May 1, 2019

Chemical records in teeth confirm elusive Alaska lake seals are one of a kind

Five seals rest on the frozen surface of Iliamna Lake in Alaska.

Hundreds of harbor seals live in Iliamna Lake, the largest body of freshwater in Alaska and one of the most productive systems for sockeye salmon in the Bristol Bay region. These lake seals are a robust yet highly unusual and cryptic posse. Although how the seals first colonized the lake remains a mystery, it is thought that sometime in the distant past, a handful of harbor seals likely migrated from the ocean more than 50 miles (80 kilometers) upriver to the lake, where they eventually grew to a consistent group of about 400.

Explore and dive to the depths of Puget Sound May 4 with UW’s aquatic science open house

One of the exhibits at last year’s open house.

Families, students and children are invited to get their hands wet on Saturday with “Our Watery World,” the University of Washington’s second-annual aquatic science open house. This free and family-friendly afternoon of hands-on learning will feature tours of a research boat, a Puget Sound invertebrate tank and more May 4 from 1 to 4 p.m. in fishery sciences and oceanography buildings on campus.

Aquatic and Fishery Sciences’ José Guzmán receives 2019 Distinguished Teaching Award

Congratulations to UW Environment’s José M. Guzmán. The instructor at UW’s School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences was recently selected to receive the 2019 Distinguished Teaching Award. He will be honored at the UW’s Awards of Excellence ceremony in June. Distinguished Teaching Award recipients are chosen based on a variety of criteria, including mastery of the subject matter, enthusiasm and innovation in teaching and learning process, ability to engage students both within and outside the classroom, ability to inspire independent and original thinking in students and to stimulate students to do creative work, and innovations in course and curriculum design.

May 7: Join us at this year's Spring Celebration to honor 2018-19 UW Environment award winners

2019 College of the Environment Spring Celebration

Join the UW College of the Environment to recognize the recipients of the College Awards, have some fun in the sun and celebrate the academic year gone by. All College faculty, staff, students and their guests are welcome.

UW receives King County Catalyst Award for contributions to climate research

Dean Graumlich, the team from UW and King County Executive Dow Constantine (from left: Sally Jewell, Kristie Ebi, Sally Clark, Jeremy Hess, Dennis Hartmann, Lisa Graumlich, LuAnne Thompson, Heidi Roop, Dow Constantine)

King County Executive Dow Constantine will present University of Washington with the King County Environmental Catalyst Award, in recognition of efforts across the University to understand climate change, its impacts and the best responses to it. The Environmental Catalyst award is the highest honor bestowed at the county’s Green Globe Awards, held every two years to recognize organizations in King County working to protect the local environment.