Creating a Digital Bridge: Lessons and policy implications from a technology access and distribution program for low-income job seekers

October 6, 2021

Presentation at TPRC 49 (Policy Research Conference on Communications, Information and the Internet) Researchers from the University of Washington worked with the City of Seattle and Seattle Jobs Initiative (SJI) to investigate how physically distant technology access and assistance could support workers in a new economy. The Digital Bridge project is just one of many…

Fulbright Fellow, Matias Centeno, examines reshaping rural borders

September 28, 2021

During 2014, Matias Centeno worked with TASCHA to better understand how different information and communication technology (ICT) tools impacted family farming. Centeno’s research focuses primarily on the role of youth in the complex social transformation of agriculture and the way this transformation manifests itself in different social, economic, and cultural spaces. Centeno led research projects…

Launching collaborative research to produce a model for teaching civic education for the Arctic

September 8, 2021

“Arctic sea ice minimum, Sept. 15 2020” by NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio Jason Young, Nadine Fabbi (Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies), and Michelle Koutnik (Earth and Space Sciences) were awarded an NSF Navigating the New Arctic (NNA) grant funding the co-design of civic education programs for the circumpolar north. The Arctic region is…

Researchers receive IMLS grants supporting community work

August 6, 2021

Photo by SounderBruce, CC BY-SA 2.0 This summer, TASCHA researchers have received several competitive grants funding various projects. From archive work to misinformation education, TASCHA is thrilled that our researchers will be able to use this funding to further social change in our local communities. Tacoma Public Library aims to co-develop community archives with assistance…

Social work and social media are among the many interests of TASCHA RA, Claire Phillips

July 29, 2021

Claire Phillips grew up with her nose in a book at all times. Her favorite place in the world was her hometown library in San Luis Obispo, CA, where she began volunteering her time shelving books on the weekends at age ten. Claire followed her passion for reading and writing at California Polytechnic State University,…

From research assistants to capstone groups, TASCHA worked with exceptional students this academic year

July 1, 2021

The 2020-21 academic year has come to a close and TASCHA recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of the outstanding students who contributed to our research. This year we had the pleasure of working with six RAs and over two dozen students in Directed Research Groups and Information School Capstone projects. Katya Yefimova, a Ph.D. candidate…

Meet Itza Carbajal, TASCHA’s first PhD Fellow

A black and white photo of Itza. She has dark hair with bangs and is wearing glasses and a checkered shirt.

June 22, 2021

Itza Carbajal, first year PhD student at the University of Washington Information School, is driven by a passion for stories, memories, and histories.  Itza was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit, and Itza and her family were displaced from their home. At only 14 years old, Itza became familiar…

Libraries pilot ‘The Euphorigen Investigation’ escape room

Red and black text that reads "The Euphorigen Investigation Escape Room" on a yellow background. To the left of the text are several icons, including a magnifying glass, an eye, and a blue file folder holding papers.

April 8, 2021

An investigative journalist suspiciously vanished last night, and the last thing they did was hand their laptop over to their trusted librarian. After opening the laptop and seeing the contents, the librarian grew alarmed and called you all in to help. The librarian knew the journalist was doing research on the company that makes Euphorigen,…

Escaping misinformation: How a digital escape room is combatting misinformation

Several wooden puzzles and toys sitting on top of a piece of dark blue cloth.

March 1, 2021

From small rumors to large conspiracy theories, social media and Internet communities have been overwhelmed with misinformation or false narratives that intentionally try to deceive the reader. Researchers from the University of Washington’s TASCHA, Center for an Informed Public, and GAMER Group, along with the co-founder of Puzzle Break, have teamed up to solve this…

Perceptions of power: Championing female leadership in the tech and mobile industries

Two women sitting in front of their computers and smiling. Below the image of the women is a white triangle with the words "EQUALS Global Partnership" written in purple

February 9, 2021

In recent years, research has shown an increase in women’s leadership across different sectors (McKinsey, 2019).  Despite this progress, women continue to confront more barriers and enjoy fewer opportunities for advancement than men, particularly in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector (Women Who Tech, 2020). Gender segregation persists across the ICT industry as a…