Marine ecologist Phil Levin will be the first to say his new job move is a little unusual. A former senior scientist at NOAA Fisheries, Levin recently began a joint role at the University of Washington and The Nature Conservancy. He is one of only two “professors of practice” at the UW and will also tackle a new lead science role at the Conservancy.

For Levin, who for 17 years was a marine fish guy at NOAA, rubbing shoulders with forestry professors and students — and participating in large-scale environmental initiatives far from the sea — these are perhaps surprising next steps, but they so perfectly align with Levin’s vision for the future of conservation.

UW Today sat down with Levin to find out why he took this job and what he hopes to accomplish.