Conservation not an effective tool for reducing infectious disease in people, study finds

Zebras seen in Nairobi National Park in Kenya.

Conservation projects that protect forests and encourage plant and animal diversity can benefit humans. But improved human health is not among those benefits when health is measured through the lens of infectious disease. That’s the main finding of a paper published April 24 in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, which analyzed the relationship between infectious diseases and their environmental, demographic and economic drivers in dozens of countries over 20 years.

Arctic sea ice, non-native species and more

Every other week we share the latest peer-reviewed publications coming from the College of the Environment. Over the past two weeks, nine new articles co-authored by members of the College were added to the Web of Science database. They include articles about Arctic sea ice, non-native species, and more. Read on!

UW Environment scientists share their perspectives on the March for Science

Nicole Baker is a UW research scientist who has never marched before. She will participate in the March for Science on April 22.

On the eve of Seattle’s March for Science, faculty from around the UW’s College of the Environment are sharing their perspectives — as scientists and citizens of the world — on the event and whether they’ll participate. The demonstration is being referred to by national organizers as a “celebration of science” that aims to highlight the role science plays in our lives and the need to respect and encourage scientific research.

Retreating Yukon glacier caused a river to disappear

A close-up view of the ice-walled canyon at the terminus of the Kaskawulsh Glacier, with recently collapsed ice blocks. This canyon now carries almost all meltwater from the toe of the glacier down the Kaskawulsh Valley and toward the Gulf of Alaska.

Melting water from one of Canada's largest glaciers used to flow north. Last year, it reversed its course.

Models, observations not so far apart on planet’s response to greenhouse gas emissions

One of the most hotly debated numbers in climate science is how warm our planet will become given various green house gas levels. The degree to which warming will occur depends on the amount of emissions, which make these calculations crucial for global policy making to curb global warming. But a UW study shows that two leading methods for calculating how hot the planet will get are not as far apart as they have appeared.