University of Washington College of Engineering

🚀 Last Tuesday, the SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission launched with four commercial astronauts to advance deep-space exploration. On board was a PlenOptika handheld autorefractor, the QuickSee Free, designed to collect important data in space.

One of the mission's key challenges? Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS), a condition that affects astronauts' vision due to optic nerve swelling and eye changes. Astronauts will use the QuickSee Free, along with smart contact lenses, to measure vision changes and shed light on how microgravity impacts eye health.

PlenOptika was co-founded by University of Washington Department of Bioengineering Ph.D. alumnus and 2024 Diamond Award winner Shivang Dave, whose mission is to make vision care more accessible around the world.

“We are thrilled to be part of this crucial scientific research, which will help humanity expand its frontiers into deep space,” says Dave.

🌌 Learn more: https://bit.ly/47zR103

PlenOptika’s QuickSee Free used on history-making Polaris Dawn mission to space | QuickSee Free Handheld Autorefractor, from PlenOptika Polaris Dawn crew, from left to right: Jared Isaacman. Sarah Gillis. Anna Menon, and Scott Poteet. Photo: Polaris Program / John Kraus Astronauts use mobile autorefractor to measure vision changes while in flight KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL, SEPTEMBER 10 — The Polaris Dawn mission launched today with...

Ureteral stones can cause severe pain in cats, often requiring invasive surgery for treatment. 🐈 But researchers from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and University of Washington Mechanical Engineering are developing a new, less invasive solution.

Using burst-wave lithotripsy (BWL)—a technique that uses sound waves to break apart stones from outside the body—they’re adapting a technology traditionally used in human medicine to treat affected cats. This innovation could revolutionize veterinary care by providing a faster, safer way to treat ureteral stones without surgery.

The researchers, including UW ME Associate Professor and Applied Physics Laboratory-UW Senior Principal Engineer Michael Bailey, are expanding trials to bring this promising technology to veterinary clinics everywhere. Initial trials in a group of 10 cats showed great success.

Learn more and meet the cats who benefited from this groundbreaking treatment: https://profiles-vetmed.umn.edu/article/pioneering-relief

Public transit is becoming more accessible thanks to a Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) student project: The Bus Beacon. 🚌 🚏

The team, made up of four students and two professors, looked at the public transit process through a user-centered design lens. Commuters frequently rely on a combination of apps, maps and schedules to gather bus arrival information. Their project, The Bus Beacon, uses low-energy Bluetooth technology to provide localized, accessible, real-time information directly at the bus stop.

"We got a lot of feedback during our testing and final showcase from people who were like, 'I would totally use this. Why don't we have this?' So that feels like we were able to meet our goal in designing a concept for something that could meet real needs for Seattle bus commuters," says HCDE MS student Michelle Northfield.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3XLKifT

Student Project Spotlight: The Bus Beacon For a project in the Human Centered Design & Engineering course on User-Centered Design, a team of students explored the question: "How can information empower Metro King County bus commuters?" Their proposed solution, The Bus Beacon, aims to improve the bus commuting experience by centralizing info...

Hydroelectric power, which uses moving water to generate electricity, often conjures up visions of large waterwheels and pump stations. But the next big climate solution might be a lot smaller, using new, scaled-down technology called micro-hydroelectric power. 💧

A utility station in Mount Vernon, Washington recently implemented small turbines inside pipes within the municipal water system. Energy previously released as heat now generates enough electricity to power 14 homes. In a recent KNKX Public Radio NPR segment, they spoke with University of Washington Mechanical Engineering Professor Brian Polagye about the future of micro-hydro technology.

“As you start to demonstrate that it's not creating risk, then you see the technology become more mainstream,” says Polagye.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4emSuJ1

Micro-hydroelectric power may be the next big climate solution As electricity providers in Washington scramble to find new sources of renewable energy, Skagit Public Utility District has successfully demonstrated the use of small hydro-electric turbines.

As wildfires occur more frequently around the U.S., UW Engineering researchers are trying to understand the causes and mitigate the damage. 🌳🔥 🧯

Over in UW Aeronautics & Astronautics Assistant Professor Karen Leung and her team are developing a new system for drones to safely generate real-time fire maps with overlaid terrain and elevation. At University of Washington Civil & Environmental Engineering, researchers are improving predictive models for risks associated with sediment transport after wildfires and the role it plays in flooding. Over at the RAPID Center, researchers like CEE Professor Joe Wartman are coordinating mission planning and deployment support for extreme event reconnaissance organizations, universities, government agencies and international organizations.

Learn more about how the UW is blazing a trail with wildfire research:

Blazing a trail with wildfire research An increase in wildfires across the nation has lit a fire under many UW engineering researchers who are responding by developing safety technology and uncovering long-term hazards.

Noise control and acoustic wave absorption inspired by… sunflowers? 🌻

Thanks to a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), UW Aeronautics & Astronautics Assistant Professor Ed Habtour is leading groundbreaking research in designing noise-reducing materials modeled after the Fibonacci spiral patterns of sunflower seeds.
The project, which features researchers from the University of Washington and the University at Buffalo, aims to develop new design principles for irregular geometric patterns for acoustic meta-materials, -structures, and -surfaces, potentially revolutionizing how we control and absorb sound waves.

“By mimicking their distorted pattern designs, we can achieve two things current regular designs can't: better control of properties of the wave dynamics and reduction of acoustic noise over wider frequency ranges," says Habtour.

Learn more:

Sunflowers architecting sound: Novel approach to reduce noise pollution NSF funds research on nature-inspired materials for superior noise control and acoustic wave absorption.

Ready to see where UW students and faculty shape the future of engineering – all without leaving home? Explore UW Engineering’s labs, workspaces, classrooms and more through our new interactive virtual tour.

From UW Aeronautics & Astronautics to University of Washington Mechanical Engineering and everything in between, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at all ten of our departments. Located in the heart of Seattle, the UW College of Engineering produces world-class research supporting economic development in Washington state and improving lives and communities worldwide. 🌎

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3TnAg2f

University of Washington College of Engineering Welcome! Navigate the stops on this virtual tour to learn about the UW College of Engineering and its 10 distinct but interrelated departments.

Incredible work from University of Washington Civil & Environmental Engineering and UW Electrical & Computer Engineering students and professors! 🙌🌍

Electrical engineer, tech leader and Mrs. Universe America - UW Electrical & Computer Engineering alumna Arpita Dacy (BSEE ’10) keeps adding titles to her impressive resume! 👏

Three years ago, after almost a decade in a successful career developing products built on artificial intelligence, data science and machine learning, a friend introduced Dacy to beauty pageants, which culminated in being crowned Mrs. Universe America 2023–24. Dacy currently works as a senior technical program manager for Amazon.com, where she develops products to help children play, learn and grow.

“When I first started to work in artificial intelligence 10 years ago, it was a very new field, and working primarily in machine learning and AI was thought by many to be a risk. But just look at how these areas are booming now! So, taking that chance, that calculated risk led by curiosity, paid off,” says Dacy.

Learn more in our latest spotlight: https://bit.ly/4e6iSqA

www.ece.uw.edu

Attention future UW Engineering Huskies - freshman applications are now open! 📣

As a UW Engineering student, you’ll get hands-on experience with world-class research, working alongside top faculty to tackle real-world challenges for a better future.

Don’t miss out - applications close on November 15! For FAQs, application tips, scholarship info and more, visit our website: https://bit.ly/4gdrcXe

Freshman admission UW Engineering prepares students to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges.

Happy Labor Day from UW Engineering! Today, we celebrate the ingenuity and hard work from UW Engineering students, faculty and staff that drive engineering innovation and impact. �

As we gear up for the start of autumn quarter next month, departments across the UW College of Engineering are seeking alumni and industry professionals to get involved. Whether you’re looking to give back or just stay connected, Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) created a list of eight ways to engage, help and inspire the next generation of engineers this year.

From delivering guest lectures or reviewing portfolios to sponsoring a Capstone Project, there’s a way for everyone to participate. 💡

Learn more:

Ways to work with HCDE students this school year HCDE welcomes alumni and industry professionals to collaborate with current students this upcoming school year. Whether you’re looking to give back personally, stay connected, or sponsor student projects with your organization, there’s a way for everyone to participate.

In August, the Husky Robotics team won third place in the 2024 Canadian International Rover Challenge (CIRC), which took place in the desert-like landscape of Drumheller, Alberta, Canada. The team also earned first place in a task demonstrating exceptional arm dexterity and precision.

Husky Robotics designs and builds a mock Mars rover each year to participate in competitions like CIRC that simulate the challenges of being part of an early colony on an extraterrestrial planet. Teams complete tough tasks with their rovers, such as navigating rocky terrain at night, rerouting water by manipulating pipelines, and completing search and recovery missions. The team has students from ME, UW Electrical & Computer Engineering, Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, University of Washington, Chemical Engineering and University of Washington Department of Bioengineering, along with non-engineering majors. University of Washington College of Engineering

The human brain operates in specific ways to simplify and solve complex problems. UW Electrical & Computer Engineering and Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering professor Rajesh Rao suggests that this process could help train algorithms to solve problems more effectively.

In a recent paper published in Nature, Rao posited that the brain uses active predictive coding (APC) to understand the world and break down complicated tasks using a process called compositionality. While current AI models need to be trained on lots of new data for individual tasks, using APC model architecture requires less data and may better predict outcomes.

“The compositionality inherent in the APC model allows it to compose solutions to new problems in the world really quickly. Suppose I already learned how to get into the car. I can keep using that policy function for all kinds of other tasks like driving to school or going to meet a friend,” says Rao.

Learn more:

Mind over model: Allen School’s Rajesh Rao proposes brain-inspired AI architecture to make complex problems simpler to solve - Allen School News When you reach out to pet a dog, you expect it to feel soft. If it doesn’t feel like how you expect, your brain uses that feedback to inform what you do next. For Allen School professor Rajesh Rao, perception and action are closely intertwined, and their relationship can be…

Congratulations to recent University of Washington Civil & Environmental Engineering graduate Nathalie Thelemaque (CEE Ph.D. ‘24) for receiving the 2024 Graduate School Medal! 🎉

The Graduate School Medal is given to one UW graduate student whose academic expertise and social awareness demonstrate an exemplary commitment to the University and its larger community. Thelemaque’s work is focused on examining the impacts of slow-onset disasters (like climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic) on drinking water infrastructure in marginalized communities.

“It was always important, but these past few years have highlighted how crucial it is to study and address these issues comprehensively,” says Thelemaque.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3AEU1vr

Nathalie Thelemaque receives the 2024 Graduate School Medal Thelemaque spent the past four years examining the impacts of slow-onset disasters on drinking water infrastructure in marginalized communities.

For someone experiencing cardiac arrest, automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are critical lifesaving tools. But ensuring the correct shock dosage is vital, especially when distinguishing between pediatric and adult patients.

A UW Engineering Innovation in Health (EIH) Capstone team has developed an innovative AED accessory called ShockSafe to streamline this process. ShockSafe senses and accurately differentiates between pediatric and adult patients, enabling responders to make quicker, more precise decisions, resulting in better health outcomes. The team, composed of University of Washington Mechanical Engineering and UW Chemical Engineering students, collaborated closely with mentors from UW EIH and Philips to bring this device from concept to reality.

“Our device helps responders make a decision about whether to use an AED’s pediatric or adult mode based on the weight of the patient. We are making the decision-making process more quantitative,” says team member Lily Nordyke (BSME ’24).

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3T70qWF

Students strive to ensure accurate AED shock dosage ShockSafe can distinguish between children and adults during cardiac arrest emergencies.

Researchers in the UW Chemical Engineering Bergsman Research Group are advancing microelectronics at the atomic level. ⚛️

Led by Chemical Engineering Professor David Bergsman, the research group is tackling emerging challenges in technology and sustainability through nanomaterials and interfacial engineering. Through processes like atomic layer deposition (ALD) and molecular layer deposition (MLD), researchers can develop thin films just a few atoms thick with unparalleled precision. The group designed a multi-chamber reactor that can run simultaneous ALD and MLD experiments to develop new photoresists, which have many applications in technology, energy, sustainability and more.

Learn more about the research:

Advancing microelectronics atom by atom A new multi-chamber reactor will accelerate materials experiments for the rapidly advancing field of microelectronics.

Only four weeks left for project sponsors to submit a project proposal for the UW Engineering Industry Capstone Program! ⏰

The Industry Capstone Program brings together UW engineering students and professionals to tackle real-world, interdisciplinary engineering problems. What does this mean for industry partners?

• 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Customized opportunity to assess student talent and recruit for jobs
• 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺-𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴: Low-cost opportunity for a fresh look at a problem
• 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Opportunity for the technical mentor to practice and apply leadership skills
• 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Boost public awareness of your organization through student engagement
• 𝗨𝗪 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀: Build impactful connections within the UW College of Engineering
• 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘀: Non-exclusive commercial license to any IP developed through projects

Learn about past Industry Capstone projects and submit your proposal here: https://bit.ly/4dS9DtT

Biting into fracture-resistant materials When it comes to developing next-generation engineering materials that are fracture resistant, a team of UW researchers is all smiles about the prospect of utilizing insight gleaned from the hardest tissue in all mammals: tooth enamel.

This Friday, hear from trailblazing NASA astronaut and the first Indigenous woman to go to space, Nicole Mann. 🚀

In collaboration with New Harrington, Blue Origin's Indigenous Business Resource Group, as well as the UW American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), the Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium and UW Aeronautics & Astronautics, Mann will speak from 4:00-7:00 PM PT in the Lyceum Auditorium in the Husky Union Building (HUB).

In-person space is limited and registration is required. Virtual option available. Learn more and RSVP below: https://www.washington.edu/calendar/?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D176823959

Certain injuries seem to haunt women’s sports, such as ACL tears occurring two to eight times more frequently in women than men. University of Washington Mechanical Engineering Assistant Professor Jenny Robinson is working to understand the underlying causes.

Robinson, who is also the Endowed Chair in Women’s Sports Medicine and Lifetime Fitness in the Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at UW Medicine, directs the Tissue and Regenerative Engineering (TARE) lab. The lab focuses on studying how male and female tissues recover differently after sports injuries, in order to improve training and recovery for female athletes.

UW News recently sat down with Jenny Robinson to learn more about her work in our latest Q&A: https://bit.ly/3WNznAH

Q&A: UW researcher aims to understand common women’s sports injuries Several common injuries seem to haunt women's sports. Jenny Robinson, a University of Washington assistant professor, is interested in designing better methods to help female athletes train to prevent...

“Unlearning” techniques are commonly used to make generative programs like forget undesirable information – but can removing bad information harm AI program usability?

According to a recent study co-authored by University of Washington researchers, these unlearning processes can degrade AI models and make them less able to correctly answer questions. In a recent article in TechCrunch, Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering doctoral student Weijia Shi talks about how unlearning works and how it can harm AI models.

Learn more: https://tcrn.ch/3WOEG31

Making AI models 'forget' undesirable data hurts their performance | TechCrunch A new study finds that making generative AI models 'forget' information hurts their performance on other tasks, making them less useful.

In the quest to develop the next generation of fracture-resistant materials, University of Washington researchers are drawing inspiration from nature. For University of Washington Materials Science & Engineering professor Dwayne Arola, the key may lie in one of the most resilient tissues found in mammals: tooth enamel. 🦷

Tooth enamel has many unique properties: although it's brittle and prone to cracking, these cracks rarely fracture the tooth. Arola leads a team that is investigating enamel microstructures from different species of mammals. Along with collaborators including the Burke Museum, The Ohio State University and Idaho National Laboratory, Arola’s team aims to develop innovative materials that don’t break when subject to a variety of forces.

“Teeth rely on enamel, which is arguably one of the most damage-tolerant materials in all of nature. We are using reverse engineering to try and interpret what nature has done,” says Arola.

Learn more:

Biting into fracture-resistant materials When it comes to developing next-generation engineering materials that are fracture resistant, a team of UW researchers is all smiles about the prospect of utilizing insight gleaned from the hardest tissue in all mammals: tooth enamel.

Solid tumors are often treated through surgical removal, but it can be difficult to identify the exact edge where the tumor ends and healthy tissue begins. A new multi-university project led by University of Washington Mechanical Engineering Professor Jonathan Liu aims to help surgeons comprehensively identify the edge of tumors so they can be removed more quickly and completely.

This academic-industry partnership is funded by an up to $21.1 million award from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). Collaborating institutions include Alpenglow Biosciences and Harvard Medical School with large-scale clinical studies at UW Medicine and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

“I’m excited about the potential to develop and refine a technology to the point where it can potentially be commercialized and have a real-world impact for surgeons and patients with cancer,” says Liu.

Learn more:

3D imaging and AI for better cancer surgery outcomes A new ARPA-H project aims to build on and test technologies developed in ME Professor Jonathan Liu’s lab to help surgeons remove tumors more precisely and efficiently.

The Cedar Hills landfill in Maple Valley, WA is ranked among the top 50 methane-producing landfills in the U.S. Science and policy experts are coming together to help lessen its environmental impact.

Methane, which is produced as waste decomposes, is 28 times more potent than carbon emissions. One promising solution is to use methanotrophs, or methane-eating bacteria that consume material that would otherwise turn into methane. In a recent article in Crosscut by PBS, UW Chemical Engineering professor Mary Lidstrom is asked about her breakthrough work with methanotrophs and how it can lessen the environmental impact of landfills. 🌍

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3SF3Obe

King County’s landfill is scrambling to solve its methane problem Cedar Hills in Maple Valley is ranked among the top 50 methane-producing landfills in the country. But new science and policy breakthroughs could help.

Even with quieter tech like electric cars and noise-canceling headphones, the world seems noisier.

Experts including Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering professor Shyam Gollakota discusses why some are more sensitive to sound and solutions in The Telegraph.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3ykQkKR

Is the world getting noisier or are we just more sensitive? With electric cars and powerful headphones, high-tech has helped us dial the volume down. So why are we more sensitive to sound than ever?

There’s less than a month to go until UW Converge Hong Kong! 🌎

UW Converge is the premier gathering for international Huskies. The event features expert insights into the future of commerce, tech, culture and health from UW faculty and esteemed alumni, and runs from August 23-25.

UW Engineering’s own Jihui Yang will be a featured panelist, alongside alumnus Victor Wong (’89) and Alvin Wang-Graylin (’93).

Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/3YzuPAx

UW Converge Hong Kong 2024 Join us for the premier gathering of the UW's global alumni and friends.

Huge congratulations to the 15 University of Washington professors newly elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences (WSAS)! 🥳

The selection recognizes their “outstanding record of scientific and technical achievement, and their willingness to work on behalf of the academy to bring the best available science to bear on issues within the state of Washington.” Of the 15 new inductees, four are from UW Engineering departments:

- Valerie Daggett, David and Nancy Auth endowed professor of University of Washington Department of Bioengineering
- Philip Kinahan, professor of bioengineering
- Ruikang Wang, professor of bioengineering
- Daniel Kirschen, Donald W. and Ruth Mary Close professor of UW Electrical & Computer Engineering and faculty member of the Energy Institute

In addition, Kristi Morgansen, the Boeing-Egtvedt endowed professor and chair of UW Aeronautics & Astronautics, is joining the WSAS board.

Join us in celebrating the new class of members and learn about their research: https://bit.ly/3YwHlAG

15 UW professors among new class of members to the Washington State Academy of Sciences Fifteen faculty members at the University of Washington have been elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences for 2024. They are among 36 scientists and educators from across the state...

University of Washington Department of Bioengineering professor Patrick Boyle has focused much of his career on reducing cardiovascular disease. At the UW Cardiac Systems Simulation (CardSS) Lab, Boyle and his team run computational simulations of beating hearts to better predict and prevent electrical abnormalities.

Electrical abnormalities can be difficult to track, so Boyle and his team use tools such as machine learning, , and the power of Hyak, the UW’s supercomputer managed and operated by UW Information Technology (UW-IT) to spot them before they become problematic.

“We’re fortunate to have a resource like Hyak. For us, a single study has enough data to consume 3 to 4 million CPU hours. That’s an incredible amount of computing power,” says Boyle.

Learn more about Boyle’s lab and Hyak in a new video from UW-IT:
https://bit.ly/4d2JF6R

What is going on with your heart? Video by Sam Han | Text by Ignacio Lobos | UW-IT Communications & Engagement