Mar 29, 2023

Cherry blossoms get new visitors’ website, are on track for early April peak bloom

A cherry blossom in the UW Quad pictured on March 21, 2023.

[March 29 update: The UW Quad cherry trees are at 50% bloom, and are on track to reach peak bloom this weekend.] The cherry blossoms at the University of Washington campus are a seasonal tradition and celebration for the entire region. This year’s colder-than-usual spring is demanding a little more patience. Mark your calendars and plan your visit for a peak bloom expected in early April.

S1 E1: Ocean Acoustics with Shima Abadi and Rachel Aronson

Shima Abadi is Director of the Ocean Data Lab and an associate professor at the UW School of Oceanography. She also holds a joint appointment as an associate professor in the Mechanical Engineering Program at UW Bothell’s School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM). Abadi’s intricate research primarily focuses on ocean acoustical signal processing, noise propagation in the ocean, machine learning in analyzing ocean ambient noise, and developing algorithms for analyzing large data sets collected by underwater networks.

Washington Sea Grant receives $1.59 million to boost Puget Sound habitat

Two projects led by Washington Sea Grant (WSG) will receive a total of $1.59 million through the Puget Sound National Estuary Program’s Habitat Strategic Initiative, a partnership between Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Washington Department of Natural Resources. The WSG-led projects will focus on sea level rise vulnerability and on managing invasive European green crab, which will receive $798,785 and $794,789 in funding respectively.

UW joins White House to host forum on climate change solutions on campuses and in surrounding communities

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the University of Washington are bringing together climate, sustainability and resilience leaders, and educators representing a cross section of colleges and universities from around the country, with federal agency leaders for a virtual forum on climate change. The White House Forum on Campus and Community-Scale Climate Change Solutions, co-hosted by the UW, will take place Wednesday, March 8, 2023 from 10 a.m.

Volunteers help UW scientists understand the story behind the dead birds that wash ashore

Volunteers examine a dead seabird on the beach.

Thanks to the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team of community volunteers, UW scientists can better understand the health of fragile marine ecosystems, predict the impact of a changing climate or of potential oil spills, and see the devastation of harmful algae blooms. More than a decade ago, Jeanne Finke’s friends invited her to join them for a walk on a stretch of beach known as South Pacific.