Impact Series – Page 5 of 13

Microsoft’s accessibility chief on the benefits of closing the ‘disability divide’

Microsoft Chief Accessibility Officer Jenny Lay-Flurrie is thinking about disabilities in ways that many others are not. Or at least,… Read More

New COVID-19 dashboard shares data on how well diagnostic tests perform against variants

While all eyes are on the COVID-19 vaccine, the more dangerous variants of the virus are becoming increasingly dominant. In… Read More

How the Pacific Northwest is playing a key role in the burgeoning world of carbon capture tech

Carbon capture is a hot new area for innovation and investment, and Pacific Northwest researchers, companies, policymakers and individuals are… Read More

Tech-savvy dad launches open-source platform to save children with rare diseases – including his son

On a beautiful August day in a Bellevue park, just as he was getting ready to cut the cake for… Read More

As worries spark over the carbon impacts of NFTs, some unexpected boosters come to their defense

Time will tell whether buying NFTs for Beeple’s digital collage for $69 million or Twitter founder Jack Dorsey’s first tweet… Read More

Microsoft, LinkedIn roll out more initiatives to help people build their skills and find jobs

More than 30 million people worldwide have used free, online learning courses from Microsoft and its LinkedIn and GitHub subsidiaries… Read More

Remote learning at 1 year: Experts explain why the move to online education has been so painful

Nearly a year has passed since Washington’s schools closed due to COVID-19. The state’s children are suffering a mental and… Read More

Starbucks implements tech for blind and low-vision customers to aid in-store navigation and more

Starbucks is turning to technology to help blind and low-vision customers navigate its U.S. stores. The Seattle-based coffee giant is… Read More

DefinedCrowd CEO Daniela Braga on the future of AI, training data, and women in tech

Artificial intelligence is the fourth industrial revolution and women had better play a prominent role in its development, says Daniela… Read More

$10B Bezos Earth Fund hires a long-time global leader on climate issues as president and CEO

Jeff Bezos announced Tuesday that his Bezos Earth Fund has hired Andrew Steer, the head of the World Resources Institute,… Read More

Deena Pierott works hard for underrepresented youth in STEM, but funding her nonprofit isn’t easy

Deena Pierott answered the phone and remarked about how glad she was that it was Friday. “I don’t know why… Read More

Vaccine expert on U.S. missteps and what we can learn from successful inoculations in Africa

While scientists were able to create and test COVID-19 vaccines in nearly unimaginable, record-breaking time, the administration of vaccines across… Read More

In ‘How to Avoid a Climate Disaster,’ Bill Gates charts a difficult course that might just be doable

In his new book, “How to Avoid a Climate Disaster,” Bill Gates plays a role akin to a trusted doctor… Read More

From book club to bootcamp: How these Seattle tech veterans took bold action on racial inclusion

Femi Akinde and Mike Koss met a decade ago at StartPad, a former Seattle co-working space where Koss was director… Read More

Madrona teams up with Advancing Women in Product to boost female tech leadership

Advancing Women in Product (AWIP), a nonprofit organization with more than 16,000 members internationally, is partnering with Seattle’s Madrona Venture… Read More

As schools limp through COVID, the Technology Alliance urges preparations for next calamity

It’s widely understood that COVID-19 has been largely disastrous for schools, but the numbers behind that assertion are still pretty… Read More

New COVID-19 prediction models forecast a potential fourth wave — and how to minimize it

Let’s start with the good news. The number of new COVID-19 cases in the greater Seattle area, Washington state and… Read More

Microsoft cut carbon emissions 6% last year, predicts climate investments will pay off in long run

In the first year since it set the goal of becoming carbon negative by 2030, Microsoft announced Thursday that it… Read More

Seattle startup CEO coins ‘authentech’ to capture an emerging community-focused business model

The world of tech loves innovation and thinking outside of the box. Except, perhaps, when it comes to fundraising. As… Read More

Entrepreneurs and corporate leaders unite in support of Black-owned businesses

When Jasper Kuria considers strategies for addressing racial inequity and social injustice in the U.S., he puts support of Black… Read More

Inside the intense world of COVID-19 science, and unexpected findings from Seattle researchers

If the Keanu Reeves’ pedal-to-the-metal thriller “Speed” had a COVID-19 sequel, James Heath would be a worthy candidate for a… Read More

Solar power nonprofit goes digital to bring installation instruction to underserved communities

When COVID-19 grounded travelers in early 2020, Chris Brooks and his team had to cancel more than a dozen teaching… Read More

Seattle Children’s Therapeutics leverages biotech innovation in quest for new treatments for kids

Can a nonprofit research institution operate more effectively by taking a page from the commercial biotech industry? That’s the idea… Read More

COVID-19 accelerates tech solutions for lonely seniors, addressing ‘double pandemic’ of isolation

Even before COVID-19 forced us to stay at home and isolate ourselves, too many older adults were suffering with loneliness.… Read More

Scholars tracking social media see efforts to delegitimize election, imperiling democracy

The University of Washington’s Kate Starbird has been immersing herself in election disinformation, and what she’s found is deeply troubling.… Read More

Microsoft and Facebook vet leads nonprofit making software to improve COVID-19 rapid tests

A Seattle-based nonprofit launched to provide digital health solutions for poorer countries is applying its expertise to help with COVID-19… Read More

University of Washington studies future of urban package delivery with lockers and street sensors

[Update, Oct. 9: The Urban Freight Lab told users of the Belltown Lockers that they will be moved to a… Read More

Funding efforts aim to help get students online and bridge the digital divide amid pandemic

Now a few weeks into remote back-to-school, some of Washington’s K-12 students and educators are finding that internet connectivity is… Read More

Microsoft vows to replenish more water than it consumes by 2030, in latest sustainability initiative

Microsoft says it will replenish more clean water than it uses in its cloud computing and software business within a… Read More

New platform from nonprofit Carina offers quick searches for in-home childcare openings

As COVID-19 stay-at-home orders began triggering business closures in early spring, there was much attention paid to shuttered restaurants and… Read More