Dean's Letter
This week
we find ourselves in the middle of that annual rite of passage, graduation. Our Class of 2014 should be proud of their accomplishments, and feel genuine
excitement to use their education as a cornerstone for a successful and
productive career.
At the
College of the Environment, we recognize that the keys to a successful career
look substantially different than they did a generation ago. Not only do you
have to be deeply conversant in your chosen discipline, you must also command a
suite of “soft skills” that are ever more important to potential employers.
These skills include the ability to collaborate across areas of expertise, work
effectively in teams, and communicate about your work with non-scientists. They
include knowing when and how to lead, and when to listen and follow. You must
also be ready to assess not only how your own field of expertise is evolving,
but also how the world around you influences the success of your work. Our
professors are committed to preparing our students to meet these challenges in
the workplace, and to excel in their midst.
News
New College of the Environment faculty profiles
The
College of the Environment launched an engaging and interactive new faculty
section of our website earlier this spring, and we invite you to have a look
around. The webpages offer numerous search options to help the user visualize
and learn about the spectrum of research happening in all of our units. You can
read individual bios of faculty members, and link to their own lab website for
further information about their research and teaching. Check it out!
Graduation gift to the Class of 2014
The end of spring means
graduation and many opportunities to shine a light on our graduates’ accomplishments.
In appreciation of their contributions to the College of the Environment and in
celebration of their achievements, the College has purchased and retired 400
carbon allowances for the more than 400 graduates in the Class of 2014.
Recognizing our students as the next generation of leaders in environmental
science and decision-making, we believe this is a contribution that showcases
our collective commitment to the sustainability and well-being of our society
and our planet.
New degree offered: Master of Science for science teachers
The
College of the Environment’s newest degree program, the Master of Science in
Science for Teachers (MSST) is now accepting applications for the upcoming
academic year. MSST is a graduate degree in science developed specifically for
science teachers, and provides a unique opportunity to conduct scientific
research alongside world-renowned research professionals. Skills developed in
this program will give teachers returning to their classroom a deeper
knowledge and understanding of conducting fundamental or applied scientific
inquiry. Learn more and apply on the College of the Environment website.
Awards & Acknowledgements
Several faculty this year at the College of the Environment have
retired or will retire over the summer. We wish to recognize their rich
contributions to the University of Washington over the span of their career,
and gratefully acknowledge their commitment to teaching and service,
and innovation in research. We look forward to continuing
to work together in new capacities in the future. Retirees include:
Congratulations
to Eric D’Asaro on his election to the
National Academy of Sciences, recognized in particular for his innovative
observations of the ocean.
Congratulations
to Jerry Franklin on his election to the American
Academy of Arts and Sciences, where he has been recognized as a leading
visionary in forest ecology and conservation.
Congratulations
to Darrel Cowan on receiving the 2014
Geological Society of America Structural Geology and Tectonics Division Career
Contribution Award for his work towards advancing the understanding of
structural geology and tectonics.
Congratulations
to our 23 Dean’s Office Scholarship and Fellowship Award recipients for the
2014-15 Academic Year. Funds are given to deserving
students to help offset the costs associated with a higher education.
Spotlight
Kate Allstadt, self described "present-day geologist"
Spotlight is an ongoing series that
will introduce you to the many members that make up the College
community.
What
would you do in a big earthquake? Do you know how your neighborhood would fare?
Would the ground beneath your house hold firm, or turn into liquid, or break
loose in a landslide? If you had a few seconds or minutes warning, how would
you prepare knowing a devastating earthquake was about to be unleashed?
In the
wake of the nearby Oso landslide, these are the kinds of questions researchers
like Kate Allstadt ask with increasing urgency. Her hope is to make places like
Seattle and other places in the Pacific Northwest more resilient in the
face of a natural disaster.
Philanthropy: Making a Difference
Private gifts and grants make all the difference in opening
doors for new research and expanding educational opportunities for our
students. We are grateful for our numerous donors’ generosity.
The
College would like to especially thank James and Marsha Seeley for their
support and funding for oceanography, biodiversity, and wildlife research in
the South Pacific; and both the Packard Foundation and the Lenfest Program for
their recent grants for efforts to support ecosystem based approaches to
fishery management.
There
are numerous ways to help support research and
students at College of the Environment—please consider making a gift to the
fund of your choice, including:
- School
of Marine and Environmental Affairs Graduate Student Fellowship Fund
- Friends
of the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences Fund
- Alaska
Salmon Program Fund
To
learn more about these funds and others, please visit the College of the
Environment website.
Save the Date
The
Friday Harbor Labs have two dates coming up soon that are sure to entice
islanders and mainlanders alike. Jazz at the Labs, which supports the Labs’
K-12 Science Outreach Program will take place on June 14. Reservations are strongly advised. The 2014 Illg
Distinguished Lecturer will be Lisa Levin, speaking at the San Juan Community
Theater on August 12 in a talk
titled Deep-Ocean Industrialization and Biodiversity
Challenges in the 21st Century. Find out more about these events on the Friday Harbor Labs’
webpage.
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