In 2013, the United Nations designated December 5 as World Soil Day. The date coincides with the birthday of the late King Rama IX of Thailand, a leading global advocate for the promotion of healthy soils and sustainable soil management. This World Soil Day, we’re digging into the history of soil science and looking ahead to see what the future holds for the oft-overlooked hero of our terrestrial ecosystem.
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In the fall of 2014, Nick Bond—research scientist at JISAO and Washington State’s Climatologist—dubbed a patch of unusually warm water off the North American coast ‘The Blob’. The warmer temperatures went on to wreak havoc in marine environments over the following year. Now, another slug of warm water has appeared, this time stretching all the way to Hawaii. We sat down with Bond to talk about this new Blob—which is an anomaly in the ocean more commonly referred to as a marine heat wave—and what we might expect.
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Tim Essington is a professor of aquatic and fishery sciences, and over the years has become an avid supporter of building SciComm skills through improv. His dedication has not only helped him deliver a wickedly funny comedy show, but has also sharpened his approach to science, his teaching and how he talks about his work. First of all, what is improv and why is it interesting to you?
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As the academic year is about to get underway, we sat down with recent School of Marine and Environmental Affairs graduate Katie Keil to see what advice she might have for incoming University of Washington graduate students. What advice would you have for incoming UW graduate students? First and foremost, my advice would be to say “yes” to new experiences because here at UW, there are so many interesting, life-changing opportunities that are available to you.
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Fresh air, lush foliage, open space and sunshine. Time spent outdoors isn’t just good for the soul—research at University of Washington EarthLab is showing it’s also good for the mind and body. Even in the Pacific Northwest, where the weather is often, let’s say, less than optimal, getting out into nature brings with it a host of health benefits. And there are plenty of options in the Seattle area, even in the heart of the city.
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