Funding Status: Accepted

Abstract

Circular dichroism (CD) is a fundamental optical spectroscopy technique that measures the absorption differences between left and right circularly polarized light. This absorption can only occur for asymmetric or chiral species, which include small-molecule aggregates, large proteins and polymers. Researchers from Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Material Sciences, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, the Institute for Protein Design and Bioengineering are primary users of CD as a means to confirm the integrity of their molecules. This proposal requests the purchase of a JASCO spectropolarimeter for use by undergraduate and graduate researchers across these research disciplines in order to determine and quantitate polymeric structures. This purchase will replace a JASCO J-720 instrument installed in August 1990 which is no longer serviced and for which original parts are unavailable, leading to very limited utility of the instrument for a maximum of 60 min at a time. The new JASCO-1500 would be housed in the Chemistry Core Instrumentation Facility and the J-720 would be sent to UW Surplus for recycling. The J-1500 is the only system in North America that can be simultaneously employed for the steady-state measurement of CD, linear dichroism (LD), and absorbance. These three imaging modes have a wide range of applications in material sciences and biomedical research. The J-1500 System will be housed at the UW Seattle campus, within the user-driven Chemistry department Core Instrumentation Facility in Bagley Hall. The current instrument is used by undergraduate and graduate students from more than 8 departments and occasionally by local industrial scientists.

Access

Researchers or students intending to use the J-1500 will be able to reserve its use with a pre-existing reservation system (https://chem.washington.edu/instruments/jasco-720-circular-dichroism). This process ensures that users are held accountable for maintaining the instrument in working order, while enabling the instrumentation facility to monitor the number and frequency of users.

Abstract

The main problem we are trying to overcome is how outdated our computers in this lab space have become. We want to keep our lab functioning efficiently without technical problems. The lack of newer stable computers can severely hinder students' process of learning and keep them from being able to have a space where they can rely on functional computers. The computers in our labs were funded by Student Technology Fee over seven years ago. However, they are now they are too slow to reasonably run Adobe software, which is frequently used in professional settings and funded by the Department for this space. We don’t want slow unreliable computers to become a hindrance to our students learning essential skills for their careers. Given the history of our tech resources getting funds from the STF, we believe that we could utilize STF funds again to provide our students with a better-equipped learning environment with updated tech resources. Better computers lead to better results for projects, assignments, and opportunities for students to become proficient with the necessary tools. This lab is used as a place where our Department staff hold workshops and help our students one on one to help them with their projects.

Access

Abstract

With its students living across Seattle and neighboring areas, CBE has identified the need to expand access to instruction and student meeting rooms beyond the constraints of in-person spaces or fully-remote platforms. Since the 2021 return to campus, it’s become even more important to offer venues equipped for hybrid experiences to cover a range of situations, from classes with quarantined students to cohorts and classes that are geographically distributed by design. Though CBE has placed temporary solutions in some of its learning and meeting spaces (e.g. mobile webcams), the 2021-22 academic year demonstrated that students have the best experiences when learning and meeting are neither placebound nor space-constrained. In 2022, the Construction Management department identified increased demand for its undergraduate courses both at UW Seattle and from the UW Tacoma School of Engineering & Technology student cohort. CBE lacks the classroom space to enroll UWT students, and attending in-person is both costly and impractical for those based in Tacoma. CBE has determined that it is feasible to outfit one of its two popular Gould Hall classrooms with cameras and audio equipment to allow a fully-participatory hybrid experience for students based in Tacoma and Seattle. Because these rooms are also used heavily by the Student Governance group of the Community, Environment & Planning major, their meetings would also be expanded to full interactivity. CBE also hopes to demonstrate to the three UW campuses how such an upgrade can enliven and extend the utility of existing classrooms designed in a pre-digital era.

Access

webpage sign up sheet, email requests

Abstract

We purchased a GPU Hyak node (via STF Funds) in 2021. The first slice was helpful but AMATH reached its capacity very quickly. Those who now use it are limited by the resources available. Those who don't are demotivated to start because of the lack of resources available. We foresee the demand continuing to rise due to applied math needing more and more computing power as a field, a much larger upcoming cohort (25 people vs 10 last year), and more classes relying on computing for teaching.

Access

Abstract

This proposal will help us create our Global Resource Center in 317 Thomson Hall. The Jackson School of International Studies, housed in Thomson Hall, provides hundreds of students in six majors, 17 minors and 10 graduate student programs, with an interdisciplinary opportunity to learn about contemporary global themes, policy challenges and real world issues. Through our student organizations, public lectures, and interdisciplinary curriculum we strive to teach UW students actionable insights that will enable them to leave the school with experiences, connections, and opportunities to pursue a variety of career opportunities around the globe. Remote and hybrid learning has become ubiquitous in our field and is critical to our students. Our current infrastructure is no longer sufficient to enable our students to pursue their research and enhance their professional development. To address this problem, we seek to create a Global Resource Center in Thomson Hall Room 317 to facilitate more opportunities for students to meet with, learn from, and engage with world leaders in global policy issues and international studies research. We are applying to update the A/V technology in the room to allow for virtual meetings, hybrid public talks, and small group research projects with international partners.

Access

We will have an online room reservation option through a JSIS Business Office web portal. Available times will be displayed. Any user will need to complete the training before using the equiptment.

Abstract

We propose to replace the Audiovisual (AV) system in the Bioengineering Seminar room, N130. The existing AV system was installed in late 2005 and does not have the capability for live streaming (virtual meetings). It has been operating since February 2006. Since about 2018 several components have failed and because of the systems’ age replacement parts are not available. Further, the technology is not sufficient for a modern meeting space and lacks capability for virtual meetings. The campus group that previously recorded and hosted the BIOEN 509 seminar ceased operating. As a stop gap, the department has used an OWL camera to record in-person events but the quality for those participating remotely or watching a recording is not sufficient. A modern system integrates video and sound recording of presenters and participants, supports video participation, and provides Assistive Listening system for individuals with hearing loss.

Access

Abstract

This Student Technology Fee (STF) Proposal is requesting funding for the purchase of a TA Instruments isothermal microcalorimeter for analysis of heat generation associated with chemical or biological processes at a constant temperature. The key benefit of this system is its sensitivity; it can measure heat flow changes in the nano to microwatt range, allowing for the detection of otherwise hard to uncover chemical reactions and biological processes. The instrument will support special research projects, ensuring detailed and comprehensive analysis of heat changes during reactions, and provide an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate student laboratory skill development. Among other features, the proposed system specializes in measuring the very small heat flow changes in processes such as cement and concrete hydration reactions. The UW has several research thrusts in the development and study of novel cement materials, in which isothermal microcalorimetry is a crucial step in ensuring that engineered structural materials meet rigorous industry standards. Notably, this instrument will be a critical addition to the existing differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) at MSE, substantially extending the attainable resolution and possible applications. This instrument will benefit many departments around the campus with research and education concentrations in cement, polymer chemistry, microbial activity, microorganism metabolic activities, food science and battery performance. These departments include MSE, CEE, ME, ChemE, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, to name a few.

Access

Users will be able to reserve instrument time through the pre-existing Coral website.

Abstract

We are requesting the funds for new equipment that will allow us to expand our outreach to the daytime and to UW students on-campus. Our existing outreach programs reach many members of the UW community, but relatively few UW students. Additionally, much of our existing equipment is from donations, which results in all different and outdated pieces, making it difficult for our student-volunteers to use. By purchasing a solar telescope and an additional mount for an existing - but unusable - nighttime telescope, we will expand our outreach efforts to UW students. Furthermore, a solar telescope will also enable our student-volunteers to become NASA Eclipse Ambassadors and perform outreach for the upcoming 2023 and 2024 solar eclipses. With this equipment, our successful programs at the Theodor Jacobsen Observatory (TJO) and the UW planetarium can provide the unique experience of observing in the daytime, and we will be ready for the upcoming eclipse events, all of which will foster curiosity and excitement in those we reach with these programs.

Access

Although this will be a more casual system, we want to know where the equipment will be at all times. We will have a Google Form where students can request to use it and have a schedule using Google Calendar ran by the League of Astronomers.

Abstract

Due to the nature of our work as a 2SLGBTQIA+ resource center on a major metropolitan university campus, we know first hand how barriers and financial hardship impact students' ability to holistically thrive--from their academic performance, to navigating inaccessible resources and beaucratic processes, to experiencing the daily challenges of holding multiply-marginal, intersecting identities. The Q Center aims to foster ease and mitigate these barriers--especially for our most vulnerable students--by offering no cost, limited wait services via our computing stations and free printing/scanning/copying. Two student workstations--one PC, one iMac and 2 printers-- already exist in our center located within the HUB. However, these devices are extremely outdated and thus inefficient to use in 2023. The newest desktop computer that is available for any/all students who visit our space was purchased in 2014. We are seeking to use STF funds to upgrade these devices to enhance visitor experience, make it easier for vulnerable student populations experiencing financial (and often housing) precarity to access technology + printing at 0 cost, and invest in the creative innovation/digital storytelling/artwork brought to us from students who otherwise would not have access to these tools.

Access