UW College of the Environment

UW researchers with Friday Harbor Labs found that some plunge-diving seabirds like the gannet can hit the water at 70 miles per hour without injuring its neck thanks to their unique neck vertebrae. https://bit.ly/4i1nFOQ

A recent UW study by researchers in @uwatmossci.bsky.social found that past emissions from the top oil, gas, coal and cement producers will continue impacting the environment for decades. These emissions can make future climate disasters more likely due to global warming. https://bit.ly/4k4h9bk

On Oct 28-30, scientists from around the world will convene in Seattle for the inaugural Global eDNA Conference, spearheaded by profs Shana Hirsch and Ryan Kelly in @uwsmea.bsky.social & co-hosted by the Marine Technology Society’s eDNA Committee and UW’s eDNA Collaborative. https://bit.ly/3VGVpZ4

After another intense wildfire season, UW researchers are looking into improving how we manage forests to build more resilience. Angie Liotta, Ph.D. candidate in @uw-sefs.bsky.social, is working on a fire resistance index that can be used identify the most at-risk areas. https://bit.ly/4z5ptMh

Last month, we worked with Wish of a Lifetime from AARP to fulfill Edwyna’s lifelong dream of being a marine scientist. She joined a one-day research cruise with the School of Oceanography, testing water samples and examining phytoplankton under the microscope. https://bit.ly/4yegCIj

Congrats to Julian Olden in @uwsafs.bsky.social for being recognized as a member of the 2026 cohort for France’s National Centre for Scientific Research fellow-ambassador program! Prof. Olden will be conducting research in France with other globally-renowned scientists. https://bit.ly/4ArSuDx

UW study shows coyote density is 9 times higher in Seattle compared to the wild lands in Washington. “Coyotes are here to stay in cities, and it is up to us to learn how to live with them.” - Laura Prugh, professor in @uw-sefs.bsky.social https://bit.ly/46kdUVp

What caused parts of Antarctica to “grow” in the early 2020s? Researchers attribute it to an exceptional amount of snowfall and extra warm ocean temperatures. But this change was most likely an anomaly and not a sign of slowing ice melt in the long-term. @uwess.bsky.social https://bit.ly/4depXHx

"Living near the coast, or visiting blue spaces such as rivers, lakes, and beaches can be associated with higher levels of self-reported health and different dimensions of well-being.” - Prof. Bratman, @uw-sefs.bsky.social https://bit.ly/3Up8JRn

“Chinook [salmon] swim—and I know this is hard to believe—3,000 kilometers up the Yukon River, all the way into British Columbia. But we also have them spawning within a kilometer of saltwater here in Puget Sound.” - Prof. Quinn @uwsafs.bsky.social https://bit.ly/3SvZ1fo

UW researchers found that housing development sites that kept more tree cover and vegetation had more sensitive bird species stay. Supporting biodiversity in these changing habitats can help balance development needs with ecosystem health. @uw-sefs.bsky.social https://bit.ly/45NFslL

Alexandre Zerbini, research scientist at UW’s Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Studies, and his research team developed a blubber-only tag for safer and more reliable tracking of whales. Learn more below!

With winters getting warmer, do animals that thrive in colder temps travel north? Scientists found that not every species relocates, but the reasons why may not always be temperature or climate related. Prof. Lawler from @uw-sefs.bsky.social shares his thoughts. https://bit.ly/4ch4flI

You may have heard warnings of a "Super El Niño" coming this winter, but what does that actually mean? We talked with Karin Bumbaco, Deputy Washington State Climatologist & @cig-uw.bsky.social researcher, to understand how El Niño might impact the PNW climate. https://bit.ly/3S5tNvk

👟 Lace up your sneakers and join our team for this year's Alaska Airlines Dawg Dash on Sunday, Oct. 18! We'll also have fun swag for our team members at our booth. Register early and save! Sign up to run or walk with #TeamENV at https://bit.ly/4hToFov

Congrats to 3 teams from across the College who were awarded SEED-AI grants! These grants fund UW faculty-led projects focused on thoughtfully using AI to enhance teaching and learning. https://bit.ly/4pW5iNq @uwess.bsky.social @uwmarinebiology.bsky.social @uwatmossci.bsky.social

Congrats to our faculty for being selected as Fulbright Scholars this year! ⭐ Kristen M. Green with @uwsmea.bsky.social ⭐ Prof. Robert Morris with the School of Oceanography The Fulbright Scholar Program supports recipients to teach and conduct research across the globe. https://bit.ly/4pRCjKM

Could there be life on... Titan? @uwess.bsky.social Prof. Baptise Journaux discusses exploring moons like Saturn’s Titan for evidence of life and the 2028 NASA mission on the debut episode of the “Pocket Science” podcast by @kuow.org. 🎙️ https://bit.ly/45sr2XR Photo credit: NASA

We hosted the first Community-Engaged Research Symposium in May with @waseagrant.bsky.social @cig-uw.bsky.social & EarthLab! 120+ colleagues joined us in conversations about partnering with Native tribes, volunteers and other community members in research across the College. https://bit.ly/3TZ3APs

Roadless forests provide better quality drinking water. If the federal gov't moves forward with rescinding the "roadless rule" protecting these areas, it may impact drinking water for 25 million people based on a study led by @uwsafs.bsky.social researchers. https://bit.ly/4x04ium @uwnews.uw.edu

With 569 seismic monitoring stations across WA and OR, the ShakeAlert earthquake warning system installations are now complete! Researchers at @pnsn1.bsky.social are exploring how to expand the system to better detect offshore earthquakes. https://bit.ly/4wNMbre 📷: University of Washington

Which orcas have you seen in Puget Sound? Researchers at @uwsafs.bsky.social found that endangered southern resident killer whales are visiting Puget Sound less often, but the larger Bigg’s killer whales are becoming more common. https://bit.ly/4vzFFmQ Photo credit: Wayne Hoggard / @noaa.gov

The UW School of Oceanography is hosting the NSF-funded Seafloor Sampling Facility (SEASAM) under the leadership of Prof. Maureen Walczak! Through SEASAM, scientists nationwide will be able to access seafloor samples that can lead to new discoveries in oceanographic research. https://bit.ly/4vw17sU

🎉 We’re excited to announce new leadership changes across the College: Becky Alexander has been named the chair of @uwatmossci.bsky.social Phil Levin will be the director of @uwsmea.bsky.social Susan Dickerson-Lange is stepping in as interim director of EarthLab. https://bit.ly/4b02ybT

A new batch of endangered #seastars have eagerly made their way back into the PNW waters thanks to #UW researchers at Friday Harbor Labs with the Samish Indian Nation! The sunflower stars will ultimately help protect the kelp forests that are vital to the coast. https://bit.ly/4fvSwBG @kuow.org

Missed our PNW Climate Week live event? Check out the recording to hear from Prof. Bitz — expert on Arctic climate change — on how sea ice can be saved! 🧊 https://bit.ly/4vYrAjW @uwatmossci.bsky.social

Join us at #PNWClimateWeek! Cecilia Bitz, the Jerome M. Paros Endowed Chair in Atmospheric and Climate Hazard Research and expert on Arctic climate change, will talk about the importance of sea ice to protect coastline communities and cool the planet, and how it can be saved. https://bit.ly/3QzQBCJ

Can the #WorldCup best the Beast Quake? @pnsn1.bsky.social is once again using its earthquake-sensing equipment to connect with sports fans. Follow along and check out results during the next five weeks, including today's match. https://bit.ly/4oF3wQj #FIFAWorldCup #FWC26Seattle #WeAreSeattle

As artificial intelligence quickly reshapes how people interact with the world in various ways, instructors and students are taking a closer look at its role in higher education. https://bit.ly/4vJdD99

Undergraduate student Hailey Smith got to work with 5 million-year-old ice from Antarctica as part of a #UWEnvironment mentorship program that connects undergraduate students interested in research with graduate student mentors in the geosciences. https://bit.ly/4e06RFZ

Congratulations to David Catling, a @uwess.bsky.social professor who has been elected as a fellow of the Royal Society. Fellows are elected from all over the world through a lengthy selection process based on scientific excellence. https://bit.ly/4fklFQT @uwnews.uw.edu @uofwa.uw.edu

Congratulations to @uwsafs.bsky.social professor Daniel Schindler for being named a new member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences! Daniel is elected for his work on how climate change, urbanization and land use affect ecosystems and fisheries. https://bit.ly/3RSQzG9 @uwnews.uw.edu

This week we celebrated this year's #UWEnvironment award winners! These 11 people are recognized by their colleagues for making unique, inspiring and meaningful contributions to our community during the academic year. Read about each winner: https://bit.ly/3RQLwGe

New study: University of Washington scientists eavesdropped on Cook Inlet belugas to better understand the context of their calls and how human noise is impacting their ability to communicate with each other. https://bit.ly/4f46cnU @uwnews.uw.edu @uwsafs.bsky.social

Congratulations to undergraduate student Zayna Haider, who is the inaugural recipient of the Steve Pool Memorial Fund for Students in Atmospheric and Climate Science. https://bit.ly/3RoL4ii @uwatmossci.bsky.social @uofwa.uw.edu

There are more opportunities than ever for ocean science students to build meaningful careers in the field. That’s why 130+ students, industry professionals and researchers recently gathered at #UW for a first-ever conference to connect students with marine tech careers. https://bit.ly/4uDtGov

Congratulations to Joel Thornton, who has been named new dean of #UWEnvironment! Joel is a professor and former chair of @uwatmossci.bsky.social and his research focuses on the impacts of human activities on air quality and climate. https://bit.ly/4v11nR9 @uwnews.uw.edu @uofwa.uw.edu

A near-miss tsunami in Alaska during tourist season last Aug. highlights increasing environmental instability. A new study in @science.org describes how glacial retreat caused by global warming primed a fjord or a colossal wave. https://bit.ly/4wi0rZI @uwnews.uw.edu @uwess.bsky.social Photos: USGS

#UWEnvironment is hiring for two positions: Marketing and communications specialist in the Dean's Office, and a temporary lecturer position in Oceanography. Links below for more info and how to apply. https://bit.ly/3OKCmtX https://bit.ly/42J3zQW @uofwa.uw.edu

Unfortunately for science fiction fans, desert worlds outside our solar system are unlikely to host life, according to new research from @uofwa.uw.edu. www.washington.edu/news/2026/04...

Explore recent research from the @uofwa.uw.edu: how sunbirds sip nectar through straw-like tongues, why the Seattle Fault might not pose as great a risk as previously thought, how to gauge landslide dam risk in the PNW and more. www.washington.edu/news/2026/04...

@ecologicalsociety.bsky.social named @uofwa.uw.edu Claire Willing a 2026 Early Career Fellow. Willing, @uw-sefs.bsky.social, studies fungal ecology, looking at how fungi are evolving and supporting plant communities as the climate changes. www.washington.edu/news/2026/04...

The #UW community gathered last week to mark the official re-opening of renovated Anderson Hall with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The building features a more welcoming atmosphere, improved accessibility, upgraded technology and critical safety enhancements. https://bit.ly/42gvqHO

New research suggests that a disease-causing tapeworm that has been spreading across the U.S. and Canada has arrived in the PNW. The tapeworm lives as a parasite in coyotes, foxes and other canid species and can cause severe disease if passed to domestic dogs or humans. https://bit.ly/4tCdMKt

Why is contact with nature good for our mental and physical health? Scientists are now beginning to understand the mechanisms at play inside us that cause us to respond positively to nature. https://bit.ly/47HVNKa

A good opportunity for early career scientists interested in marine technology. @uwsafs.bsky.social @uwenvironment.bsky.social @cientificolatino.com @accessiblegeo.bsky.social @sacnas.bsky.social @misselasmo.bsky.social @official-bweems.bsky.social @csucoast.bsky.social www.iie.org/programs/oce...

A team of 170 scientists and experts — led by Phil Levin, interim executive director of the UW EarthLab — has published a draft report detailing the health of U.S. nature. The report is open for public comment and review until May 30. https://bit.ly/482vpuw @uwnews.uw.edu