264 news posts related to College of the Environment

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WhaleVis turns more than a century of whaling data into an interactive map

WhaleVis world map showing data on global whale catches and whaling routes.

Even though they’re the largest animals on earth, whales remain difficult to track. So experts often turn to historical whaling data to inform current research. A dataset maintained by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) contains detailed information on commercial whale catches — more than 2.1 million records, predominantly from 1880 until the IWC banned whaling in 1986. Yet for researchers, distilling that data can prove its own challenge. 

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Watch the 2023 Doug Walker Lecture: Future-forward solutions for nature, health and the urban environment

A new bridge crosses over Arboretum Creek as part of the new trail.

Weaving nature more deliberately into the fabric of our urban communities can improve our quality of life. From urban parks to sustainable infrastructure, integrating nature into our cities makes us healthier, happier, smarter and safer. On Oct. 25, the College of the Environment’s 2023 Doug Walker Lecture at Town Hall Seattle explored these topics and more with UW alum Heather Tallis, an environmental scientist and professor. 

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ShakeAlert offers latest earthquake science as region practices Great ShakeOut safety drill Oct. 19

several people handle equipment as they set up a seismometer.

As people and organizations across the globe practice earthquake drills Oct. 19 on International ShakeOut Day, closer to home in the Pacific Northwest, communities are bolstered by a state-of-the-art earthquake early warning system — and a research center that maintains the second-largest seismic network in the U.S. The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, housed within the UW College of the Environment, collects data from more than 700 seismic stations across Washington and Oregon, plus data from partner organizations in British Columbia and bordering states. 

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