We're looking forward to welcoming award-winning author Christina Soontornvat to UW tomorrow! Join us for our free, hybrid Shaw Lecture at 7:30pm PT at the UW HUB and online: bit.ly/shawlecture26 Let your favorite future and current librarians and children's literature fans know!

If you're at the National Joint Conference of Librarians of Color (JCLC) in Spokane this week, we warmly welcome you to stop by and visit us at Booth 30! #JCLC2026

We're looking forward to welcoming award-winning author Christina Soontornvat to UW tomorrow! Join us for our free, hybrid Shaw Lecture at 7:30pm PT at the UW HUB and online: bit.ly/shawlecture26 Let your favorite future and current librarians and children's literature fans know!

MLIS alum Conrrado Saldivar is among dozens of librarians who were interviewed by The New York Times while at ALA's Chicago conference. Here's what he and others had to say about librarianship in 2026: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Forget the Shushing. Librarians Have a Whole Lot to Say. (Gift Article)

We asked dozens of them about America’s libraries — what they provide, what they need to survive. Here’s what they told us.

nytimes.com

UW iSchool Assistant Professor Martin Saveski has earned the 2026 CIP Robert Mason Outstanding Mentorship Award for his exceptional teaching skills and dedication to developing student excellence. Congratulations, @msaveski.bsky.social! www.cip.uw.edu/2026/09/29/m...

Following recent concerns about the speed of AI development and security incidents, reporter Stefan Milne of @uwnews.uw.edu spoke with five researchers including Information School faculty Aylin Caliskan, Chirag Shah and Ryan Calo. www.washington.edu/news/2026/09...

Q&A: UW researchers respond to recent concerns over AI risk | UW News

Recent news about AI safety is fueling a new wave of political and societal fear. Five UW AI researchers discuss the real risks of AI and what to do about them.

washington.edu

MLIS alum Melody Sky Weaver ('10) has just begun her appointment as the new Washington State Librarian. "Everyone should be shouting from the rooftops about how incredible our Washington State Library is," she says. Read more about her path: ischool.uw.edu/news/2026/09...

MLIS alum brings energy, passion to job of state librarian

Melody Sky Weaver recalled her reaction the first time someone told her she'd make a great librarian: "I'm not a quiet person. I am a really loud, extrover...

ischool.uw.edu

The 2026 Spencer G. Shaw Lecture with Christina Soontornvat is one week away! Soontornvat's work includes fiction, fantasy, nonfiction and graphic novels for young readers. Free and open to all. Register to join us in person or online on Thurs., Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. PT: events.uw.edu/event/99ddbc...

Associate Professor Alexis Hiniker spoke on a Seattle Times panel on AI's effects on youth mental health, alongside Grin Lord, Rio Hindami, and Taylor Blatchford: www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

The Seattle Times hosted an event about youth safety and AI. Here are tips the experts shared

Artificial intelligence has already altered how we interact with technology, and kids, even at a young age, are experiencing the same transformation.

seattletimes.com

IMLS recently awarded a grant to CALMA for a project led by Sharon Streams, Ben Lee and Jessica Luke. The project aims to develop a research roadmap for cultural institutions, highlighting areas of shared value and proposing next steps for collaboration. ischool.uw.edu/news/2026/09...

Campus is brimming with new-school-year excitement, and we’re glad to welcome all incoming students to UW, whether you’re joining us here on campus or online from where you live. New students, we hope you will attend our iWelcome event this week. Please check your email for info. And happy fall! 💜

Join the dynamic, interdisciplinary faculty at the University of Washington Information School. We're hiring for the following positions: (1/4) • Assistant Professor, Tenure-Track, AI: ischool.uw.edu/about/jobs/f...

UW Information School Ph.D. student Imani Finkley spoke with @uwnews.uw.edu about her new study looking at gender in AI-generated stories for children: bit.ly/AIinKidsStor...

As director of responsible AI practice at @microsoft.com, alum Steph Ballard, Ph.D. '23, MLIS '17, is helping shape how one of the world's biggest tech companies handles AI safety. She was recently honored with the iSchool's GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) Award. Read more: bit.ly/StephBallard

Alum leads Microsoft's efforts to 'get it right' on AI safety

As AI models continue to grow more capable, some are beginning to behave unpredictably outside their testing environments. It is a pattern that raises conc...

bit.ly

iSchool alumni - do you have an update to share? Drop your update through the link below for a chance to be featured! 💜🎉 ischool.uw.edu/alumni/updates

In his newest podcast episode, released on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Associate Professor Joe Janes addresses what was left after the attacks. “‘Never forget’ is easy to say, but difficult to achieve without tangible reminders,” Janes says. Listen to the podcast: ischool.uw.edu/podcasts/dtc...

Are you interested in Ph.D. programs? The UW Information School in Seattle is recruiting graduate students for the 2027-2028 academic year. Applications are due Dec. 2. Learn more: ischool.uw.edu/programs/phd...

Earn your Ph.D. at the UW iSchool

The iSchool seeks outstanding students to join our Ph.D. program.

ischool.uw.edu

Associate Professor and UW KidsTeam Director @jasoncyip.bsky.social and Aayushi Dangol of @hcde.uw.edu are in a new @uwnews.uw.edu video about AI toys. "It's mportant for the public to understand that this isn't something we can take lightly anymore," Yip says. www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB09...

How We’re Testing AI Toys

YouTube video by UW (University of Washington)

youtube.com

Join us for an evening with Christina Soontornvat on Thurs. Oct. 8, for the 2026 Spencer G. Shaw Lecture. This is a hybrid event at the UW and online. @soontornvat.bsky.social Soontornvat is a bestselling author, engineer and STEM educator. We hope you can join us! Register: bit.ly/shawlecture26

Startup spotlight: Nathanael Elongo, MSIM '25, founded OpsFrame inspired by a mission to simplify financial and operational complexity through integrated technology and decision intelligence. Best of luck with your venture, Nathanael! Learn more about the #startup: ischool.uw.edu/alumni/spotl...

Interested in studying at the University of Washington Information School? Join one of our upcoming information sessions: www.bit.ly/futureischoolstudents

Melanie Walsh and Michelle H. Martin of the Information School faculty and Ph.D. student Imani Finkley were interviewed by @seattletimes.com about Walsh, Finkley and Yuanxi Li's research on AI models' predictions of characters' gender in children's stories. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

UW researchers say AI-generated kids' books can twist biases in strange ways

AI-generated content has become more common in children's books. What happens to gender diversity when AI writes about animal characters?

seattletimes.com

Alexis Hiniker and Katie Davis, Information School faculty and co-directors of the Center for Digital Youth, are among a group of experts on children and technology who are quoted in The New York Times' tech guide for parents: www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/r...

A Step-by-Step Tech Guide for Parents Who Live in the Real World

Whether you’re focused on introducing screen time to a toddler or social media to a teen, we’ve compiled expert guidance to help your family manage tech with more curiosity and less conflict.

nytimes.com

Our IDEAS team (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access and Sovereignty) has been leading a series of events to bring Information School students, staff and faculty together to pause, connect, and vote for their favorite treats. Thanks to everyone who joined - and congrats to our paper plate winner!

Congratulations to MLIS alum Melody Sky Weaver (née Eisler), who will be the next Washington State Librarian! www.peninsuladailynews.com/2026/08/10/p...

Port Townsend’s Melody Sky Weaver appointed Washington State Librarian - Peninsula Daily News

PORT TOWNSEND — Melody Sky Weaver, the city of Port Townsend’s community services director, has been appointed by Secretary of State Steve Hobbs to serve as the next Washington State Librarian.

peninsuladailynews.com

Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs appointed Melody Sky Weaver to serve as the next Washington State Librarian. Read the full news release: https://bit.ly/4fTOEcI

Hope everyone is enjoying the summer! We look forward to welcoming students back to campus when fall classes start on Wed., Sept. 30.

UW experts have shared practical guidance for navigating wildfire season, including how to track air quality, reduce smoke exposure, prepare for evacuations and manage stress. Follow the link to learn more. www.washington.edu/news/2026/08...

Incoming Assistant Professor Ben Laufer recently published a new paper in PNAS. Laufer, Jon Kleinberg & Hoda Heidari explore incentive effects of AI safety regulation using a mathematical model. (1/2) Check out the study: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... @pnas.org @laufer.bsky.social

We look forward to welcoming you to our faculty!

Benjamin Laufer@laufer.bsky.social · 2mo ago

I am delighted to share that I'll be joining the University of Washington Information School as an Assistant Professor!