College of the Environment

The $900,000 award — from a collaboration between the Kavli Foundation and the National Science Foundation — will fund work by biology’s Jeff Riffell and atmospheric and climate science’s Joel Thornton. The strengths in climate science, environmental change and neuroscience that span the College of the Environment and the College of Arts and Sciences uniquely positions the UW to bridge these fields and answer novel questions.

"Kamala Harris of 2024, in a sharp deviation from Kamala Harris of 2016-20, epitomizes the emerging climate pragmatism," write the UW's Nives Dolšak, professor of marine and environmental affairs, and Aseem Prakash, professor of political science.

Volcanoes spewing carbon dioxide 250 million years ago heated the climate so much that extreme El Niño events became the norm, pushing most life on Earth past its limits. Peter Ward, professor of Earth and space sciences and of biology at the UW, is quoted.

Dr. Abigail Swann, a UW professor of atmospheric sciences and of biology, led a project that combined climate projections with plant models to determine what combination of traits might be best adapted to future climates. The study used projections of weather and climate across the U.S. in 2050 and 2100 with a model that simulates corn’s growth to find the mix of traits that will produce the highest, most reliable yield under future conditions across the country.

As a Congressional intern in Washington DC, UW senior Lillian Williamson was immersed in historic — and contentious — events on Capitol Hill.

Her exploration at the UW has led Stephanie Masterman (BA, American Indian Studies; Arctic Studies minor; 2022) to leadership roles in her tribal community.

UW is attempting to combat the severe underrepresentation of minorities in science and engineering faculty through a new postdoctoral program.

Ashleigh Theberge, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry, and Jodi Young, an assistant professor in the School of Oceanography, have been named 2021 Sloan Fellows.

French and oceanography major Anna Sulc has traveled the world for her humanities and biology research. 

Various faculty and staff members are honored for their contributions to a variety of subjects, including social equity, Asian studies, and Swedish physical geography.

“Fishes of the Salish Sea” is a three-volume book and is the culmination of more than 40 years of research.

These Washington researchers have made sure that the identities — and vivid colors — of the fish that live beneath the surface in our waters is known.

Biology and Atmospheric Sciences professor Abigail Swann responds to a new study using tree rings to trace climate change and drought. 

Op-ed by Aseem Prakash, founding director of the Center for Environmental Politics, and Nives Dolsak of Marine and Environmental Affairs.

A newly discovered species of whale — found preserved in ancient rock on the Oregon coast — has been named for a University of Washington paleontologist.