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The Tao of Steve

Ask Professor Emeritus Steve West to point out his hometown on a map, and you’d better have a full United States atlas handy. He grew up in a military family, and though he was born in San Jose and later lived in Sacramento while his father fought in the Korean War, his family later crisscrossed the country depending on the Air Force base where his dad was stationed. What West can pinpoint, however, is what he learned and picked up at just about every town along the way. You’ll find there’s a Forrest Gump serendipity to much of his childhood and career, so read more about his formative moments as a professor of wildlife science!

BLOG BITS

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Water Seminar: Spring 2014

Among the many great offerings this spring is the long-running Water Seminar, held on Tuesday mornings from 8:30-9:30 a.m. in Mary Gates Hall, Room 389. Check out the remaining schedule for a wide range of terrific talks this quarter!

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Director's Spring Message

Tom DeLuca reflects on the new solar array being installed at Mercer Court, and how this ambitious project—and so many others around our school and campus—is a direct result of student initiative, creativity and determination.

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Recognition Event: Nominations Due Friday!

Don’t forget that nominations for the four new awards—Faculty Member of the Year, Staff Member of the Year, Graduate Student of the Year, Undergraduate Student of the Year—are due this Friday, April 25! Check out the award descriptions and criteria, and help us recognize the amazing contributions of your colleagues and students!

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WSSAF Annual Meeting: Register Now!

The 2014 annual meeting of the Washington State Society of American Foresters is coming up May 7 to 9 at Pack Forest, and the deadline for early registration is this Wednesday, April 23. Take a look at the event details and register today!

UPCOMING EVENTS


April 21, 2014:

Wildlife Science Seminar, 3:30-4:30 p.m., ARC 137

April 22, 2014:

Water Seminar, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Mary Gates 389

April 22, 2014:

SEFS Seminar Series, 3:30-4:30 p.m., AND 223

April 27, 2014:

SEFS Spring Gathering, 4-7 p.m., CUH

 

GET INVOLVED

Like your news and updates on a daily basis? “Like” SEFS on Facebook and help promote our school!

ANNOUNCEMENTS & KUDOS

The Plant Microbiology Lab will be hosting an informal memorial service for Nicholas (“Nick”) Herschberger this afternoon at 1:30 p.m. in Anderson 22. Herschberger first started working with Professor Sharon Doty and the Plant Microbiology Lab in September 2012, and those who knew him best describe him as an exceptionally kind, friendly and helpful person. He had a contagious love for science, and he recently showed that enthusiasm at the Paws‐on Science event at the Pacific Science Center, where he volunteered his time to share his passion for microbial research. His death is a tragic and unexpected loss, and he will be terribly missed by a great many people in the SEFS community. Our thoughts and hearts go out to his friends and family.

SAVE THE DATE for the SEFS Graduation Celebration, which has been set for Friday, June 13, at 2 p.m. in Kane Hall 120. The keynote speaker this year will be Professor David Ford, and stay tuned for more information on ordering tickets and other event details.

We have some great kudos from the Graduate Student Symposium, where Alison Sienkiewicz received the award for best presenter, and Justine Andreychuk earned the prize for best poster!

Another round of kudos goes to incoming graduate student Loma Pendergraft, who received an NSF fellowship to pursue his graduate studies with Professor John Marzluff. Pendergraft is currently teaching 8th grade science in Oklahoma City and will join SEFS in the fall (sadly, says Marzluff, the Sonics will not be coming back with him). Congratulations, Loma!

Kudos as well to Professor Stanley Asah, who has been selected to serve as an expert on the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Specifically, Professor Asah will be part of a panel conceptualizing values of biodiversity and nature’s benefits to people.

A final, though no less worthy, kudos to Rachel St. John, who recently attended the Spatial Optimization Workshop at Pack Forest, where she met industry professionals, learned about the state of the forest-planning industry, and was introduced to the leading software in forest planning. She had the chance to present and discuss her research with the group, and to get great feedback on its relevance and importance to actual forest planning.

We’d like to give a hearty thank you to everyone who attended and helped organize the 2014 Sustaining Our World Lecture last Thursday, April 10! Michael Green gave a fantastic talk and fielded a string of spirited questions, and we should have a video link ready to share in the next few days.

ATTENTION STUDENTS: The Washington State Trail Blazers have announced a $1,000 scholarship opportunity for a graduate or undergraduate student studying "Natural Resource Science or Management," which means just about all of you are eligible. Take a look at the criteria for this award, which is only offered every other year, and submit your application by Thursday, May 15.

IT NEWS: Marc Morrison passed along some great news that UW wireless access has been extended to most of the facilities at the Washington Park Arboretum. Don’t count on having a signal as you’re browsing the collections, but if you’re at the visitor center and other main facilities, you should be fully connected!

Also, it never hurts to get a little refresher on state ethics guidelines. Anytime you use state-owned equipment or services (phone, computer, internet), contract with outside vendors, join a board or group that does business with the state, accept more than $50 in gifts a year, do outside work during regular office hours, or on state equipment—the list goes on, and it probably behooves all of us to take a look and stay as up to date as possible.

PUBLICATIONS

Don’t forget to send in publications involving you or your students!

SEFS IN THE PRESS

After giving her talk out in Forks, Wash., as part of the Evening Talks at ONRC speaker series on Friday, April 4, SEFS doctoral student Meghan Halabisky made the front page of the Peninsula Daily News, “UW Talks Inform Forks-Area Folks.” Great outreach, Meghan!

ALUMNI UPDATES

Please join us this Sunday, April 27, for the annual SEFS Alumni Spring Gathering! Held at the Center for Urban Horticulture, this year’s event will be a potluck-style barbecue from 4-7 p.m., and all students, staff and faculty are warmly invited to spend a fun afternoon with alumni and friends. Check out the event details, and there’s still time to RSVP to help us plan for the right number of mouths to feed!