As the new academic year begins, we sat down with Interim Dean Thornton to discuss what drew him to the role, what makes the College of the Environment a research powerhouse, and the unique opportunities available to our students.| College of the Environment
Students and faculty in the UW School of Oceanography’s Ocean Technology Program recently partnered with Bellevue-based Sea-Bird Scientific to test whether a complex sensor for ocean research could also be used in freshwater environments. Their exploratory study gave the UW undergraduate students valuable, hands-on experience in the field of marine technology.| College of the Environment
The School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences is offering a new degree starting this year — a bachelor of science in aquatic conservation and ecology (ACE). The new major focuses on the ecology of aquatic organisms, the rivers, lakes and oceans in which they live, and how they can be protected for the benefit of people and the planet.| College of the Environment
Whether you live in a rural community that grapples with annual threats of destructive wildfires or in a city that now spends part of every summer inundated with smoke, many across North America have found themselves wondering: what happened to cause such a sudden change in the way our forests burn? We sat down with Brian Harvey, assistant professor of environmental and forest sciences in the UW College of the Environment, to discuss some of the most frequently asked questions we encounter ab...| College of the Environment
Members of the UW Student Seaglider Center now have valuable data and the experience of sending one of their gliders to a place rarely accessed by ocean researchers.| College of the Environment
Maya Tolstoy is stepping down June 30 as the Maggie Walker Dean of the UW College of the Environment, returning to New York for family reasons. We sat down with Tolstoy as she reflected on leadership, memorable moments and biggest achievements. She is quick to note that none of this was possible alone, and that it took the entire College of the Environment community to get us to where we are today.| College of the Environment
Each year, teams of students from around the globe convene at the MATE ROV World Championships to go head-to-head in an engineering competition to showcase cutting-edge marine technology. The competition focuses on innovation and excellence using underwater drones designed, built and operated by the student teams. At this year’s competition, the Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (UWROV) team — run out of the UW School of Oceanography, part of the College of the Environment — took ho...| College of the Environment
The July 29 magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia and unleashed seismic energy and a tsunami that surged across the Pacific Ocean was captured in remarkable detail by the NSF Ocean Observatories Initiative’s Regional Cabled Array, a seafloor observatory offshore from Oregon.| College of the Environment
The competition tasks students to come up with meaningful solutions to problems related to climate and the environment.| College of the Environment
Research at the College of the Environment drives solutions that safeguard our planet and improve our quality of life. By understanding how the world works, we can better manage ecosystems and natural resources to create a healthier, more resilient society for all. With every discovery, we unlock new opportunities for a brighter, more sustainable future. Environmental research drives economic growth with smart solutions and efficient management.| College of the Environment
Three hundred miles off the coast of Oregon and more than 4,900 feet below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, one of the Pacific Northwest’s least famous — but most active — volcanoes is showing signs that it will soon erupt for the first time since 2015. The volcano is known as Axial Seamount, and while it may not be a cultural icon like its cousins in the Cascade Range, scientists are excited because it is giving us a window into some of the most important geological and biological pro...| College of the Environment
Congratulations to the eight College of the Environment students recognized in the 2025 Husky 100! Each year, the Husky 100 recognizes 100 undergraduate, graduate and professional students in all areas of study who are making the most of their time at the UW.| College of the Environment
Brian Harvey, associate professor in the UW College of the Environment School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, this spring was named a Kavli Fellow by the National Academy of Sciences. The honor recognizes 87 of the nation’s brightest young scientists from industry, academia and government.| College of the Environment
Several College academic disciplines placed highly in two recent rankings: QS World University Rankings by Subject and U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Graduate Schools.| College of the Environment
Prof. Corey Garza and collaborators are using drones and machine learning to better understand shark, sea lion and seal behavior. The goal is to better predict when and where great white sharks might be on the prowl — and, importantly, how to keep people out of the water when they are.| College of the Environment
Sharon Doty, a professor in the UW School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, has been named a AAAS Fellow, according to a March 27 announcement by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Doty is among 471 newly elected fellows from around the world — and five from the UW — who are recognized for their “scientifically and socially distinguished achievements” in science and engineering.| College of the Environment
In a recent University of Washington Provost’s Town Hall, Alex Gagnon, associate professor of oceanography, shared insights into his research and journey to build Banyu Carbon along with co-founder and UW professor, Julian Sachs.| College of the Environment
Early on March 3, many residents of the San Juan Islands and beyond were jolted awake by the rocking of a 4.5 magnitude earthquake. Located on the southeast side of Orcas Island, it fortunately caused no major damage and did not trigger a tsunami warning. It did, however, trigger the ShakeAlert earthquake early warning system, which alerts people via their smartphone as soon as an earthquake begins.| College of the Environment
Major investments are needed for core research in ocean science and to upgrade and replace infrastructure to support basic and applied research in ocean studies, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. The research is needed to understand how greater access to the Arctic will challenge U.S. national security, how changes in the health of ocean ecosystems could affect fisheries and how the ocean contributes to extreme weather events.| College of the Environment
In honor of International Women and Girls in Science Day on February 11, 2025, we celebrate the women across the UW College of the Environment making significant contributions to the advancement of science. In this roundup, we’ve highlighted researchers that represent just a few of the many women at the UW College of the Environment who are pushing boundaries to not only transform our understanding of the environment but also inspire the next generation of women scientists.| College of the Environment
By connecting some of the world’s leading educators and researchers with students, practitioners and citizens, UW Environment cultivates communities who work with and learn from each other as they confront the environmental challenges of the 21st century.| College of the Environment
Meet our awardees, who are recognized by their colleagues for making unique, inspiring and meaningful contributions to our community during the 2024-25 academic year.| College of the Environment
Whether you live in a rural community that grapples with annual threats of destructive wildfires or in a city that now spends part of every summer inundated with smoke, many across North America have found themselves wondering: what happened to cause such a sudden change in the way our forests burn? We sat down with […]| College of the Environment
Researchers from across the UW College of the Environment shared inspiring stories and examples of how they are tackling climate change through science, collaboration and action at a panel discussion July 16 during Pacific Northwest Climate Week 2025. Watch a replay of the event, “Driving Climate Action with Evidence‑Based Solutions,” below. Meet the panelists Meade Krosby partners with land managers, policymakers and communities to understand and address how climate change affects n...| College of the Environment
The Identity, Belonging and Inquiry in Science program pairs undergraduate students interested in research with graduate student mentors in the geosciences. The program's early results are promising: Students are more likely to stay in science and feel a part of the research process.| College of the Environment
Students in a University of Washington wildlife research techniques class that went fully remote during the COVID-19 lockdown had an unexpected opportunity arise with the data they collected.| College of the Environment
Graduate students from the Department of Earth and Space Sciences at the University of Washington College of the Environment chased the March 2024 total solar eclipse across the Midwest — the last to be seen in the U.S. for the next 20 years.| College of the Environment
