut State University, Price received a Fulbright Scholarship to Toulouse, France, where he studied historical and modern performances practices of French organ music. He went on to earn a master’s degree and a doctoral degree in music.

“I have a colleague here in Seattle who believes the instrument chooses you, and I think there may be some truth to that,” Price said. “The first time I saw an organist play, I knew instantly that’s what I wanted to do.”

Spanning approximately 12,000 square feet, the historic ASUW Shell House is located just feet from the northeast edge of the Montlake Cut and stands as a testament to UW’s enduring spirit of community, achievement and perseverance. The renovation of the 107-year-old building, preserving its open, hangar-style layout, is made possible by public funding and private philanthropic support. The building will seat up to 250 people, be available for both student and public use — the culmination of eight years of work and $22.5 million in funds raised in order to prepare the iconic structure for its next century.

The Shell House has served many purposes over the years, most famously as the site of the workshop of legendary boat-builder George Pocock, who crafted racing shells that carried Washington Rowing through eight national championship wins, including the legendary team that captured Olympic gold in 1936. It served as the inspiration behind Brown’s bestselling book and the movie, “The Boys in the Boat.”��Originally built as a WWI seaplane hangar, it most recently has been used as a place to store shells and boats. The location is known as “Carry a Canoe” in Lushootseed, stəx̌ʷugʷit (stukh-ug-weelth) which for many years served as a natural portage used by families and tribes.

After the war, the Navy’s buildings were turned over to UW. In August 1919 it was announced that most would be sold and removed. Since hangars of this type were considered temporary structures to support the Navy’s war effort, most were demolished. Student volunteers and crew members dug a 1,000-foot trench to carry steam pipes from Lander Hall to heat the cavernous space, and when all was ready, large letters painted above the huge doors spelled out “A.S.U.W. Shell House.” Today, it remains one of only two such wooden hangars still standing and has become an icon of rowing and UW’s history.��

“Buildings, like people, have stories to tell,” Brown said. “In these fractured times, we all crave examples of people pulling together for some kind of common goal. And that is really what the story of ‘The Boys In the Boat’ and this building are all about.”

“Because of your support, our campus and community can unite on the water’s edge, honor our shared legacy and launch a bold future together,” said Denzil Suite, UW’s vice president of student life, whose division oversees the building’s operations.��

Planning for the renovation project began in 2016. From the beginning, the goal has been for members of the community to contribute ideas for preserving the building’s historic identity, while adapting it for modern use and ensuring its structural integrity of its facilities — making it an ideal space for events, programs and community gatherings. An exhibit honoring the historic Pocock shop and rowing legacy of the UW and the Seattle region, together with the restoration of the historic wood interior and hangar doors are key features.

Many aspects of the historic preservation were considered, including legacy, community impact, budget, adaptation to modern building codes, shoreline improvements and legal requirements.����

“We are deeply grateful to every member of our community who shared their input, passion and perspective,” Jones said. “Together, we are not only honoring the remarkable history of the ASUW Shell House, but also shaping a welcoming, functional space that will serve generations to come and ensure its long-term vitality.”

The University established a large and diverse advisory committee to represent the building’s many different histories as well as its variety of future users. Over the past several years, the committee has provided valuable perspectives surrounding the project. These perspectives will ensure that the finished building incorporates a wide array of viewpoints from individuals who care deeply about the story that inspired a nation.����

“Rooted in a rich history of gathering and purpose, the iconic space has long brought students, athletes and the broader community together,” UW Foundation Board member Brooks Simpson said. “It will truly be the ‘front dock’ to the UW campus — greeting students and welcoming the public to experience our rich and complex waterfront history.”

��“Just as with any good crew, we are unique individuals who have learned to row together. Our common cause and careful process have led to the plan that we now embark on,” former State Sen. Mark Mullet said. Mullet, who previously served on the Senate Ways & Means (budget) committee and as vice chair of the capital budget, helped to secure $3 million in state funding investment for the renovation and adaptive use. “Together, we will ensure that the building — its beams, its rafters and its authentic voice — remain the first and most important storyteller.”

The ASUW Shell House was the first UW building to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places (1975 as the Old Canoe House), and the first UW building to become a Seattle Landmark (2018). Today, it continues to sit atop a culturally significant site — a place of gathering and movement for generations past, present and future.����

Learn more about the history of the ASUW Shell House.

###

Editor’s NOTE:�� The credit: Plomp for Mithun | Sellen) are also available online. Photos from the event are courtesy of Tara Brown Photography.��

A new era of astronomy and astrophysics began Monday when the first images captured by the NSF–DOE were released, demonstrating the extraordinary capabilities of the new telescope and the world’s largest digital camera.

Officials in Washington, D.C., unveiled large, ultra-high-definition images and videos, as well as discoveries of thousands of new asteroids. Astronomers and researchers around the world watched along at viewing parties, including at the �r������’s Planetarium.

The images offer a preview of the most comprehensive census of the solar system scientists have ever conducted, and a peek into the exponential increase in discoveries and understanding of the cosmos this new telescope will make possible.

The UW was one of the founding members of Rubin’s ambitious undertaking and will play a key role in making sense of the discoveries. UW scientists and engineers were critical in advocating for the project, designing the observatory and developing the software that will analyze the petabytes of data from Rubin’s telescope, including the asteroid discovery algorithms.

“�r������ faculty recognized early on that dreaming big about Rubin’s capabilities and leading the scientific charge would shape our knowledge of the solar system and propel innovation in data science not only in astrophysics but also across disciplines,” said UW Provost Tricia R. Serio. “We often talk about the impact the UW is making here and around the world. This project will take us far into space and give us information about the very origins of the universe and set the stage for future discoveries we can’t even imagine today.”

From its peak in the Chilean Andes, Rubin’s Simonyi Survey Telescope will scan the sky with its 8.4-meter mirror and enormous 3,200-megapixel camera, the largest digital camera in the world. The telescope’s sight path, the pace and frequency of observations and the vast field of vision required a new type of discovery algorithm to reliably make sense of the troves of data collected. Scientists and researchers at the UW worked across disciplines to evolve data science and computer science to meet Rubin’s demands.

In 2017, the UW — with founding support from the Charles and Lisa Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences — established the , or DiRAC. The Institute, part of the , aims to be an interdisciplinary hub to address fundamental questions about the origins and evolution of the universe. Leaders recognized that the future of astrophysics relied on using software as the chief instrument for this exploration. Combined with the UW’s and the deep connections to the Pacific Northwest’s tech community, DiRAC has developed a global reputation for working toward new discoveries.

As the Rubin sets out on a 10-year mission to conduct the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), software created at the UW will be pivotal as scientists advance understanding of the cosmos and the origins of the solar system. UW’s faculty, students and staff have played key roles in the construction of this new facility They’ve also been pivotal in developing the algorithms that keep the telescope image sharp and creating the codes for mapping the solar system and discovering the most energetic and rarest phenomena in what astrophysicists call the ” UW’s , a professor of astronomy, is the director of the federally-funded Rubin Construction Project.��

Unlike other telescopes — which tend to focus and “zoom in” on a few objects of interest — Rubin is alone in the capability to quickly and repeatedly map the entire visible sky.��

“Rubin has the unprecedented capacity to capture the cosmos,” said , a professor of astronomy and director of UW’s . He’s also the co-principal investigator of the supported LSST Interdisciplinary Network for Collaboration and Computing (LINCC) Frameworks program to develop state-of-the-art analysis techniques capable of meeting Rubin’s scale and complexity.

“Rubin will deliver the largest map the universe ever made: tens of billions of galaxies, billions of stars and millions of new small bodies in our own solar system. It’s a data analysis endeavor of epic proportions,” Connolly said.��

For each object Rubin observes, there will be much more than a static image, the technology will produce a thousand-frame movie: trillions of measurements of billions of objects, said , a research associate professor and the science lead of Rubin’s time-domain software team.

“With these data, scientists will better understand the universe, chronicle its evolution, and delve into science ranging from dangerous asteroids to the mysteries of dark energy,” Bellm said.

For example, the UW’s team helped create simulation software to predict Rubin’s discoveries. The research found that the telescope will map more than 5 million main-belt asteroids, 127,000 near-Earth objects, 109,000 Trojan asteroids that share Jupiter’s orbit, 37,000 trans-Neptunian objects and about 2,000 Centaurs, or orbit-crossing objects.��

These objects, revealed in color and in more detail than was previously possible, help tell the story of the solar system’s origins, said , a professor of astronomy and the principal investigator of UW’s Rubin team.

Juric said that Rubin will help answer some fundamental questions: How did the planets form? Is there an unknown planet hiding in the outskirts of our solar system? Did comets bring water to the Earth? Or asteroids? And are there any that could still collide with us today?

“The first look we share today is a glimpse into the transformational capacity Rubin will bring to answer questions like these,” Juric said.

The work to support the Rubin Observatory hasn’t been limited to UW faculty. Numerous UW undergraduate and doctoral students have played contributing roles, authoring important journal articles, developing simulation software and writing complex computer codes.��

Exposure to the LSST has helped prepare students to succeed post graduation, whether applying for work in industry or moving onto advanced academic degrees.

“Developing cloud-based analytics platforms, or building pipelines to process large amounts of imaging data, are skills that allow one to do not just cutting-edge astronomy but also any other data-intensive problem,” said Steven Stetzler, who recently completed doctoral work at UW and now holds a postdoctoral appointment at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

For more information, contact Juric at mjuric@uw.edu or James Davenport at jrad@uw.edu.��

�r������ President Ana Mari Cauce inspired graduates at the UW’s 150th Commencement ceremony on Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium on Saturday.

Cauce delivered her final address before ending her 10-year run as president and returning to the faculty.

“Graduates — right here, right now you stand on the edge of possibility, and you will be confronted with choices, challenges and opportunities that none of us can begin to imagine,” Cauce said. “That’s why all of us on this stage and in the audience are not only proud of your achievements, we are grateful — because the world urgently needs your voices and efforts.”

More than 7,400 UW graduates of the Class of 2025 — the most ever to pre-register — participated. About 50,000 family members and friends cheered the graduates from the Husky Stadium grandstands.

UW Tacoma held its commencement June 13 at the Tacoma Dome. UW Bothell’s graduation ceremonies are scheduled for June 15 at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

See highlights from Husky Stadium, Hec Edmundson Pavilion and the Tacoma Dome in the photo gallery below.

President Cauce presented nearly 18,833 degrees to the Class of 2025 across all three UW campuses’ ceremonies. Members of the UW Board of Regents, deans and other representatives of the University’s 24 colleges and schools across all three campuses also will participate in the ceremonies.

The following data, drawn from preliminary information broken down by campus and prepared by the Office of the University Registrar, was presented at the Board of Regents’ June 12 meeting:��

• For work completed at the��Seattle��campus, about 15,412 degrees will be conferred, specifically: 8,712 bachelor’s degrees, 5,161 master’s degrees, 589 professional degrees, 17 Educational Specialist degrees, and 933 doctoral degrees.��
• At��UW Bothell, about 1,663 degrees will be conferred, including 1,425 bachelor’s degrees and 238 master’s degrees.��
• And at��UW Tacoma,��students will receive about 1,758 degrees, including 1,393 bachelor’s degrees, 350 master’s degrees, 12 Educational Specialist degrees and three doctoral degrees.��

Degrees are awarded to those who have completed academic requirements during the 2024-2025 academic year. Many colleges and schools also hold separate graduation programs and investiture ceremonies.��