Oxygen first accumulated in the Earth’s atmosphere about 2.4 billion years ago, during the Great Oxidation Event. A long-standing puzzle has been that geologic clues suggest early bacteria were photosynthesizing and pumping out oxygen hundreds of millions of years before then. Where was it all going? Something was holding back oxygen’s rise. A new interpretation of rocks billions of years old finds volcanic gases are the likely culprits.
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How can we make a virtual graduation feel just as special, just as celebratory and honor achievement just as well as an in-person celebration on campus? Units within the College of the Environment are working hard to carefully plan ceremonies to honor the Class of 2020 in a memorable way that emulates the pomp and circumstance graduates enjoy when they walk across the big stage while being cheered on by family, friends and loved ones.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has touched every part of our global society, putting science and scientists in the front seat as we navigate this crisis. On June 4, College of the Environment Dean Lisa Graumlich spoke with special guests Liz Neeley, Executive Director of the Story Collider, and Ed Yong, staff writer covering science and the coronavirus for The Atlantic for a special edition of Amplify.
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Over the next few weeks, undergraduate and graduate students, their families, friends and colleagues will gather virtually for commencement to celebrate the class of 2020. In appreciation of our graduating students’ contributions to the UW community, the College of the Environment will join UW Recycling and the Campus Sustainability Fund by making a gift to Precious Plastics, a project to support efforts to mitigate plastic waste on campus.
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Dear College of the Environment Community, Like many of you, I am struggling to comprehend and respond to the racially charged events of the past weeks. The brutal and needless deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery have sparked outrage and trauma in cities across America. These deaths highlight the patterns of violence and suffering that Black people have been and continue to be subjected to on a regular basis while shining a spotlight on persistent structural inequalities.
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