New leadership for UW Botanic Gardens announced

Christina Owen and Josh Lawler.

The School of Environmental and Forest Sciences (SEFS) is proud to announce the appointment of two new leaders for the research, education and outreach programs of the University of Washington Botanic Gardens (UWBG). The UWBG includes the programs and facilities of the Center for Urban Horticulture and the Washington Park Arboretum, the latter of which is in partnership with City of Seattle Parks and Recreation and the Arboretum Foundation. 

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Two UW Environment researchers elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences for 2021

Two scientists at the College of the Environment are among the 38 new members elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences for 2021, according to a July 15 announcement. New members were chosen for “their outstanding record of scientific and technical achievement, and their willingness to work on behalf of the Academy to bring the best available science to bear on issues within the state of Washington.” 

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Microtrash is a macro-problem

perspn picking up trash on beach

The sun is shining and the wind is keeping you cool as you relax on Lake Washington — ahhh, summer is finally here! The sand moves through your toes as you soak up the warm weather when that all too familiar experience jars you out of your summer lullaby… a cigarette butt, stuck in your toes where the sand should be cascading through. 

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Re-thinking conservation: student leaders are changing the face, practice and future of environmental stewardship

DDCSP scholars

The word “conservation” is a common one, and conjures up visions of protected land- and sea-scapes, species being walked back from the brink of extinction and using sustainable approaches to manage precious natural resources. It makes sense that these kinds of images come to mind; they fit the mold of conservation as many of us know it. But what if we thought about conservation in a broader and more inclusive way, acknowledging that humans and ecosystems are inextricably linked? 

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Last ice-covered parts of summertime Arctic Ocean vulnerable to climate change

Sea ice on the Wandel Sea north of Greenland was taken Aug. 16, 2020, from the German icebreaker Polarstern, which passed through the area as part of the year-long MOSAiC Expedition.

In a rapidly changing Arctic, one area might serve as a refuge — a place that could continue to harbor ice-dependent species when conditions in nearby areas become inhospitable. This region north of Greenland and the islands of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago has been termed the Last Ice Area. But research led by the University of Washington suggests that parts of this area are already showing a decline in summer sea ice. 

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