New faculty books don't usually make me stop mid-scroll, but this lineup from the University of Washington has me paying attention. We're not talking one or two niche academic releases. We're talking the Information School, bioengineering, math, computer science, and earth sciences all dropping new work in the same season. That's a lot of brainpower in one place. And sure, this is a UW story, not a WSU one, but the takeaway for any student who's trying to build something real is the same: the people teaching you are often doing the most interesting work of their careers right now. That's not just a flex. That's a resource.
Here's my honest take. When I read about faculty publishing across tech, math, and earth sciences, I don't think "cool, more textbooks." I think about what that means for the students in those rooms. If you're sitting in a lecture and your professor just wrote the book on the subject, that's not trivia. That's a chance to ask better questions, to stay after class, to say, "Hey, I read your chapter on X, and I'm trying to figure out how that applies to Y." Most of us are too busy juggling part-time jobs and group projects to act on that. But the ones who do? That's how you get from "I'm taking this class" to "I'm working with this person on something that matters." I'd tell any Coug reading this: don't sleep on your own faculty. Check what they're publishing. You don't have to understand every equation. Just show up with a question.
Practically speaking, this also changes how I think about the "learn by doing" mindset. A lot of us are out here grinding on side projects, clubs, and internships, which is solid. But there's something to be said for paying attention to the research side of things. These books aren't just for other academics. They're roadmaps for where the fields are heading. If you're into tech, one of those computer science books might give you a clearer picture of what's coming next than another tutorial video ever will. If you're into earth sciences, that's a window into how we're actually tackling climate questions. You don't have to be a grad student to skim the introduction, find one idea that clicks, and bring it up in a club meeting or a class discussion. That's the kind of move that makes you look sharp and actually helps you learn.
So here's my specific takeaway, and I want you to remember this: next time you see a faculty book release or a research highlight from your school, don't scroll past it. Spend ten minutes reading the intro or the conclusion. Then ask one question about it, either in class or over email. That's it. That's the whole move. It's lowkey, it's free, and it's the kind of thing "future me will thank me" for. You don't need to be the smartest person in the room. You just need to be the one who actually looks up from the group chat. And if a UW professor can put out five books in one season, you can find ten minutes to see what your own professors are working on. Bet.
