Special invitation to a workshop on centering Environmental Justice & Climate Justice in learning! Check out the details below and explore the registration link to sign up for this interactive workshop, offered both in Seattle and Yakima.
At Community Education In Action, a two-day workshop, we’ll dive deep into the heart of collaboration, bringing together community members, youth, and educators to embark on a journey of co-creation. Unleash your creativity as we craft together inspiring learning resources to address climate change through the lens of environmental and climate justice!
Discover the essence of a Just Transition and explore inspiring community-led projects as we learn to create how we can foster this type of transition in our own communities.
Let’s sow the seeds of change together as we share our stories, passions, and expertise to co-create resources that resonate from local communities to the global stage!
***K-12 teachers who complete the workshop will receive 10 clock hours (6 regular. 4 STEM).
We will have food, prizes, and interpretation of English-Spanish during the event.
Don’t miss out on this transformative experience! Join us either in Seattle or Yakima and be part of the movement to spark awareness and inspire action against climate and environmental injustices!
Dates and locations:
Yakima, WA: April 27-28 at the Yakima Valley College Conference Center
Seattle, WA: May 4-5 at the Central Seattle Public Library (Downtown)
SEATTLE (March 20, 2024) — Washington’s farmers are on the front lines of climate change. Whether they are growing vegetables on farmland or raising shellfish on tidelands, farmers’ productivity and prosperity depends on a healthy environment. To help combat climate change while strengthening the regional food system, the University of Washington and partners are launching a new project to link up farms across the region, connecting sea to soil for climate resilience.
Each year, shellfish farmers in Puget Sound remove nuisance seaweed, which fouls their beds and gear. Photo: Sarah Collier.
As seaweed and kelp grow in marine waters, they protect coastal ecosystems by limiting the harmful effects of ocean acidification, which makes it hard for shellfish to form their shells. The marine algae perform this service as they grow by absorbing excess carbon dioxide that contributes to ocean acidification, as well as sponging up nutrient pollution. However, the benefits are only temporary if seaweed and kelp are left to decompose in the marine environment.
Each year, shellfish farmers in Puget Sound remove nuisance seaweed, which thrives in nutrient-rich waters and fouls their beds and gear. The seaweed is typically left to decompose in the tidelands, returning its captured carbon and nutrients to nearshore waters.
“There is a better solution here that is not yet being realized,” noted Meg Chadsey of Washington Sea Grant, a partner in the new project.
As an alternative, harvesting seaweed from aquatic systems and applying it to agricultural soils is a strategy that could both lessen ocean acidification and improve soil quality on farms. Adding seaweed to farmland has the potential to replenish soil carbon, which is often depleted due to management practices such as tillage. Such a novel sea-to-soil channel for carbon sequestration could aid in mitigating climate change. The solution also carries the added benefit of improving overall soil quality, enhancing water and nutrient dynamics and building resilience to the impacts of climate change.
Harvesting seaweed from aquatic systems and applying it to agricultural soils could both lessen ocean acidification and improve soil quality on farms. Photo: Washington State Department of Agriculture.
“This is really a win-win,” said Project Director Sarah Collier, assistant professor in the UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences and the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health program. “It creates a potential revenue stream out of what is currently a problem for shellfish growers, offers an exciting new natural soil amendment for specialty crop growers, and showcases a regional innovation that can help combat climate change.”
However, the knowledge base and community of practice to support this novel sea-to-soil solution does not yet exist. That’s why the Blue Carbon, Green Fields project is bringing together a team of interdisciplinary researchers and practitioners from around Puget Sound to tackle the challenges.
Together, the team will provide shellfish and specialty crop growers with comprehensive technical assistance, perform rigorous environmental and economic analyses to capture the benefits of this practice, and establish a long-term framework to verify results.
Ultimately, the project aims to pave the way for future adoption of this practice across the Puget Sound region.
“What I especially like about this project is how it creates a regionally tailored pathway to building food system resilience,” said Michael Frazier, executive director of Viva Farms. “We are lucky to live in a place known for both specialty crops and shellfish, and yet there is potential to further the connection between land and sea growers who share values and a commitment to a healthy planet.”
The first order of business for the five-year project is to refine the logistics of seaweed harvest and application, and then to get a research network up and running. As the effort matures, the project team will be inviting both shellfish and specialty crop growers to join the network and pilot this new practice.
“This is welcome news for our region’s growers,” said Jodie Toft, deputy director of Puget Sound Restoration Fund. “With the diverse communities and types of expertise we are bringing together, we have an opportunity to create a scalable model of collective stewardship that will see benefits well beyond the scope of the project itself.”
The UW Youth Protection office is hosting a Youth Programs summer job fair next week! Below is the flyer for this event with an updated QR code that goes to their webpage with more information. The webpage has our list of vendors that will be in attendance, links to position descriptions, and how many positions are looking to be filled. The job fair will take place at the HUB “main street” on April 3rd from 12:30-2:30.
Below is a list of vendors which can also be found on the informational webpage:
Boys & Girls Clubs of King County
Foundation for International Understanding through Students
Trans Day of Visibility (TDOV) is March 31st every year. The College of the Environment is excited to announce an event tailored specifically to our College community on Tuesday, April 2nd, at 5pm in the Forest Club Room in Anderson Hall. In order to foster understanding, dialogue, and solidarity, we are organizing a panel discussion featuring transgender and non-binary speakers from across the CoEnv. We believe that sharing experiences, insights, and expertise will not only enhance our understanding of transgender issues but also strengthen our commitment to inclusivity and allyship. Following the panel discussion, we will have a social period for attendees to connect, reflect, and further engage with one another. We anticipate the panel and social to be relevant for both trans folks and allies. This event is open to all!
If you have questions, you can email Michael Martinez (they/them) at mcfm@uw.edu or Miro Stuke (they/them) at stuke@uw.edu.
A note about accessibility: The Forest Club Room is on the second floor of Anderson Hall, which does not have an elevator. We are deeply sorry if this is a barrier to your attendance, and we will plan future events far enough in advance to book accessible rooms on campus.
🍄 Are you a BIPOC member of the environmental studies major or minor looking to build community and advocate for an equitable program? Check out SPORES, a new group for BIPOC students to share experiences and connect with fellow peers & faculty.
🌱 Join the GroupMe to learn more (link in bio) and stop by the first meeting on Friday, 4/5 in ACC 120.
Wondering what courses you can take this summer to count towards one of 8 required Integrating Disciplines categories? Check out this helpful handout for a list of ENVIR courses and courses taught outside the major that can count for credits in each area.
Want to gain field experience while helping to answer important questions for Dungeness crab management?
The Pacific Northwest Crab Research Group (PCRG) is a diverse group of researchers including state and tribal co-managers, federal agencies, academics, and non-profit organizations. Formed in 2018, the PCRG seeks to address multiple critical data gaps to promote and support the sustainable management and harvest of Dungeness crab (https://www.pnwcrab.com).
A top research priority of the group is to monitor abundance of larval crab (zoeae and megalopae) in Puget Sound waters using light traps. A light trap is a water bottle with funnels on the side, a buoyant lid, and a light in the center that turns on at sunset and off at sunrise. Larval crab exhibit positive phototaxis, meaning they are attracted to light. We can take advantage of this behavior with these traps, which are especially effective at capturing megalopae, the final larval stage of these crab. By counting and measuring megalopae captured in the trap, we can evaluate recruitment of Dungeness crab. Additionally, we monitor local beaches to evaluate potential bottlenecks as these larval forms transition to the juvenile stage.
Objectives
Regularly monitor a light trap at a station in Shilshole Bay marina
Count larval crabs and other organisms
Measure the size of the megalope
Observe patterns in light trap catch relative to ocean and atmospheric conditions
Participate in bimonthly beach surveys of juvenile crab at Golden Gardens
Methods
The trap is checked every other day throughout spring and summer (April 15th – September 1st). Student(s) will need to identify a schedule to share the responsibility, which is typically a 1-2 hour time commitment during each sampling event. We’re looking for 4-5 students who could work together to sample throughout the week. Students must commit to sampling on average 3 times a week throughout the season.
Additional beach monitoring may occur 1-2 times a month. During each sampling event, ten quadrats are randomly selected. Using a trowel, the contents of each quadrat are excavated and sieved to remove all organisms. Crabs are sorted, identified, and counted before release. Dungeness crab are measured.
Benefits of Participation:
– Experience in field methods and best practices
– Experience in biological data collection and data management
– Experience in species identification
– Development of professional networks that span tribal, state, federal, and non-profit organizations operating in Puget Sound
– Independent study or capstone projects available
Required Qualifications:
– Positive attitude
– Willingness to learn new skills
– Willingness to work in sometimes adverse weather
– Detail-oriented and self-starter
– Reliable with good time-management
– Able to work independently and within teams
– Can commit to sampling 3 times a week (on average) throughout the season (April-September)
Desired Qualifications
– Some coursework in Marine Biology, ecology, and/or oceanography
– Coursework in data collection
– Previous lab or field experience
To Apply
– Send Resume, Cover letter, and unofficial transcript by March 20th to P. Sean McDonald, Associate Teaching Professor, UW Program on the Environment at <psean@uw.edu>. In your cover letter please indicate your preference for volunteering versus earning academic credit (independent study or capstone).
Have you ever been interested in environmental monitoring and design, or want to learn more about the intersection of sustainable building sciences and environmental compliance? Check out this internship with Flatiron and gain skills in environmental impact assessments, report writing, field work, and more. Applicants must be students who are currently enrolled in environmental sciences or similar programs.
College of the Environment undergraduate student scholarships for the 2024-2025 school year are now OPEN! Application can be found here. Applications are due April 21st, 2024 at 11:59PM. Only one application is needed to be considered for all possible scholarships.
Generaleligibility: All scholarships are both need- and merit-based. Students who wish to be considered must complete the FAFSA or WAFSA form AND demonstrate need based on the University of Washington Office of Student Financial Aid’s assessment of this form. Incoming graduate students will be recommended for applicable scholarships by their academic unit. No individual graduate student applications will be accepted. Current undergraduates may apply for College of the Environment Scholarships annually.
Award amounts: Award amounts for all scholarships will vary depending upon financial need and source of funds, but most awards are between $1,000-$5,000. Awards are distributed over the course of the Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters the following academic year.
Check out this awesome article by King 5 showcasing the growing trend of students interested in the environmental sciences! Features interviews with folks from our very own College of the Environment here at UW.
