Oct 1, 2018

High CO2 levels cause plants to thicken their leaves, which could worsen climate change effects, researchers say

Tropical forest canopy in Caxiuanã, Brazil.

New research finds that plants with thicker leaves may exacerbate climate change impacts because they would be less efficient in sequestering atmospheric carbon.

NSF awards contract to carry OOI into the next decade and beyond

The School of Oceanography's Deb Kelley in the control room at the UW.

The National Science Foundation announced that it has awarded a coalition of academic and oceanographic research organizations a five-year, $220 million contract to operate and maintain the Ocean Observatories Initiative. The coalition, led by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, with direction from the NSF and guidance from the OOI Facilities Board, will include the University of Washington, Oregon State University and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

Climate change projected to boost insect activity and crop loss, researchers say

field of corn with setting sun in background

Just a 2-degree Celsius rise in surface temperatures will push the total losses of rice, corn and wheat to approximately 213 million tons each year.

Harold Tobin named director of Pacific Northwest Seismic Network

Harold Tobin, the new director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network and professor in Earth and Space Sciences

The College of the Environment is pleased to announce that Harold Tobin has been named director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network and professor within the Department of Earth and Space Sciences. Tobin will start his new position at the University of Washington on September 1, 2018. Tobin’s research involves interdisciplinary and integrative studies of subduction zone processes, with a focus on fault mechanics and seismic structure.

Student’s augmented reality game takes players to UW campus under altered climate scenarios

University of Washington's Suzzallo Library

University of Washington Bothell’s Andrew McDonald, a student in the interactive media design program, has long been passionate about video game design. Then he heard about EarthGames, a group of researchers, game developers and students based at UW who create games to inspire climate action and accountability. “I had done some work with augmented reality before, but had never worked with it to EarthGames’ scale,” McDonald said.