Congratulations to the School of Oceanography’s Rick Keil! Starting July 16, 2016, the professor of oceanography will also serve as the director of the Program on the Environment, one of the UW College of the Environment’s seven academic units. The appointment is for three years.
“I have long been a fan of the Program on the Environment’s aspirations and focus, and have watched the program develop and grow over almost two decades,” Keil said. ”I’m excited to be the newest director of this robust and important component of our university community.”
Program on the Environment, also known as Environmental Studies, crosses conventional boundaries, asking students to dig deep for innovative approaches to Earth’s biggest challenges. The program’s interdisciplinary curriculum draws on faculty expertise from across UW, and enables students to learn about environmental issues from various perspectives. The program offers undergraduate degrees in environmental studies and masters certificate in environmental management.
“Now, more than ever, the world needs well-educated people making a positive difference at the interface of the arts, sciences, and humanities. I think the Program on the Environment plays an important role in shaping this part of the university’s mission, and I’m looking forward to collaborating broadly across campus to bring the humanities and natural sciences closer together,” Keil said.
Keil is an oceanographer who applies organic geochemistry to some of the most pressing environmental issues of our time, climate change in particular. In addition, he coordinates various field experiences and citizen science projects like Ocean Intern and started Sound Citizen with the Washington Sea Grant.
Prior to Keil’s appointment as the new director, Professor Clare Ryan was at the helm of the program while also holding appointments in the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, and School of Law.
