Dean’s Letter: Education that’s experiential—at the College of the Environment’s core

Experiential education is more than a trendy buzz word for us in the College of the Environment. When students learn through direct experience they gain not only knowledge and skills, but also a deeper understanding of how to apply those skills in a real world context. The fact that we strive to provide students with a broad range of experiential opportunities—on campus, in the field, and in various professional settings—is part of what makes us special. It’s part of the College’s signature.

Mar 30, 2016

Dean’s Letter: Curiosity-driven research—the foundation of all that we do

“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” —Albert Einstein Curiosity-driven research is scholarship in which real world applications are not immediately apparent. Such fundamental research can be seen as a luxury in a time where the College is called on to address a panoply of environmental challenges. Far worse is the fact that fundamental research in the geosciences is under fire in Washington, D.C.

Dec 8, 2015

Dean’s Letter: It’s time to imagine plausible and desirable futures

We are squarely in the age of the Anthropocene, the first time in the history of our planet where humans are driving major environmental changes. Researchers in our College are at the leading edge of uncovering the fundamental changes occurring in the Earth system with implications at local to global scales. This research, the science of the Anthropocene, is both exceedingly exciting and profoundly important work.

Oct 6, 2015

Dean's Letter: Inclusion Inspires Innovation

It is well established that innovations arise when different perspectives are brought to bear on seemingly intractable problems. Simply Google innovation, diversity, and inclusion. You will find research supporting this claim in the Harvard Business Review, calls to action in Forbes, and the sound bite from Apple that I took for the title of this Dean’s Letter. In environmental sciences and resource management, inclusion doesn’t just inspire innovation—it changes everything.

Jun 11, 2015

Dean's Letter: Diversity, Inclusion, Access

Interim President Ana Mari Cauce brought renewed focus to diversity, inclusion, and access at UW through her widely publicized address to the campus. In wake of her talk, many have asked me to define the College’s vision for diversity and I have a ready answer. I cite the need, especially in a college devoted to environmental sciences, to have “all hands on deck” – ensuring that access to our critically important research and education is never deterred by gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, or disability.