Even though they’re the largest animals on earth, whales remain difficult to track. So experts often turn to historical whaling data to inform current research. A dataset maintained by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) contains detailed information on commercial whale catches — more than 2.1 million records, predominantly from 1880 until the IWC banned whaling in 1986. Yet for researchers, distilling that data can prove its own challenge.
Read more at UW News »UW Department of Atmospheric Sciences maintains No. 1 global ranking; more than two dozen UW subjects in top 50
Six University of Washington subjects ranked in the top 10, and atmospheric sciences maintained its position as No. 1 in the world on the Global Ranking of Academic Subjects list for 2023. The ranking, released at the end of October, was conducted by researchers at the ShanghaiRanking Consultancy, a fully independent organization dedicated to research on higher education intelligence and consultation.
Read more at UW News »North Atlantic’s marine productivity may not be declining, according to new study of older ice cores
A prominent 2019 study used ice cores in Antarctica to suggest that marine productivity in the North Atlantic had declined by 10% during the industrial era, with worrying implications that the trend might continue. But new research led by the University of Washington shows that marine phytoplankton — on which larger organisms throughout the marine ecosystem depend — may be more stable than believed in the North Atlantic.
Read more at UW News »SMEA students support Indigenous voices in video storytelling project
In 2023, a journey to build trust and affect positive change in our world led to a collection of transformative storytelling videos about the Salish Sea and Indigenous culture centered on student voices. A collaboration between the University of Washington’s School of Marine and Environmental Affairs (SMEA), Jackson School of International Studies (JSIS) and Chief Leschi Schools (CLS) led by professor of marine and environmental affairs Patrick Christie, professor of international studies Jonathan Warren and Binah McCloud, Director of Student Success and Culture at CLS, the project sought to simultaneously create leadership opportunities for students and cultivate a lasting partnership between the academic community and the largest of seven tribal schools in the state of Washington.
Read more »New York Climate Exchange, on which UW is a core partner, names first CEO
The New York Climate Exchange, a first-of-its-kind organization working to implement innovative climate solutions in New York City and across the globe, on Nov. 9 announced Stephen Hammer as its founding chief executive officer.
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