In a review of over 1,700 studies from聽188 countries, researchers from the 乱伦社区’s found that more than two billion people are now obese worldwide. No country has been able to curb rising obesity rates over the past 30 years.
Study leader and School of Public Health professor聽聽as well as leaders from the World Health Organization and other national and international health agencies have commented on the results.
The Burke Museum of Natural History’s new聽Curator of Native American Anthropology is passionate about preserving indigenous culture.聽A native of Kodiak, Alaska,聽Dr. Sven Haakanson has conducted research and lived in Siberia. He received the聽MacArthur Foundation’s 鈥済enius鈥� grant in 2007 for his work advocating for Native cultures, and plans to conduct further research in Russia.
Presenting at last week鈥檚 Global Honors Spring Colloquium, Noelle Gichohi聽started by thanking her mentors and supporters. 鈥淚 stood in front of the audience and said, 鈥業 grew up in a village in Kenya, and it took a village to get me here鈥欌��. Her 鈥榗olloquium village鈥� included UW Tacoma professors and librarians, a Highline Community College professor, fellow students and family.
For Noelle and 12 other graduating seniors in UW Tacoma鈥檚 Global Honors program, the colloquium was a chance to share and reflect on their capstone research projects. They will now apply their learning as community leaders heading toward jobs and graduate school.
The students presented before audiences of 40 to 60 faculty, staff, community members and fellow students. Diverse in terms of discipline and geography, their projects exemplify UW Tacoma鈥檚 emphasis on student-led, use-inspired research.
Inspired by her work with State Senator Jeanne Kohl-Williams during a Legislative Internship, Kristie Weisert鈥檚 thesis examines sex trafficking in the U.S. and India. Human trafficking is a pressing issue locally and internationally, and Kristie pointed out Washington state鈥檚 efforts to address the problem through new legislation.
Brandon Napenias Oreiro鈥檚 research project explores the development of Filipino American identity in the context of a globalized culture. A leader in UW Tacoma鈥檚 Filipino American Student Association, Brandon paired his research findings with examples of the group鈥檚 efforts to create a sense of identity and community on campus and in the region.
Noelle Gichohi鈥檚 research project was inspired by her study abroad to Italy. 鈥淲e were studying preschools, and I saw that [Italian schools] had kitchens right next to the classrooms and served the kids three-course meals on real plates. It was totally different from the U.S., where my kids went to preschool, and Kenya, where I grew up.鈥�
She began thinking about how place influences the food children are served at school, and how parents鈥� perceive the healthfulness of school meals. For her thesis, Noelle surveyed Kenyan and U.S. parents about their children鈥檚 school meals, and their perceptions of the meals.
鈥淐arrying out a research project and presenting at the colloquium 鈥渨as enriching for me personally and as a scholar,鈥� Noelle reflects. The experience gave her new confidence about her ideas and ability to communicate. 鈥淚 won鈥檛 be afraid to stand up and give my opinion in the workplace,鈥� she says, 鈥淚鈥檒l think, 鈥業鈥檝e done Global Honors, I can do anything.鈥欌��
During his remarks at the colloquium, UW Tacoma Chancellor Kenyon Chan underscored the local relevance of the students鈥� research and the urgency of the issues addressed. Echoing Noelle Gichohi’s recognition of her village, Chancellor Chan also emphasized the students鈥� important roles as leaders 鈥� locally and globally.
-Sara Stubbs
Japanese General Consul聽Masahiro Omura spoke today near Drumheiller Fountain today to celebrate a recent gift of cherry trees to the UW department from the people of Japan.
Also speaking at the ceremony were former congressman and U.S. Secretary of Transportation聽Norman Mineta and UW President Michael K. Young.
The new cherry trees, installed on central campus overlooking Drumheiller Fountain, were presented in honor of longstanding relations between the U.S. and Japan. They also honor the many Japanese and Japanese American students who have attended UW since 1894.
This Friday, undergraduate researchers, faculty mentors and community members will converge in Mary Gates Hall for the 17th annual . Over 1,000 undergraduates will present their research work at the event, and many of their projects address pressing global issues.
A May 12 launch party will celebrate the publication of聽, a book by students from Professor Anu Taranath’s 2013 study abroad to Bangalore, India.
Through the unique medium of students’ letters to Things, Ideas and People (TIPS), the book “offers a simple method to help travelers- students and tourists alike- reflect on how moving from one culture to another sparks questions about identity, society and the meaning of travel itself.”
Professor Taranath’s unique approach to teaching abroad integrates on-campus classroom learning with international immersion. Students participate in quarter-long seminars on campus before and after the study abroad to allow time for in-depth preparation for and reflection on the experience. TIPS to Study Abroad is the culmination of the group’s experience and learning.
Community members are welcome at the book launch party at 7pm on Monday, May 12. The event will be held at .
major Mollie Holmberg was one of 60 US undergraduates to present research at last week’s event in Washington D.C. Supported by Luke Bergmann聽from the Department of Geography, Mollie investigates the impact of the global economy on agricultural land worldwide.
New data collected by the (IHME) demonstrate sharp declines in maternal and child deaths across the world. Study author Haidong Wang聽cites education, health innovations and rising income聽as drivers of improved outcomes for women and children.
Recognized internationally as a center for research and scholarship, the celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. To celebrate, the center is hosting a on May 12.
UW mechanical engineering alumnus聽Thomas Larson (鈥�13) invented a microscope lens for smartphones while still an undergraduate. Since graduation, he has sold聽5,000 of his product, the聽.聽The smartphone microscopes are being used in classrooms and in the field around the world. His next step? Working with global health experts to test the Micro Phone Lens at a clinic in Kenya.