Outdoors become the classroom at the Mount Rainier Institute

In partnership with Mount Rainier National Park, the UW has launched the Mount Rainier Institute at Pack Forest. The Institute successfully completed its first run of the program over the summer, immersing middle school students in multi-day activities focusing on science and STEM education. Using the national park and Pack Forest as its classroom, the Mount Rainier Institute aims to partner with schools to provide experiences that enhance curriculum, enrich science, and build community.

Meet Angela Feng, Environmental Studies undergraduate student

What might Program on the Environment student Angela Feng and the internationally known Seattle hip-hop star Macklemore have in common? Besides their love for good music, they both share a commitment to and passion for the environment. They are teaming up with others to raise awareness on the importance of respecting nature, and are working on a campaign for environmental protection in a south Seattle neighborhood.

Join expedition online: UW students help install cabled deep-sea observatory

Students at the College of the Environment got a taste of what doing oceanographic research is all about this summer, spending numerous days at sea aboard the UW’s giant research vessel, the Thomas G. Thompson. The project: installing an underwater, cabled ocean observatory that will give scientists a continuous presence in the Pacific waters off of Oregon and Washington.

Students craft forest stewardship plan in partnership with King County

The College of the Environment is full of opportunities for students to try their hand at solving real world problems that come with managing natural resources. This past spring, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences students partnered with King County to develop a forest stewardship plan for the newly acquired Black Diamond Natural Area. Taking into account the property’s multiple uses, students addressed the social, economic, and environmental issues that will serve the county’s needs for the long term.

UW program aims to diversify the conservation workforce

Doris Duke Conservation Scholars at UW are helping define how diverse groups shape conservation.

The Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program at UW wrapped up its inaugural year on August 14 in a symposium where students shared their experiences over the course of the summer. Focusing on the intersection of environment and society, the students spoke about the issues surrounding climate, water, biodiversity and food. Instead of learning about these topics solely in the classroom, a majority of their time was spent in the field around Washington state, including in our urban environments, along the coast, up in the mountains, and in the agricultural fields on the eastern side of the state.