Phosphate, a key building block of life, found on Saturn’s moon Enceladus

An artist's rendition of Saturn's moon Enceladus

An international team including a University of Washington scientist has found that the water on one of Saturn’s moons harbors phosphates, a key building block of life. The team led by the Freie Universität Berlin used data from NASA’s Cassini space mission to detect evidence of phosphates in particles ejected from the ice-covered global ocean of Saturn’s moon Enceladus. Phosphorus, in the form of phosphates, is vital for all life on Earth. 

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Fish, Forests and Fungi podcast with Anne Polyakov

Alaskan stream against a backdrop of trees and mountains

Episodes 6 of our FieldSound Podcast looks at how fungi and salmon partner together in an intricate, ecological nutrient dance along Alaskan streams. Quantitative Ecology and Resource Management program student and PhD candidate Anne Polyakov hopes to use data collected along Alaskan salmon streams to understand better how nutrients flow into all parts of the system. Tune in as Anne shares her fascinating research and the important role of fungi in ecosystems. 

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Spring Celebration honors 2022-23 UW Environment award winners

2023 Spring Celebration

Join us for an afternoon of games, food and merriment as we celebrate our outstanding College community! All College faculty, staff, students, postdocs and their guests are invited to attend. UW College of the Environment Spring Celebration Thursday, May 25, 2023, 2:30 – 4 pm Fishery Sciences Building (FSH), 1122 NE Boat Street We also celebrate the College of the Environment award recipients at the 2023 Spring Celebration. 

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Out of the frying pan: Coyotes, bobcats move into human-inhabited areas to avoid apex predators — only to be killed by people

Bobcat in the snow

Since their protection under the Endangered Species Act, wolf populations have been making a comeback in the continental United States. Conservationists have argued that the presence of wolves and other apex predators, so named because they have no known predators aside from people, can help keep smaller predator species in check. New research shows that in Washington state, the presence of two apex predators — wolves and cougars — does indeed help keep populations of two smaller predators in check. 

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College of the Environment launches FieldSound Podcast

FieldSound Podcast logo.

We’re pleased to announce that FieldSound, the official UW College of the Environment podcast, will launch May 4, 2023! Through immersive, narrative storytelling, FieldSound explores the world of environmental science together with researchers at the University of Washington College of the Environment. Interviews and anecdotes connect listeners to the College’s global impact as guests share stories of their exciting, groundbreaking and influential discoveries. 

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