Sustainable aviation fuels: a pathway to economic opportunity and a low carbon future

poplar tree farm

Earlier this year, the United States officially re-entered the Paris Climate Agreement, an international accord that brings many nations together to address climate change. This reconciliation puts the U.S. on track to adopt cleaner energy policies in the pursuit of eventual carbon neutrality. This return also reinforces the importance of advancing environmental research to decrease our dependence on fossil fuels, which is critical to curbing carbon dioxide emissions. 

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Five UW Environment students awarded Washington Sea Grant fellowships

Alanna Greene, Katie Shelledy, Natalie Lowell, Corinne Noufi and Katie Byrnes headshots

Five graduate students from the College of the Environment have been awarded Washington Sea Grant (WSG) fellowships. Corinne Noufi, Natalie Lowell, Katie Byrnes and Katie Shelledy from the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs (SMEA), were awarded the WSG Hershman Fellowship and Alanna Greene, a recent graduate of SMEA was selected as a finalist for the Sea Grant John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship. 

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UW Climate Impacts Group and partner organizations launch the Northwest Climate Resilience Collaborative

Northwest Climate Resilience Collaborative announcement photo

The UW Climate Impacts Group, an EarthLab member organization, along with nine community, nonprofit and university partners, is launching a program of community-led, justice-oriented climate adaptation work across Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. The Northwest Climate Resilience Collaborative will be founded with a five-year, $5.6 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA). The program will be one of 11 across the country funded through NOAA’s Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments program. 

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The road to world competition for underwater robots

A group of 7 students in a swimming facility

A clear tube crammed full of electronics, protected by a purple cage studded with thrusters, traveled from Seattle to Tennessee to compete with underwater robots from all over the world in the MATE ROV World Championship Competition. This particular robot, named Nautilus, is the result of three years of work from the Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (UWROV) team at the University of Washington. 

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Back in person: how UW Environment instructors are preparing for autumn quarter

Students participate in a socially-distanced in-person lab.

After more than a year of remote learning, the imminent return of students and faculty has brought excitement and uncertainty to the University of Washington campus. We spoke with four UW instructors who are getting ready for an entirely in-person autumn quarter, once again preparing classrooms, lab spaces and offices for the a new school year.  Integrative Oceanography (OCEAN 210) is a core course for Oceanography and Marine Biology majors with about 100 students. 

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