UW College of the Environment

UW College of the Environment Learn more at https://environment.uw.edu We enjoy reading your opinions, comments and ideas, with just a few conditions: That they are respectful and on topic.

The College of the Environment at the University of Washington breaks conventional boundaries to create new knowledge and bring solutions-oriented thinking to big environmental issues. Attacking and name-calling, and abusive or profane language won’t work here. Neither will mocking or ridiculing. So, please, let’s talk. Let’s ask questions. Let’s explore our world together. But be nice. We do mode

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What’s the roundest animal? It might be a sea creature! Whether it’s a pacific spiny lumpsucker fish or a sea urchin, th...
09/08/2026

What’s the roundest animal? It might be a sea creature! Whether it’s a pacific spiny lumpsucker fish or a sea urchin, their roundness is an uncommon trait that has a purpose, such as protection from predators. Karly E. Cohen, a researcher at Friday Harbor Labs, weighs in — read the full story at https://bit.ly/468TDC6.

Photo credit: NOAA/David Csepp, NOAA/Claire Fackler

Earthquakes are common in the PNW, so it’s important to be prepared for one. One way you can prepare is by making sure y...
09/04/2026

Earthquakes are common in the PNW, so it’s important to be prepared for one. One way you can prepare is by making sure you’re connected to the ShakeAlert earthquake early system created by the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN). Through a network of 500+ seismic monitoring stations across Washington and Oregon, ShakeAlert can add a few seconds of advance warning, which can be enough time for you to take action in the event of an earthquake.

“Just a few seconds of advance warning may not sound like much, but it’s just enough time to stop and think, ‘What am I supposed to do in a quake?’ and take action. There’s clear evidence from other countries that smartphone earthquake warnings have saved lives and prevented injuries.” - Harold Tobin, Director of PNSN and professor in University of Washington Earth and Space Sciences.

Read more at https://bit.ly/4rb2nS1

Where’s your favorite spot to hang out by the water? Whether you want to swim, paddleboard, kayak or just admire the sce...
09/01/2026

Where’s your favorite spot to hang out by the water? Whether you want to swim, paddleboard, kayak or just admire the scenery, Seattle has plenty of “blue spaces” to interact with the water, which research shows can help boost your well-being. ⛵

“Living near the coast, or visiting bluespaces such as rivers, lakes, and beaches can be associated with higher levels of self-reported health and different dimensions of well-being. [Outcomes] could include stress reduction and restoration of cognitive fatigue, as well as increased feelings of autonomy, competence, and connection with the natural world.” - Prof. Gregory Bratman, UW School of Environmental and Forest Sciences

Read more at https://bit.ly/3Up8JRn

The Ballard Locks fish ladder, where Chinook salmon are currently passing through, is one of the many places to see the ...
08/28/2026

The Ballard Locks fish ladder, where Chinook salmon are currently passing through, is one of the many places to see the salmon run. The salmon begin their lives in freshwater, migrate to the ocean for food, then return to freshwater as adults to breed. This annual migration is crucial to the ecosystem and supports the entire food chain, from aquatic microbes to bears. Emeritus professor Thomas Quinn with UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences talks more about the salmon run in this story by National Geographic.

“Chinook 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

Read more at https://bit.ly/3SvZ1fo

How are birds impacted by construction? 🚧 🐦‍⬛ With housing developments on the rise and bird counts on the decline in Se...
08/25/2026

How are birds impacted by construction? 🚧 🐦‍⬛

With housing developments on the rise and bird counts on the decline in Seattle, UW researchers studied how different types of development sites influenced which bird species stayed and left. In sites that kept more tree cover and vegetation, more bird species stayed, especially those that usually avoid humans. Supporting biodiversity in these changing habitats can help balance development needs with ecosystem health.

“This work shows that birds care how land is developed, which gives developers a choice during the planning process. There are tradeoffs between developments designed for humans and those designed with the ecosystem in mind, but balancing the two can benefit both,” said Prof. emeritus John Marzluff with the UW School of Environmental and Forest Sciences.

Learn more at https://bit.ly/45NFslL

Monitoring large whales helps inform conservation decisions, but it’s important to safely implant tags into whales witho...
08/21/2026

Monitoring large whales helps inform conservation decisions, but it’s important to safely implant tags into whales without impacting their health. That’s why Alexandre Zerbini, research scientist at UW’s Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Studies, and his research team developed a blubber-only tag! This new tag has been tested on Southern right whales off the coast of Argentina, and were found to be safer and more reliable.

Learn more below!

08/17/2026

The Killer Whale Ecotype Study (KWEST) research team with the Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Studies just finished the first leg! Check out their video for a look into their work ⬇️

With winters getting warmer, do animals that thrive in colder temperatures travel north? Scientists have found that not ...
08/14/2026

With winters getting warmer, do animals that thrive in colder temperatures travel north?

Scientists have found that not every species has found a new home for the winters, but the reasons why may not always be temperature or climate related. Unlike in the western U.S., animals in the northeast face challenges such as disconnected protected lands and fewer high-altitude areas that are more difficult to access.

Prof. Joshua Lawler from UW School of Environmental and Forest Sciences shares his thoughts in this story from Mongabay.com:
“If species move around, if they move out of those protected areas, hopefully they are going to move into a new one. But maybe they won’t.

Many of the connections between where animals are now and where they are likely to be in the future go up into the mountains.”

Read more at https://bit.ly/4ch4flI

Photo credit: National Park Service/Ivie Metzen

You may have heard warnings of a "Super El Niño" coming this winter, but what does that actually mean?We talked with Kar...
08/11/2026

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 and UW Climate Impacts Group research scientist, to understand how El Niño works and how it might impact the PNW climate.

Read more at https://bit.ly/3S5tNvk

Photo: El Niño can lead to reduced mountain snowpack, as seen on this photo of Mount Rainier (credit to Caleb Riston)

👟 🐾 💜 Join our team for this year's Alaska Airlines Dawg Dash on Sunday, Oct. 18! We'll also have fun swag for our team ...
08/07/2026

👟 🐾 💜 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 at https://bit.ly/4hToFov

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