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Have you ever noticed the green space along the 45th street and the Burke-Gilman trail? Have you ever been inside this forest?

Kincaid Ravine is a 2.2 acre urban forest located in the northeast corner of campus. Currently, it is dominated by invasive species and deciduous trees that are coming to the end of their natural lifespan. It is a declining forest that is gradually losing the ability to perform important ecological functions.

However, it is going to change! A restoration project is currently happening on the site and we need your help to restore the place to a beautiful and healthy campus forest.

Please join us for the following upcoming work parties this winter quarter! Tools, gloves, and refreshments will be provided at each event:

Saturday, Feb.15th: the VERY FIRST volunteer event in the Kincaid Ravine this quarter! Please join us and SER-UW to start this exciting restoration project. We are going to remove tons of invasive plants! 10 am-2:00 pm

Saturday, Feb.22nd: EarthCorps work party from 10 am-2:00 pm. Our main task is invasive removal. Please sign up through the link provided below.

Saturday, Mar.1st: EarthCorps work party from 10 am-2:00 pm. We are going to do lots of planting and mulching! Sign up and join us!

Thursday, Mar.6th: EarthCorps work party 10 am-2:00 pm. If you need some fresh air and get outside your classroom, come to the site! We will be removing invasive plants. Sign up and come!

Saturday, Mar.15th: EarthCorps work party from 10 am-2:00 pm. Forget about your finals for a moment and help us restore our campus forest! This will be the last work party in winter quarter. We are going to do a lot of planting and mulching. Tools, gloves, and refreshments provided. Sign up and join us!

Sign-up link for EarthCorps work parties: http://www.earthcorps.org/volunteer.php

Please contact me (Yiyan, volunteer coordinator, geyiyan@uw.edu) or Martha (project manager, moritzms@uw.edu) if you have any questions.

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Are you an undergrad student who wants to participate in a 6-week research opportunity in Alaska this summer? Would you rather take some of your coursework when it is integrated with research and practical experience in the field? Do you want to get graduation requirements waived for going? You can also begin work on your capstone project! Attend this upcoming information session to hear from instructors and past students!

Information Meeting

Monday, February 3rd, 4:30-5:30, FISH 203

If you are unable to attend the information session please contact Mike Tillotson (mdt3@uw.edu) with any questions and for a copy of the application. Applications will be due Friday, February 7th at 5:00pm. 

Summer Internship Opportunity

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Soundwatch is a successful and internationally acclaimed education and monitoring program working to reduce vessel disturbance to orcas and other marine wildlife in the Salish Sea region of Washington State (USA) and British Columbia (Canada). Soundwatch needs interns to help conduct seasonal vessel patrols, educating boaters on regional guidelines and regulations and collecting data while monitoring vessel activities around whales. Data from this critical program characterizes vessel activity trends around endangered orcas and other marine wildlife. Data are used to promote better boater compliance and to inform marine mammal management strategies such as state and federal vessel laws and guidelines.

Internship based in Friday Harbor, WA, approximately 35-40 hours per week, May-September, variety of tasks both in the field on the boat and in an office setting. Typical week consists of 3-4 days on the boat and 1 day in the office.

Internship is unpaid. Shared housing at reasonable cost is likely available.

Requirements:

Applicant requirements: at least 18 years of age, physically fit (able to lift 40 lbs), able to swim, not easily susceptible to seasickness, and familiar with database spreadsheets. Be prepared to spend substantial time aboard small (20 ft.) vessels in unpredictable weather and sea conditions. Preference will be given to undergraduates or recent graduates in the marine or wildlife sciences. Interns will need a valid passport or US enhanced driver’s license, transportation and CPR/First Aid certification. A state boater license/or equivalent safe boating card, not required, but is encouraged. Interns are required to commit to at least two months, but preferably to the full study period, May-September, plus some training time.  

How To Apply: 

Please send a letter of interest, a resume, and contact information for three references. Be sure to include what dates you can start/end.

Applications accepted until February 23, 2014.

Decisions will be made by March 14, 2014.

Please send application materials to:

Eric Eisenhardt

Research Curator/Soundwatch Coordinator

P.O. Box 945

Friday Harbor, Washington 98250

Or email (preferred) to: soundwatch@whalemuseum.org

 Please visit The Whale Museum’s Web site for more information on Soundwatch: http://www.whalemuseum.org/programs/soundwatch/soundwatch.html

The Washington Environmental Council Dig In!

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When: Thursday, February 6th

Time: 6:30 to 8 pm 

Where: WEC/WCV Office, 1402 3rd Ave, Suite 1400

What: Hear what we’re planning for the year, get trained on important skills and find out ways you can volunteer with our campaigns.

This quarter, you will be hearing about the Cycle of Accountability by Lisa Remlinger. Lisa is the Outreach Director for the Environmental Priorities Coalition – a group of 24 environmental groups that work together to pass key bills during legislative session.

 

Hope to see you there!

This Spring Quarter: ENV H 490/590

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The course will address the impacts of environmental change on human health. It will use a multidisciplinary approach to address the interplay between environmental change (including but not limited to climate change) and emerging infectious diseases. By focusing on the interactions between the two phenomena, the class will help tie together previous and subsequent coursework on environmental change and emerging infectious diseases.

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Wildlands Studies Student Info Session,

TUESDAY,JANUARY 28th: 5:00 PM – ANDERSON 22

Wildlands Studies field projects provide students with the opportunity to join backcountry study teams as working field associates, studying environmental impact assessment, environmental policy, geologic, climatic and topographic factors that support various habitats, and the relationships between environments and culture.  Most participants are undergraduates who join us on site from all over North America and Canada.  Each program grants 4-12 units of upper division quarter credit that easily transfers to University of Washington.  Project teams consist of 8-16 participants working with a course instructor who provides onsite instruction and directs all field study activities. 

 This season students can choose among sixteen wildlife, wildland and cultural ecology field studies searching for solutions to environmental and cultural challenges.  Field studies take place in:  Yellowstone, Big Sur (California), Banff (Canada), Wrangell Mountains in Alaska, Belize, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Thailand, Nepal, Indian Himalaya, Costa Rica, Panama, Australia, and New Zealand. 

Information on all of our programs is available on our website:

www.wildlandsstudies.com. 

Our email address:

wildlands@wildlandsstudies.com. 

Please join us at the Student Information Session for PIZZA to learn how to participate.

Interested in Teaching? Love Environmental Studies?

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POSITION DETAILS:

Program on the Environment seeks two enthusiastic undergraduate students to work as peer TAs in Environmental Studies 100: Interdisciplinary Foundations. This is an exceptional opportunity!  Peer TAs are mentored by faculty, lead their own discussion section, get great teaching experience, and earn credit towards their degree. This opportunity is especially valuable for students interested in environmental education or applying to graduate school.

The total time commitment is approximately 15 hours per week. As a Peer TA, you are responsible for attending the lecture for ENVIR 100 (3 hours per week), attending a weekly instructor meeting (approximately 1 hour per week), and leading one discussion section (2 hours per week). Additional tasks include: preparing for your discussion section, evaluating student work and providing extra help when needed.

Peer TAs will earn academic credit (5 credits of ENVIR 489, ungraded). 

  • Course Instructors:  Kristi Straus (PoE) and Yen-Chu Weng (PoE)
  • Lecture Schedule:MWF 9:30-10:20
  • Discussion Sections: T or TH, various times

APPLICATION LOGISTICS:

To apply, please submit the following:

  1. Resume
  2. Unofficial copy of your UW transcript (transfer transcripts not necessary)
  3. Brief statement of intent answering the following questions (no longer than 2 pages):
    1. Why are you interested in being a peer TA for ENVIR 100?
    2. What unique abilities or experiences would you bring to this position?
    3. How does your knowledge of or experience with teaching or environmental studies qualify you to be a peer T.A.?

Electronic materials may be submitted via e-mail to jkob@uw.edu.

Positions are open until filled. All applications submitted by Tuesday, February 11th  at 5:00 PM will receive full consideration.

*Priority will be given to students who meet the following requirements:

  1. Completion or current registration in either BIOL 492: Teaching of Biology or Environmental Pedagogy (an ENVIR 495)
  2. Completion of ENVIR 100 with a minimum grade of 3.0
  3. Environmental Studies (Program on the Environment) majors or minors
  4. At least Junior level standing

**Credits earned for being a peer TA can be applied to one of the following requirements for the major in Environmental Studies:

  • Policy and Decision-making perspectives
  • Departmental Honors requirement of ENVIR 497/498 (substitutes for both requirements)

You’re Invited!

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Climate-Migration, Local Conditions and Law: Food Security, Land Tenure and Gender 

The University of Washington School of Law and the Washington Journal of Environmental Law and Policy (WJELP) will be hosting a symposium regarding climate change and its migration affects and concerns. 

Friday, February 7 from 8:30a.m. – 5:00p.m.

and

Saturday, February 8 from 9:00a.m. to 12:00p.m. 

Topics range from agriculture and food security internationally to public international law to current government and research based action.

Speakers include national and international interdisciplinary scholars, judges, government practitioners and advocates.