WWU College of Science & Engineering

06/01/2026

Three professors on how they embrace, or limit, generative AI use in the classroom

06/01/2026

Congratulations Tyanin Opdahl, our 2026 Presidential Scholar!

Faculty describe Tyanin as one of the most service-oriented students in the history of the Computer Science Department. She worked tirelessly furthering a variety of diversity and inclusion efforts in both the department and the college. Tyanin was the CS student ambassador to the dean, the student representative on CSE’s strategic task force, a regular panelist at quarterly CS New Major Orientations and an outreach officer for the Association of Gender Inclusion in Computing, to name just a few examples of her participation across campus. In addition to her service, Tyanin displayed excellence in academics by co-authoring a manuscript on disability fairness learning in data science and serving as one of the few undergraduate presenters at the Special Interest Group Computer Science Education Technical Symposium, the preeminent conference in computer science education.

05/28/2026

has been awarded a $3.1 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to expand biomedical student research opportunities on campus.

This funding builds on Western’s strong tradition of hands-on undergraduate research and opens the door for even more students to work alongside faculty on impactful, real-world scientific discovery.

A big thanks to the grant team who made this happen: Professor of Chemistry P. Clint Spiegel, Professor of Psychology Jacqueline Rose, Professor of Chemistry James Vyvyan and Dean of the Graduate School David Patrick.

Learn more: https://news.wwu.edu/wwu-secures-31-million-nih-grant-to-expand-biomedical-research-opportunities-for-students

05/28/2026

Congratulations to all of our spectacular faculty who were recognized for their excellence this year!

Jeanine Amacher, Associate Professor of Chemistry, Arlan Norman Award for Excellence in Student Mentoring (undergraduate)
David Hooper, Professor of Biology, Arlan Norman Award for Excellence in Student Mentoring (graduate)
Sura Al-Qudah, Associate Professor of Engineering, President’s Exceptional Effort Award

Thank you for making our college great!

05/11/2026

Western Washington University is launching an Industrial and Systems Engineering bachelor’s program to provide flexible education opportunities for students on the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas.

05/11/2026

Since 2023, WWU Assistant Professor of Geology Paul Betka has led students across the world and into the Himalayas.

Betka’s mission: explore the planet’s largest active zone of subduction accretion, which happens to lie beneath the feet of more than 200 million people.

It’s a process that can only be understood by putting boots to the ground, trekking through Indian jungles and wading through knee-deep river waters to directly observe and measure deformation associated with the faults.

“If you want to understand how these processes work, you have to go to the Himalayas,” Betka said.

05/01/2026

Ten Western Washington University students returned from Denmark last September with new perspectives on sustainable, community-focused infrastructure that they brought to life in building and designing projects for the Bellingham waterfront.

The students built and installed three projects at Bellingham's Portal Container Village, unveiled March 20 after seven months of work and a two-week study abroad trip to Copenhagen and Samsø.

This year’s WWU student cohort was the first of an ongoing collaboration between , COurban Design Collective and the Scan Design Foundation with community partners including the Port of Bellingham ham, the City of Bellingham and RAM Construction.

Read more: https://news.wwu.edu/wwu-students-design-install-sustainable-infrastructure-to-bellingham-s-waterfront

04/27/2026

04/27/2026

WWU's Makerspace houses the clangs and whirrs of many machines offered for student use to bring creative ideas to life. Located in Ross Engineering Building room 251, the space is open to all students across campus.

“We love that, because it brings different projects, energy and perspectives to the building,” said Jill Davishahl, associate faculty and director of first-year programs in the Engineering and Design department. “It also exposes people to our majors that otherwise wouldn’t ever know about them.”

Photos by Allie Van Parys. Image descriptions:
1. Lily Costello, a first-year at Western, smiles at the camera while setting out supplies.
2. Sirus Atwood and Callam Tillsley work on projects at a large table in the Makerspace.
3. Lily Costello solders pieces together for her DIY gaming console at the WWU Makerspace.
4. Students who wish to use sewing machines at the Makerspace have to complete a “badge” by making this mug coaster.
5. The Makerspace’s mascot, the Makersnake, wraps around a pipe on the ceiling. The Makersnake can be followed on Instagram

Read more: https://news.wwu.edu/wwu-s-makerspace-opens-doors-to-all-majors-fueling-creativity-across-campus

04/24/2026

The WWU Cyber Defense team won first place at the Pacific Rim Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (PRCCDC) on March 21 and 22, hosted at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia.

WWU beat out the University of Washington and 2025 champions Oregon State University to claim the top prize for the second time in Western’s history.

The win secures Western a spot to compete in nationals for the first time since 2014, which will be held this weekend, April 24 & 25.

Congratulations and good luck, team!

Read more about their win: https://news.wwu.edu/wwu-cyber-defense-team-claims-top-prize-for-first-time-in-12-years-at-prccdc