Past Capstone Projects
Student Capstone projects address pressing environmental issues. Most fall within the following topic areas. Because of the interconnected nature of Environmental Studies as a discipline, many projects address more than one topic area.
Browse the lists below for sample Capstone project summaries to give you an idea of the projects students work on as part of the Environmental Studies Capstone
If you’re interested in hosting a Capstone internship apply here.
If you are seeking more examples of Capstones in a particular category, email Sean McDonald, the Capstone instructor.
Climate Change
Project Title |
Capstone Organization |
Student |
Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|
| Climate Resiliency and Different Definitions of Success: How Costa Rica is Preparing for Climate Change | Frontier Programs Costa Rica | Alexandra Johnson | Climate Change, Conservation, Wildlife, Happy Planet Index, Sustainability, Costa Rica |
| Water Scarcity in the Face of Climate Change: Community Improvement Projects in the Informal Urban Settlements of Peru | US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 | Stephanie Aragon | Climate Change, Development, Peru, Slum, Fog, Fog Nets, Water Scarcity, EPA |
| The Effects of Storms on Steller Sea Lion Pup Abundance in the Aleutian Islands | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Haley Boyd | Steller Sea Lions, Endangered Species, Climate Change |
| Evaluating Surrogates: Using Management Techniques of Landslides to Overcome the Challenges of Coastal Climate Change Adaptation in Washington State | Washington Sea Grant | Emily Halvorsen | Climate Change, Climate Change Adaptation, Surrogate Policy, Surrogate Management Strategies |
| Factory Farm Regulation: Climate Change & U.S. Food Production | US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 | Johnny Howe | Agriculture, CAFO, Factory Farm, Regulation, Legislation, Climate Change, Sustainability, EPA |
| Is Climate Change a Big Risk for Businesses? A Look into What Business Managers Think |
US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 |
Soshi Kumamoto |
Climate Change, Business, Risk Perception, Willingness to Act, PCBs |
| STORM WATCH: Assessing the Vulnerability of the Puget Sound Environment with GIS Technology |
The Nature Conservancy |
Katie McGillvray |
Wetlands, Climate Change, Sea Level Rise, Restoration, Puget Sound |
| University of Washington Professional Travel and Greenhouse Gases |
UW Sustainability Office |
Jonathan Stacey |
Air Travel, Carbon, Emissions, Calculators, Institutions |
| River Deltas of Western Washington | The Nature Conservancy |
Jackson Wells |
River Deltas, Rising Sea Level, Floods, Streamflow, Climate Change |
Communications/Advocacy
Project Title |
Capstone Organization |
Student |
Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|
| Successful Strategies for Communication of Climate Action and Sustainability on a College Campus | University of Washington Sustainability Office | Sage Alexander-Haberbush | Communication, Design, Climate Communication, Higher Education, Sustainability, Best Practices, Campus Communication |
| Preserving Seattle’s Incredible Resource, the Urban Fruit Tree Canopy | City Fruit | Alejandra Andrade | Environmental Policy, Urban, Fruit, Canopy, Outreach, Preservation, Impact Report, Sustainable, Agriculture |
| Sustainability Engagement and Communication Tools: Effective Methods for Changing University Behavior | University of Washington Sustainability Office | Yousef Bugaighis and Elysia Morrison | Sustainability Communication, Engagement, Sustainability Tools, Behavior Change, Sustainability Resources, University Community |
| How Storytelling Can Put a Human Face on Environmental Problems in Policy Campaigns | Washington Environmental Council | Vicki Chiang | Storytelling, Influence, Effectiveness, Oil |
| Building Communities of Local Food: A Case Study at the San Juan Island Farmers’ Market | San Juan Island Agricultural Guild | Maya Gordon | Small-scale Farming, Farmers’ Market, San Juan Island, Local Food, Sustainable Agriculture |
| Growing Green Certification Programs: Strategies from Social Psychology and Practice | University of Washington Sustainability Office | Celia Gurney | Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Green Certification, Green Networks, Behavior Change |
| Peering into the Process of Review: A Case Study of the Journal of Ecopsychology | The Journal of Ecopsychology | Adrienne Hampton | Peer review, Ecopsychology, Journal, Adaptations, Communications, Reviewers, Manuscript |
|
Evaluating the Evolution and Efficiency of Outreach Strategies for Green Organizations and Campaigns |
Washington Environmental Council | Amy Imsdahl | Washington, Environment, Student Outreach, WEC, Mobilization, Young Voters, Social Media, Policy, Legislation, Campaign, Networking, Activism, WaLeg |
| Community-Based, Collaborative Natural Resource Management in Washington State | Pinchot Partners | Ana Laakmann | Wellbeing, Economic Healthy, Rural Communities, Natural Resource Management |
| US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 |
Electra Magnuson |
Air Quality, Stewardship, Tribal, Native American, Environmental, Methods, Education, Outreach, Councils | |
| Engaging an Environmental Ethic: Restoring Connections through Experiential Education | Seattle Green Partnership |
Gina Mariano |
Stewardship, Parks, Education, Online, Experiential |
| Why Should I Care? Increasing Environmental Engagement Through Science and Morality | Columbia Springs Environmental Education Center | Kaley McLachlan | Outreach, Social Values, Ecological Values, Communities, Restoration, Engagement |
| The Duwamish River Festival: An Ecomusicological Study of Green Space in an Urban Place | University of Washington | Anna Mines | Music, Place attachment, Civic Environmentalism, Green Spaces, Festivals, Urban Planning |
|
Spatial-Visual Analytics: The Role of GIS in Environmental Analysis |
Seattle Public Utilities | Rachel Roberts |
GIS, Environmental Communication, Cartography, Environmental Analysis, Natural Resource Management, Sustainability |
| Encouraging Volunteers to Catch the Monitoring Bug | Stillwaters Environmental Center | Rachel Taylor | Macroinvertebrate Monitoring, Citizen Science, Environmental Volunteerism, Water Quality, Volunteer Monitoring, Volunteer Retention |
Conservation/Restoration
Project Title |
Capstone
|
Student |
Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Insights into Juvenile Leatherback Dietary Habits | Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center | Giulia Anderson | Leatherback Juvenile, Jellyfish, Pyrosome, Predation, Stable Isotope Analysis |
|
HONORABLE MENTION – ORAL PRESENTATION Wildlife Conservation in a Changing World: Case Studies of Pacific Northwest Species |
Conservation Northwest | Cara Appel |
Wildlife Conservation, Habitat Fragmentation, Connectivity, Wildlife Corridors, Climate Change, Outreach |
| HONORABLE MENTION – ORAL PRESENTATIONUnderwater Video Observation of the Elliot Bay Seawall Habitat Enhancement Project |
Washington Sea Grant | Michael Caputo |
Seawall, Nearshore, Salmon, Seattle, Restoration, Habitat |
| Transboundary Carnivore Conservation | Conservation Northwest | Connie Combs |
Wildlife Conservation, Carnivore Conservation, Collaborative Conservation Policy, Data Sharing, Habitat Connectivity |
|
HONORABLE MENTION POSTER PRESENTATION A Citizen Science Approach to Restoring Lowland Stream and Estuary Habitat in Puget Sound |
Stillwaters Environmental Center | Sam DeLiso | Citizen Science, Ecology, Estuary, Habitat Restoration, Salmonids, Sediment, Stream, Water Quality |
| What Describes a Successful Urban Ecological Restoration Project? | University of Washington | Yiyan Ge | Urban Restoration, Cultural Awareness, Restoration Project, Case Study |
| Facilitating Pollinator Populations in Urban Forest Restoration | Kincaid Ravine | Andrew Jauhola | Pollinators, Restoration, Urban, Forest, Pollinator-Friendly Plants, Ecology, Seattle |
| Ecotourism in China: Jiuzhai Valley National Park Case Study |
Jiuzhai Valley National Park |
Kiana Kobayashi |
Sichuan, China, Jiuzhai Valley National Park, Zharu Valley, Ecotourism, Sustainable Development, Environmental Education |
|
|
Brightwater Center | Brian Moe | Forests, Mortality Rate, Carbon Sink, Analysis, Tree Species |
| A Camera Trap Study of how Human Presence will Affect the Wildlife in a Wildlife Corridor | Bainbridge Island Land Trust | Simon Nhan | Camera trap, Bainbridge Island, Wildlife Corridor, Conservation, Habitat, Data Collection |
|
HONORABLE MENTION POSTER PRESENTATION How Much Buffer Is Enough? Finding Common Ground Between Conservation and Agriculture |
American Farmland Trust | Jacob Schiffler | Buffers, Streams, Water Quality, Community, Habitat Protection |
| Impacts of Historical Stream Modifications on Present – Day Bat Populations in Northern Washington | Seattle City Light | Sarah Schooler | Ecosystem, Modification, Bat, Insect Populations |
| Bark Bark! Effect of Dogs on Urban Forest Restoration and Ecology | Friends of Lincoln Park | Samuel Timpe | Restoration, Urban, Disturbance, Dogs, Observational Study, Compliance, Social |
|
HONORABLE MENTION POSTER PRESENTATION |
Soundwatch Boater Education Program | Alex Ulmke | Killer Whales, Boater-Whale Interactions, Soundwatch |
| Sustainability and Recreation: Parks for Happy People and Healthy Ecosystems | Washington Sea Grant | Mariah Vane | Ecosystem Protection, Recreation, Park Management, Education and Outreach |
| Fire in our Forests: Impacts of Low-Severity Fire in Yosemite | University of Washington & The Yosemite Forest Dynamics Plot (YFDP) | Jamie Wilson | Fire Ecology, Forest Ecology, Yosemite National Park, Abies concolor, Low-Severity Fire, Carbon, Prescribed Fire, Fire Management Plan, Sierra Nevada |
| Eco-Drone Monitoring: Closing the Gap Between Conservation Science and Policy | Wild Forests & Fauna and Vogt Lab | Sophia Winkler-Schor | Forests, Conservation Science, Drones, Conservation Policy, Environmental Policy, Peru, Amazon,Tropical Forests, Remote Regions |
| HONORABLE MENTION POSTER – PEOPLE’S CHOICEPlanning for Recovery of the Western Pond Turtle |
Woodland Park Zoo | Samantha Zwicker | Western Pond Turtle, Recovery Planning, Population Viability, Endangered Species, Conservation |
Environmental Education
Project Title |
Capstone Organization |
Student |
Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developing an Environmental Ethic: An Exploration of Effective Teaching Strategies and Student Engagement in Informal, Outdoor Education |
West Seattle YMCA |
Kelli Katzer |
Environmental Education, Outdoor Education, Ethnobotany, Engagement, Curriculum Development, Teaching |
|
Indigenous Knowledge: Evoking a Greater Environmental Ethic in Youth |
Sound Salmon Solutions |
Kiana Smith |
Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Environmental Education, Indigenous Knowledge, Environmental Ethics, Stewardship |
| HONORABLE MENTION – ORAL PRESENTATIONBlue king crabs: A case study in effective science education |
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) |
Alexandra Doty |
Creative Solutions, Citizen Action, Interviews, Place-based Education |
|
BEST POSTER PRESENTATION |
CleanScapes |
Elizabeth Szorad |
Community-Based Social Marketing, Environmental Education, Environmental Outreach, Multicultural Communities, Waste Diversion |
|
BEST ORAL PRESENTATION |
Stewardship Partners |
Nicole McThewson |
Environmental Education, Environmental Outreach, Rain gardens, Instructional Frameworks, Stormwater Management |
| The Role of Informal Environmental Education in Standards-Based Learning |
Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center |
Natalie Oppliger |
Environmental Education, Learning Standards, Informal, Experiential |
| Using Education to Change Perspectives and Promote Environmental Ethics in Children |
West Seattle YMCA & Seattle Parks and Recreation |
Iris Albert |
Curriculum, Environmental Education, Experiential Learning, Environmental Ethic, Online Survey, Site Preparation, Restoration |
| Human-Wildlife Interactions and the Role of Education in the San Juan Islands, Washington |
Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center |
Tory Johnson |
Human-wildlife Interaction, Education, Wildlife Rehabilitation, Wildlife Education, San Juan Islands, Wildlife Tourism |
| Public Ecological Artwork and Art Classes Fused with Environmental Education Becomes a Vehicle that Creates an Emotional Attachment Between Students and the Earth |
Auroville Botanical Gardens |
Jennifer Dwyer |
Environment, Education, Ecological Art, Interdisciplinary Methods, Emotional Connection, Terra Cotta Vessels |
|
BEST POSTER PRESENTATION Shifting the Impact of Food Production through Urban Agriculture and Beekeeping |
Ballard Bee Company |
Katherine Game |
Beekeeping, Environmental Education, Urban Agriculture, Stewardship |
| Using Technology in Environmental Education for Guided Park Nature Tours |
City of Bellevue, Parks |
Sara Stevens |
Environmental Education, Environmental Interpretation, Stewardship, Technology |
| Connecting Environmental Education with Larger Science Education Themes |
Seattle Aquarium |
Carrie Howell |
Science Education, Summer Camp, STEM, Marine |
Environmental Justice
Project Title |
Capstone Organization |
Student |
Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|
| Higher Compliance Rates From Drivers Could Increase Public Safety and Decrease Fatalities |
Seattle Neighborhood Greenways |
Robyn Kwon |
Race, Gender, Bias, Public Safety,Pedestrian, Crosswalk, Compliance, Social Justice, Environmental Justice, Discrimination |
|
University District P-Patch |
Marissa Baker |
Community Garden, Accessibility, Social Justice, Environmental Justice, Food Security, Greenspace, Food System |
|
| Working Toward an Equitable Environment: Seeking Environmental Justice Between the EPA, Intermediary Parties, and Communities Through Involvement and Collaboration |
US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 |
Hannah Avrin |
Environmental Justice, Collaboration, Communities, Equality, EPA, Intermediary Parties |
| Multicultural Environmental Education: A Mindful Approach to Connecting Elementary-Age Students to their Local Environment |
Islandwood |
Stephanie Ung |
Environmental Education, Multicultural Education, Environmental Justice, Children, Diversity |
| Environmental Justice in the Duwamish Valley |
Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition (DRCC) |
Ruben Chi Bertoni |
Environmental Justice, Environmental Racism, Community Involvement, Policy, Leadership |
| Burning Passions: Woodstove emissions, tribal sovereignty and EPA regulation |
US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 |
Sarah Sanborn |
Tribes, EPA, Woodstove, Emissions, Pollution, Regulation, Sovereignty, Environmental Justice, Health |
|
PEOPLE’S CHOICE – POSTER PRESENTATION Cultivating Care and Responsible Rehabilitation: A Case for the Sustainable Prison Farm |
University of Washington |
Sophie Hart |
Sustainability, Environmental Justice, Prisons, Agriculture, Gardening, Food Systems |
| Growing Food, Growing Community: How P-Patch Farm Stands Have Strengthened Communities |
Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center |
Kiddy Emmanuel |
Food Insecurity, Environmental Justice, Urban Agriculture, Community Garden, Outreach, P-Patch |
| Erosion and Its Effects on Indigenous Communities |
US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 |
Lydia Minehan-Tubic |
Erosion, Tribal Government, Environmental Justice, EPA, Mitigation, State, Federal, Programs, Funding, Assistance |
| Goods Movement Mapping for Environmental Justice: Examining Freight Impacts |
US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 |
Kara Tebeau |
Goods Movement, Freight, Diesel, Environmental Justice, GIS, EPA |
|
BEST ORAL PRESENTATION Global Trade’s Local Impact: Environmental Justice & Goods Movement |
US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 |
Shanese Bien |
Trade, Goods Movement, Environmental Justice, Air Toxics |
Environmental Policy
Project Title |
Capstone Organization |
Student |
Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using GIS Data to Identify Illegal Stormwater Dischargers | Puget Soundkeeper |
Daniel Salka |
Stormwater, ArcGIS, Salmon Conservation, Water Pollution, Data Analysis |
| Barriers to Renewable Energy Implementation | King County |
Josephine Strauss |
Renewable Energy, PACE, Grid Integration, Energy Policy |
|
HONORABLE MENTION POSTER PRESENTATION The Effect of Policy on the Economic Feasibility of Combined Heat and Power in Washington State |
Cascade Power Group |
Duncan Clauson |
Renewable Energy, Sustainability, Combined Heat and Power, Wastewater, Policy, Washington |
|
BEST ORAL PRESENTATION |
US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 |
Marie Curatolo |
Consumption, Sustainable Consumption, Environmental Protection Agency, Behavior, Law, Policy, Government, Institutions, Independent Research, Analysis |
| Solutions to Mercury Contamination in Lakes and Reservoirs |
US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 |
Aaron Elefson |
Mercury, Methylmercury, Environmental Remediation, Contamination, Freshwater, Superfund, Data Management, Analysis |
| Bringing Public Land Management To The People: The Benefits Of Volunteer Participation In State Land Stewardship |
Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition |
Sarah Geyer |
Stewardship, Volunteers, Habitat, Recreation, Policy, Public Land, Community |
| Methods for Improving Data Quality in Citizen Science Programs |
Seattle Aquarium |
Samantha Herman |
Citizen Science, Data Quality, Policy, Aquarium, Volunteering, Aquarium, Analysis, Excel, Access |
| Canada vs. the United States: A Comparison of Cosmetic Pesticide Policy |
The Local Hazardous Waste Management Program |
Dylane Jacobs |
Cosmetic Pesticides, Comparative Policy Analysis, Comparative Pesticide Policy, Anti-Pesticide Movements |
| Why environmental professionals need project management training: A mitigation study |
Snohomish County Airport |
Alexa Ramos |
Climate Change, Communication, Values, Perspectives |
| The Greening Sports Resource Hub as a Model of Effective Environmental Policy |
US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 |
Laura Shields |
Top-down, Bottom-up, Standards, Technical Assistance, Incentive-based Environmental Policy, The Carrot, The Stick |
| A Permit to Impede Salmon Recovery: A review of Puget Sound Shoreline Armoring Policies |
US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 |
Kara Van Slyck |
Salmon Restoration, Shoreline Armoring, Permitting Gaps, Policy Recommendations, Automatic Approval |
Food Systems
Project Title |
Capstone Organization |
Student |
Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cultivating Food Security |
Good Cheer Food Bank and Thrift Stores |
Lola Behrens |
Food insecurity, Sustainability, Community Outreach, Health, Food Bank |
| The Successes and Challenges of Implementing a Co-op Booth at a Farmer’s Market |
SnoValley Tilth |
Megan Snowden |
Farm, Farmers Market, Co-op, Agriculture, Sustainability |
| Perceptions of Shellfish Aquaculture in the Pacific Northwest |
Set & Drift Shellfish |
Ben Stamey |
Shellfish, Sustainable Seafood, Education, Aquaculture, Oysters |
| The Tale of Three Gardens and A Food Bank |
Good Cheer Food Bank and Garden |
Nicole Bergman |
Community Development, Community Gardening, Food Security, Cultural Ecology, Sustainability, Urban, Agriculture, School Gardens |
| Changing Policy for a Changing System: A Regional Food Policy Scan |
Puget Sound Regional Council |
Libby Hollingshead |
Food Policy, Holistic, Community Development, Growth Management, Comprehensive Plan |
| The Environmental Value of Intercropping Beans, Lettuce, and Cucumbers |
UW Farm |
Bradyn Kawcak |
Agriculture, Intercropping, Economics, Cost-Benefits, Soil Quality |
| Alignment, Education, and Communication: Creating Better Nutrition Assistance Program Support for Farmers Market Vendors |
Carnation Farmers Market |
Leah Litwak |
Food Security, Food Access, Nutrition Assistance, Food System, Education, Training, Food |
| Redesigning Local Food Systems: Examining the Potential for Systemic Change |
Nature Consortium |
Rae Moore |
Agriculture, Cafeteria Food, Youth Arts Program, Local, Organic |
| Finding the Center of Local Food |
American Farmland Trust |
Emily Noyd |
Food, Food Systems, Globalization, Organizations, Food Economy |
| Equitable Eating: How Seattle’s P-Patch Community Gardening Program can Help to Address Food Insecurity |
University District P-Patch Community Garden |
Mollie Tarte |
Food Security, Community, Gardening, Food Systems Inequality, P-Patch Program |
Renewable Energy
Project Title |
Capstone Organization |
Student |
Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|
| How Energy Efficient Technology Reduces the Need for Natural Resources and Saves Money | Port of Seattle | Andrew Acker | Energy Efficiency, Lighting, Upgrades, Energy Efficient Technology, Watts, Environmental Policy |
| Solar Thermal Hot Water Means Big Savings for Universities |
University of Washington Sustainability Office |
Garrett Brooks |
Renewable Energy, Energy, Solar, Solar-Thermal, Sustainability, Infrastructure, Heating, University Facilities, Carbon Reduction, Climate Action Plan |
| Sustainable Socio-Economic Development through Indigenous Diplomacy in the Russian North |
Pacific Northwest Economic Region |
Victoria Choe |
Sustainable Socio-economic Development, Russian North, Indigenous Peoples, Transnational Diplomacy |
| Increasing Distributed Energy Generation by Modifying State Net Metering Policy |
Cascade Power Group |
Rachel Dussell |
Energy Storage, Fossil Fuels, Policy, Regulation, Renewables |
| Mandated Biofuel Production in the United States: Reasons for Caution |
US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 |
Sean Kennedy |
Webinar, Biofuels, Sustainability, Biofuel Supply Chain, Biodiesel |
| Obstacles to Offshore Renewable Energy Development |
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory |
Tehani Montaron |
Renewable Energy, Offshore Renewable Energy, Economics, Environmental Effects, Wind, Wave, Tidal, Ocean |
| HONORABLE MENTION – POSTER PRESENTATIONThe Future of Biofuels – Getting from Here to There |
US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 |
Ryan Ostrom |
Biofuel, Technology, Supply Chain, Renewable Fuel Standard, Barrier to Production |
| Identifying the Significance of the Voluntary Market |
Center for Resource Solutions |
Joshua Redhair |
Renewable Energy, Energy Policy, Sustainability, Energy Markets, Data Analysis, Renewable Energy Certification |
| Solarize Seattle: Implementing a Neighborhood-Based Bulk Purchase Model to Mainstream Solar Energy in the Rainy City |
Northwest Sustainable Energy |
Alexandra Sawyer |
Environmental Education, Public Outreach, Puget Sound |
Sustainable Business
| Project Title | Capstone Organization | Student | Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|
| How Energy Efficient Technology Reduces the Need for Natural Resources and Saves Money |
Port of Seattle |
Andrew Acker |
Energy Efficiency, Lighting, Upgrades, Energy Efficient Technology, Watts, Environmental Policy |
| Seattle 2030 District; Focusing on Energy, Water, and Carbon Reduction in Seattle’s Downtown Business District |
Seattle Department of Economic Development |
Amanda Alva |
Energy Reduction, Urban Development, Cooperative Action Groups, Environmental Policy |
|
BEST ORAL PRESENTATION |
Fairmont Olympic Hotel |
Bridgette Burkholder |
Hospitality, Sustainable Business, Energy Savings, Waste Diversion, Green Marketing |
| HONORABLE MENTION – POSTER PRESENTATIONStrategies to Implementing Environmental Stewardship in Federal offices and For-Profit Businesses |
US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 |
Terra Miller-Cassman |
Federal Office, Business, Environmental Stewardship, Action, Communication, Strategies, EPA |
| Enhancing the Use of Sustainable Transportation Through the Methods of Community-Based Social Marketing and Infrastructures |
US Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 |
Jane Cho |
Community-Based Social Marketing, Sports, Business Sustainability, Transportation, Incentive Programs |
| Greening Laboratories at UW |
University of Washington |
Michael Ferguson |
Laboratory Sustainability, Institutional Sustainability, Sustainability, Barriers, Marketing, Efficiency |
| Systems-Based Sustainability: Motivating Participation in Sustainability-Focused Programming in Colleges and Corporations |
US Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 |
Christina Heinlen |
Sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility, Motivation, Behavior, CSR, Green Program, Consulting |
| Using Sports to Help Sustainability Become a Cultural Norm |
UW Department of Athletics |
Allyson Jackovics |
Sustainability, Responsibility, Initiatives, Sporting Events |
| Greening Sports Resources Hub Leading Sports Venues to Become Sustainable |
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 |
Sarah Kiner |
Stakeholder Salience, Greening Sports, Stakeholder Management, Sports Venues |
| Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the Sports Industry |
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 |
Dominic MinHo Lee |
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Sustainability, Sports, Greening Sports |
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE – POSTER PRESENTATIONAchieving Sustainability Through Life Cycle Assessments: A Case Study in Beer |
Naked City Brewing Company |
Chris Rehn |
Life Cycle Analysis, Brewing, Sustainability, Efficiency, Environmental Impact |
| Assessing the Role of Corporate Sustainability in Shaping Green Business Development |
Town and Country Markets, Inc. |
Mikaela Winter |
Sustainable Business, Sustainability, Social Responsibility Reporting, Food, Grocery, Sustainable Development |
Urbanization
| Project Title | Capstone Organization | Student | Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optimization of Urban Waste Design: Ground Truth Data Collection of Urban Litter | UW Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 | Sydney Barnes-Grant |
Marine Debris, Aquatic Trash, Pollution, Single-Use Disposables |
| Vehicle Impact on Air Quality: Greenway Streets for the People | Seattle Neighborhood Greenways | Raezel Ann F. Arca |
Greenways, Active Transportation, Walking, Biking, Air Quality, Vehicle Traffic, Environmental Health |
| Urban Agriculture and Economic Stimulus: Deciphering the Current Landscape of Urban Agriculture Community through an Online Survey |
Seattle City Council, Office of President Richard Conlin |
Elisa Christiani |
Economic Stimulus, Urban Agriculture, Food Justice, Business, Policy, City of Seattle |
| Could Sound Transit LINK Light Rail be LEED certified? |
Sound Transit |
Drew Collins |
Transit, Sustainability, Sound Transit, Light Rail, LEED |
| Effects of land use on stream ecology in Snohomish County |
Snohomish County, Surface Water Management |
Kathryn Davis |
Urbanization, Urban, Stream Ecology, Development, Biological Integrity, Ecosystem |
| What Road Treatments are Effective for Creating a Walk-Friendly Crosswalk? |
Seattle Neighborhood Greenways |
Qiren Lu |
Transportation, Environmental Health, Pedestrian Safety, Neighborhood Greenways, Motorist Compliance Rate |
| The Duwamish River Festival: An Ecomusicological Study of Green Space in an Urban Place |
University of Washington |
Anna Mines |
Music, Place attachment, Civic Environmentalism, Green Spaces, Festivals, Urban Planning |
| Evaluating Summer Streets Events and Assessing Sustainable Transportation efforts in Seattle |
Seattle Department of Transportation |
Krystal Quijano |
Transportation, Seattle, Placemaking, Sustainability, Policy, Summer Streets |
| Making Streets Safe for Kids Who Actively Commute to School: Motorist Compliance Rates & Socio-Economic Differences |
Seattle Neighborhood Greenways |
Ranju Uezono |
Crosswalks, Active Commuting, Pedestrian Safety, Advocacy, Motorist Compliance, School Walk Zones |
Waste Management
| Project Title | Capstone Organization | Student | Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coal’s Four Externalized Export Burdens |
Puget Soundkeeper Alliance |
Stephanie Angelis |
Coal, Coal Dust, Coal Discharge, Coal Export, Externality, Clean Water Act (CWA), Gateway Pacific Terminal (GPT), Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), Powder River Basin (PRB) |
| Why Do We Trash It? Identifying the Behavioral Challenges Behind Improper Disposal of Recyclable and Compostable Waste |
Sustainable Seattle |
Joel Kohlstedt |
Recycling, Composting, Waste, Environmental Impact, Barriers |
| Plastic Bags: To Ban or Not to Ban |
US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 |
Jasmine Lamb |
Plastic Bag Policy, Solid Waste Management, Marine Debris |
| Living in Systems: Participatory Decision-Making and Fulfilling Community Needs |
Auroville Community, India |
Andrea Marcos |
Auroville, Waste Management, Waste Management Integration, Stories, Participatory, Decision-Making, Systems, Needs |
| Motivated By Money? Evaluating the Composting Practices and Motivations of Seattle Restaurants |
Sustainable Seattle |
Alyssa Milo |
Water Diversion Strategies, Composting, Restaurant Composting, Sustainability Practices, Municipal Solid Waste |
| Using Numbers to Improve E-Waste Regulation |
Basel Action Network |
Momoka Nakamura |
E-Waste, Regulation, Solid Waste, Quantifying, Environmental Impacts, Calculation Tool, Mobile App, Human RIghts |
| Changing Infrastructure to Change Behavior: Implementing New Strategies to Increase On Campus Waste Diversion Rates |
University of Washington Recycling |
Ana Pacheco |
Pollution, Global Impact, Outreach and Engagement, Recycling and Composting |
| Cigarette Litter in Parks: Receptacle Location Matters |
Surfrider Foundation Seattle Chapter |
Kiley Sullivan |
Cigarette Butt, Litter, Smoking, Signage, Oceans, Beaches, Cellulose Acetate, Surfrider, HOTYB |
| The Current State of E-Waste: Cell Phones in Seattle |
Sustainable Seattle |
Anna Vance |
Cell Phone, Recycling, Disposal, Procedures and Programs |
| Promoting Awareness of Sustainable Landscaping: The Roles of Value and Perception |
Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County |
Berit Wick |
Property Owners, Long-term Investments, Sustainability, Awareness |
Water
| Project Title | Capstone Organization | Student | Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|
| PEOPLE’S CHOICE – POSTER PRESENTATIONGreen Stormwater Infrastructure Feasibility Analysis |
King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks-Wastewater Treatment Division |
Matt Coy & Mitch Halliday |
Green Stormwater Infrastructure, Stormwater, GIS, Pollution, King County, Feasibility Study |
| Sustainable Watershed Management in Auroville, India |
Buddha Garden Community |
Heather Clopton |
Sustainable, Agriculture, Organic, Water, Watershed Management, Land Management, Auroville, India |
| Increasing Citizen Engagement in a Non-Profit by Leading Stormwater Walking Tours in Redmond and Burien |
People For Puget Sound |
Maddie Foutch |
Stormwater, Non-Profit, Community-Outreach, Engagement, Community-Building |
| The Perception of Water Quality and Scarcity in Jordan |
The Arava Institute |
Brian Hoefgen |
Jordan, Water Quality, Amman, Middle East, Scarcity, Israel, Baqa’a |
| HONORABLE MENTION – POSTER PRESENTATIONStormwater Runoff Management: A Complicated Issue with a Feasible Solution |
US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 |
Amber Johnson |
Stormwater Runoff, Management, EPA Region 10, Pacific Northwest, Pollutant Runoff, Environmental Risk, ArcGIS |
| The Threat of Freshwater Shortages Has Become More Evident Within Recent Years Due to Climate Change, Increasing Population, and Inefficient Water Networks |
The Ecology Foundation |
Meaghan Kapinos |
Climate Change, Population Growth, Overconsumption, Water Accessibility, Dublin, Conservation, Resource Planning |
| The Scoop on Poop: Wastewater Education Efforts in King County |
King County Wastewater Treatment Division |
Shane McLaughlin |
Public Impact, Wastewater, Water Quality, Survey |
|
BEST ORAL PRESENTATION Cleaning Up Environmental Regulations to help Clean Up Stormwater |
US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 |
Alison Sienkiewicz |
Stormwater, Policy, Regulations, Enforcement, Compliance, Industrial, Pollution, EPA, Government, ArcGIS |
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BEST POSTER PRESENTATION Rain Gardens in the Puget Sound: An Effective Tool for Mitigating Storm Water Runoff |
Stewardship Partners |
Emma Vowels |
Urban, Green Infrastructure, Storm Water, Rain Garden, Stewardship Partners |