Report: UW jumps to no. 8 in global ranking of best universities; computer science among top subjects, Geek City: 1 in 5 Seattle residents work in STEM fields, top in US, and more from this week’s Seattle in the Spotlight.

UW Jumps to No. 8 in Global Ranking of Best Universities; Computer Science among Top Subjects

GeekWire | Kurt Schlosser | October 21

https://www.geekwire.com/2020/uw-jumps-no-8-global-ranking-best-universities-computer-science-among-top-subjects/

“The University of Washington has moved up two spots to No. 8 in the latest ranking of Best Global Universities from U.S. News & World Report, beating out such prestigious institutions as Princeton, Yale and Johns Hopkins. The UW held onto its No. 2 ranking among U.S. public institutions and also landed in the top 10 in several subject areas that were ranked, including computer science. “We are proud to be consistently recognized for the excellence and impact of our scholarship across so many subjects,” UW President Ana Mari Cauce said in a statement. “It’s especially gratifying to see the work of outstanding programs like infectious diseases and immunology listed among the very best in the world at a time when we need discovery and innovation in these areas more than ever.””

 

Geek City: 1 in 5 Seattle Residents Work in STEM Fields, Top in U.S.

Seattle Times | Gene Balk | October 22

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/data/geek-city-1-in-5-seattle-residents-work-in-stem-fields-top-in-u-s/

“The number of city residents who work in science, technology, engineering and math professions — better known as STEM — grew at a remarkably fast rate over the course of the 2010s. To be sure, even at the beginning of the past decade, Seattle was already pretty geeky. In 2010, there were roughly 37,800 city residents working in STEM occupations, according to census data…The new census data shows that the number of Seattleites employed in STEM fields has more than doubled, hitting almost 89,700 in 2019.”

 

Seattle Opens New Waterfront Park on Portage Bay in ‘Spectacular Spot’ Where Police Station Once Stood

Seattle Times | Daniel Beekman | October 17

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/seattle-opens-new-waterfront-park-on-portage-bay-in-spectacular-spot-where-police-station-once-stood/

“There’s a new waterfront park with a rocky beach in Seattle, squeezed below the University of Washington, along Portage Bay. The 3.5-acre space opened discreetly Wednesday without an on-site celebration…The view to the west includes the University Bridge and Interstate 5’s Ship Canal Bridge, which span the skyline. Straight ahead, across the slate-colored bay, clusters of houseboats are moored.”