DIVAS Program Builds Computational Thinking Skills
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Associate Professor of Chemistry and Paul Garrett Fellow Dalia Biswas (right) reviews a presentation by DIVAS students Erfan Vaezpour Najafabadi ’28 (left) and Kanye Barner ’27 (center).
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This semester, Whitman College will complete its first full year as one of eight colleges and universities across the country that make up the DIVAS (Digital Imaging and Vision Applications in Science) Alliance.
DIVAS is a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded program that provides opportunities for students to develop computational problem-solving skills that are highly sought after in medicine, agriculture, research and industry. DIVAS specifically focuses on the ways that audio, image and video data can directly contribute to scientific research—for example, looking at color changes in plant images to track chlorophyll developments.
The program includes a spring seminar, a five-week summer research internship and a fall seminar—and students may choose to earn one credit for each seminar.
The first DIVAS cohort at Whitman included four students: Kanye Barner ’27 (Biology), Abeer Janat ’27 (Mathematics/Pre-Engineering), Erfan Vaezpour Najafabadi ’28 (Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology) and Cedar Tatarek ’28 (Politics).
“The DIVAS program is intended for students who are early in the college experience,” says Biswas. “It is important to introduce students to coding as early as possible and to be able to build upon that exposure throughout their four years.”
Biswas will be recruiting students this fall for the next cohort, which will begin in Spring 2026. Interested students should contact Biswas at rokhsad@whitman.edu or 509-527-5953. The program does not have a GPA requirement and is open to most any student with an interest or a declared major in the natural sciences who wants to learn more about how computer programming and computational thinking can be applied within the sciences.
Read more.
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Staff Employment Opportunities
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Whitman College is currently hiring for the following staff positions:
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Trick or Treat in the Residence Halls Tonight
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Whitman staff and faculty are invited to bring their families to Trick or Treat in the Residence Halls on Friday, Oct. 31, from 4:30–6 p.m. The fun begins at Reid Campus Center. (Flyer attached.)
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Volleyball Home Games This Weekend
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Sherwood Athletic Center will close early on Friday, Oct. 31, at 4 p.m. and on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 3 p.m. in preparation for volleyball home games which start on Friday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m. (vs. Lewis and Clark College) and Saturday, Nov. 1, at 6 p.m. (vs. George Fox University). Doors open to fans one hour before the start of the match. Tickets may be purchased in advance.
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Kidney Transplantation Talks Tomorrow
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The University of Washington Transplant Team will lead a series of talks on the kidney transplantation process on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 1:30–5 p.m. in the Reid Campus Center. Whitman students will be available to assist in writing living donor profiles and to provide Spanish-language translation. (Bilingual flyer attached.)
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Food Pantry & Clothing Closet Reopens on Monday
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The Whitman College Food Pantry and Clothing Closet—which has been operating temporarily in the Third Space Center—will reopen at the Glover Alston Intercultural Center (GAIC) on Monday, Nov. 3, and will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Due to ongoing construction, please use the temporary crossing adjacent to the Walla Walla Sub Shop, directly across the street from the GAIC.
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The Foreign Born Faculty and Staff Association recently met up at Sweet Basil Pizzeria where they discussed struggles and accomplishments and compared Thanksgiving traditions. If you are interested in joining this employee resource group or learning more, please fill out this interest form.
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Information Session: 2026 Employee Benefits
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Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom (Zoom link)
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Fair: 2026 Employee Benefits
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Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom
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Sherwood Athletic Center, Room 114
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Welty Health and Counseling Center
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Start at Reid Campus Center
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Harper Joy Theatre, Alexander Stage
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Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom
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Harper Joy Theatre, Alexander Stage
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Harper Joy Theatre, Alexander Stage
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Hall of Science, Room 142
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Harper Joy Theatre, Alexander Stage
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Hall of Music, Chism Recital Hall
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Would you like to share an event with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.
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Whitman Today is emailed to Whitman College staff, faculty and students each weekday during the academic year and twice a week during breaks. An archive of previous issues is available online.
All submissions are welcome! If you have accomplishments to celebrate, an event to publicize or other Whitman content to share, email whitmantoday@whitman.edu. Submissions of 125 words or less are due by noon on the business day prior to publication. Submissions may be edited and/or held for a later date according to space and editorial needs. Your submission also authorizes use on Whitman's social media unless otherwise specified.
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Find us on social media: @whitmancollege
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