Students at the UW School of Social Work advanced the mission of social and economic justice through the Grand Challenges for Social Work Student Design Projects as they developed and tested solutions to some of today’s most pressing social issues. The Grand Challenges for Social Work is a national initiative that calls on social workers to take on large, complex problems such as reducing inequality, improving health, ending social isolation and supporting safe communities.

In November 2026, the Indigenous Wellness Research Institute (IWRI) will host the International Network of Indigenous Health, Wellness & Development (INIHKD), an annual, week-long conference convening Indigenous scholars, researchers, practitioners, creatives and community leaders from around the world. This year, INIHKD will focus on three interconnected sub‑themes: Indigenous Health and Healing; Environmental and Ecological Systems; and Advanced Technologies and AI.