The University of Washington faculty have added a diverse set of titles to the campus press catalog this year. Spanning the Information School bioengineering, mathematics, computer science, and Earth & space sciences, the books address cutting-edge technology, fundamental mathematics, personal narratives, and sustainable agriculture.
Each volume reflects a distinct research agenda, yet together they illustrate the university’s commitment to interdisciplinary dialogue. Whether examining how everyday objects become politically charged, decoding the hidden physics of tiny fluid flows, or reimagining how we nurture the soil, these works invite readers to reconsider familiar concepts from fresh angles.
Technocreep and the Politics of Things Not Seen
Information-school professor Nassim Parvin together with co-author Neda Atanasoski presents a feminist theory of “creep” in their new book, Technocreep and the Politics of Things Not Seen. The authors argue that emerging gadgets—smart homes, surveillance dust, algorithmic desire trackers, and even autonomous forests—are often labeled “creepy” without rigorous analysis. By weaving essays, case studies, and artworks, they reveal how binaries such as privacy vs. surveillance or useful vs. harmful obscure the complex power dynamics of artificial intelligence and robotics.
The volume pushes readers to view “creep” not as a simple emotional reaction but as a methodological lens for interrogating how technology infiltrates intimate, local, and global politics. For inquiries, Parvin can be reached at [email protected].
How the World Flows: Microfluidics from Raindrops to COVID Tests
Professor Albert Folch of the Department of Bioengineering translates the invisible world of microfluidics into a narrative for general audiences. How the World Flows explains how fluids confined to channels smaller than a millimeter drive phenomena ranging from the splash of a raindrop to the rapid detection of viral particles in a COVID-19 test.
Inspired by his wife’s suggestion to write for non-specialists, Folch highlights natural occurrences and everyday devices that embody microfluidic principles. He emphasizes that, like the unseen circuitry of a smartphone screen, these tiny flows have a “colossal impact” on daily life. Questions about the book may be directed to [email protected].
The Heisenberg Group: A Survey
Emeritus mathematics professor Gerald B. Folland offers the first comprehensive overview of the Heisenberg group in his work, The Heisenberg Group: A Survey. Spanning six decades of research, the book links the object’s analytic and geometric facets, showing its relevance to harmonic analysis, partial differential equations, and quantum physics.
Designed for graduate students and professional mathematicians, the text unifies diverse strands of scholarship into a single reference point. Readers interested in deeper discussion can contact [email protected].
Odds of Survival
Computer-science emeritus Martin Tompa releases a braided historical novel, Odds of Survival rooted in a concealed family saga. Set against the backdrop of Austria’s 1938 Anschluss, the story follows two Jewish families as they disperse across continents—London, Shanghai, Manila, and eventually New York—struggling to evade Nazi persecution.
The narrative threads together personal drama with broader historical currents, illustrating how chance, resilience, and migration reshaped lives. Tompa describes the book as a 25-year dream realized. For more details, reach out to [email protected].
REGEN: A New Future for Farming, Food, and Health
Earth & space-sciences professor David R. Montgomery advocates a soil-centric revival of agriculture in REGEN. Drawing on farmer testimonies, historical analysis, and scientific research, he outlines regenerative practices—cover cropping, low-tillage, and crop diversity—that rebuild soil organic matter while slashing synthetic fertilizer and pesticide use.
The book dismantles common myths about conventional agriculture and positions soil health as the linchpin for sustainable food systems and climate resilience. Montgomery can be contacted at [email protected] for further information.
