Ferns are dying in Kitsap forests, and nobody knows why

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For the past three years, Program on the Environment lecturer Tim Billo has been monitoring the sword fern die-off in Seattle’s Seward Park. He’s not the only researcher to be stumped by the mysterious decline of this once abundant plant that covers the forest floors.

Despite copious research, nobody has yet found the reason for the rapid and alarming decline of this ubiquitous Northwest plant, which is now disappearing in the North Kitsap forests as well. This plant is not easy to kill, and its plight is attracting the interest of more researchers and naturalists.

Read more at the Kitsap Sun. 

Student Capstone projects highlight impact beyond borders and across oceans

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Program on the Environment’s Spring 2018 Capstone Symposium featured 38 projects that addressed an array of environmental challenges students worked on for 9 months. From greening UW’s sport facilities to assessing water quality, piloting waste management plans and exploring the impact of environmental education, students shared their work with passion and finesse.

The symposium, held twice a year, drew colleagues, faculty advisors and students from across campus as well as parents and community (Capstone) partners. Students excitedly shared tidbits of what they learned on Twitter, under the #POEcap hashtag.

After tallying the evaluations of volunteer judges, Capstone instructor P. Sean McDonald determined the winning presenters, who were honored at the June graduation celebration:

Danielle Bogardus, Best Oral Presentation

E.W.W!! Education, Waste, and Water: A case study in the Las Piedras Region of Peru

Since her freshman year, Danielle has been working with Hoja Nueva, a non-profit founded by fellow alum Samantha Zwicker. For her Capstone Danielle worked to develop a waste management toolkit for the communities within the Madres de Dios region of Peru, as part of an effort to combat the negative impacts of unsustainable landfills on the community’s health and the environment. The toolkit includes waste auditing, water sampling and mentality survey strategies and has resulted in the implementation of improved waste management practices in three communities in the region.

Danielle recently founded her own non-profit, Connect Three, to continue the work she has done in Peru addressing waste management and water quality in developing communities. A pilot project in Ethiopia is already underway. 

Tyler Ung, Honorable Mention Oral Presentation

Raising environmental awareness in a digitized world: The effectiveness of visual art and photography

Tyler worked with the UW Center for Creative Conservation to highlight how visual art and photography can be an effective medium to raise environmental awareness and spur behavior change. He taught himself photography and super-imposed stencils he drew of human impacts on the natural environment, taking inspiration from Seattle, China and India. His science-based art project was part of his research that included the effective use of the art as a new model for sustainability and environmental education.

Tyler believes the integration of art to tell the story of different cultures, histories and environments is a powerful tool for shifting us towards a better future.Tyler’s art project, A Mind’s Meadow: Beauty Beyond Suppression is on display this summer at Axis in Pioneer Square, Seattle.

Summer Cook, Best Poster Presentation

Full circle in the remote tropics: 5 ways to optimize permaculture in unconventional settings

Summer Cook_capstoneSummer also interned with Hoja Nueva for her Capstone and went to Peru to work with the community to develop community-centered permaculture plots in Puerto Nuevo, located on the Piedras River in the Peruvian Amazon. Her case study sought to eliminate dependence on imports and sustain healthy, arable soil, a challenge within the region due to the difficulty growing crops in nutrient-poor soil and resulting insufficient access to adequate nutrition in diets.

Summer tested approaches for developing a community-centered permaculture planting plan. She conducted interviews with community members about current diet and desired fruits and vegetables and identified two potential planting sites, then tested each for macronutrient concentrations and soil fertility/microclimate parameters. She found five main methods to incorporate while designing a permaculture plan in the remote tropics and the plots, when complete, would provide nutrient-rich food for the communities.

Staci McMahon, Honorable Mention Poster Presentation

Predicting the effects of climate change on flatfish distributional shifts into the Chukchi Sea

Staci McMahon with her Capstone posterStaci interned with NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center to crunch some data and get an idea of which fish species would be able to thrive in the Chukchi Sea, a habitat that is changing rapidly due to rising temperatures. Working with resource selection models, Staci’s data results suggest that populations of Pacific halibut and arrowtooth flounder are likely to increase due to rising sea temperatures. The implications of these flatfish species moving northward could potentially transform the food webs and ecology of the Chukchi Sea.

Join us for the Spring 2018 Capstone Symposium

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The Program on the Environment will host our Spring 2018 Capstone Symposium on May 23 at the Fisheries Sciences Building. We welcome all to attend and support students as they present on the culmination of three quarters of hard work.

The Capstone Course Series is a highlight for many students, and serves to catapult some into their first jobs or even their dream careers. Through internships, research, social media training, students come out of the experience well-equipped to communicate about the problem they sought to solve, and to tie their academic learning with specific research questions.

See below for the schedule and some sneak peeks from each session!

This event is open to the public and we encourage students interested in learning about the Capstone, as well as members of our community, to join us. There will be beverages and snacks. For those who can’t attend in person, follow our live tweets on Twitter: #POEcap.

Spring 2018 Symposium Schedule

Wednesday May 23

4:30PM Welcoming remarks/housekeeping

Session A – Poster I: Agriculture & Food systems, Green business & Sustainability, Natural Science & Conservation

4:35 – 5:15PM
Summer Cook – Full circle in the remote tropics: 5 ways to optimize permaculture in unconventional settings
Lexie Gray – Greening sports: How athletic facilities can implement change to save money and the environment
Nazmah Hasaan – Improving accessibility of the UW Sustainability Climate Action Plan website
David Hedin – Visions of restoration at Daybreak Star Cultural Center
Elena Hinz – Contaminants, comparisons, and consequences: The three c’s of a water quality assessment
Shunxi Liu – Community engagement programs can align with the co-creation mission in higher education sustainability
Carla Marigmen – Improving the efficiency of operations and behaviors within athletics facilities
Staci McMahon – Predicting the effects of climate change on flatfish distributional shifts into the Chukchi Sea
Jennifer Mitchell – Achieving campus sustainability: What practices universities are doing to become leaders in campus sustainability
Colin Piwtorak – From top to bottom and back again: How citizen science at all levels can be used to its greatest potential
Clyzzel Samson – How low income food bank clients’ concern for the environment and food waste is underestimated
Lex Savanh – Developing an alternative to cable ties for bird tagging
Uyen Tran – Sustainable finance and investment in higher education institutions: Reasoning and best practices
Brandon Wech – Trees aren’t just for the Lorax anymore: Measuring Northwest permaculture efficiency
Yunbo Xie – Promoting sustainable moves in a citizen science project and correlating volunteers’ motivations with their ongoing status
Hualian Xu – Endangered species “summer chum”: A way to save them

Sneak peek: Uyen Tran interned with UW Sustainability to examine sustainable finance and investment in higher education institutions. She conducted a competitive analysis along with two other students of the STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System) ranked colleges and looked into which higher ed institutions use SRI stocks and why that’s significant.

Session B – Capstone lightning talks

5:20PM Introduction 
Danielle Elizabeth Bogardus – E.W.W!! Education, Waste, and Water: A case study in the Las Piedras Region of Peru
Frieda Elise Luoma-Cohan – From the lab to the classroom: The use of non-traditional teaching tools in science communication
Samantha Anne Orcutt – The dirty side of business: How communication is key to streamline waste management practices
Yushan Tong – Value and use of Discovery Park by Chinese communities in Seattle
Tyler Sing Ung – Raising environmental awareness in a digitized world: The effectiveness of visual art and photography
Ha Young Yoo – Returning to the roots of sustainable ecotourism: Indigenous Knowledge is power rooted in ecology

Sneak peek: Danielle Bogardus has spent 4 years conducting work in a remote area of Peru, with an alumna’s non-profit, Hoja Nueva, on assessing and developing a waste management toolkit for remote native and migrant communities in Peru’s Las Piedras region that don’t have systems in place to dispose of waste. Danielle will seek to replicate and scale this toolkit in other communities after she graduates. 

Session C – Poster II: Education & Outreach, Policy & Regulation

6:15 – 7:00PM
Sean Adair – Assessing the impact of environmental education on childhood awareness and relationship to nature
Maggie Brown – Benefits to food recovery: Improved resource conservation through effective outreach methods
Sungkun Choi – Back to the science
Sara Clark – A necessary evil? Various perspectives towards salmon hatcheries
Saruul Delgerbayar – Hazardous waste generators in tribal communities of Alaska
Marlee Grasser – Puget Sound high-risk facilities in relation to environmental justice
Bridget House – Bluff erosion mitigation: Should it be incorporated into restoration strategies?
Katie Hunger – Sorting trash, there’s gotta be a better way!
Soondus Junejo – The need for mandatory environmental screening in daycare settings in order to minimize the health risk for children
Ziyi Liu – How does bike infrastructure affect cycling safety in the Chinatown-International District
Shelby Logsdon – Park or ride? An analysis of Washington State park transit accessibility
Chance O’Neal – The age of information: Improving the reliability of environmental websites
Rachel Pemberton – Underserved and overlooked: The roles of race and income in environmental advocacy
Gloria Piekarczyk – We’re all part of the problem, but who wants to be part of the solution?
Ellen Short – What’s gender got to do with it? How ecofeminism could save the planet
Chelsy Sirnio – Early outdoor education: Reconnecting children with nature

Sneak peek: Saruul Delgerbayar worked with the EPA on hazardous waste generators in rural villages of Alaska. Saruul assisted with EPA’s pilot program to backhaul hazardous waste from tribal communities lacking waste management systems and conducted interviews to identify the types of hazardous waste generated, to inform regulations that would benefit the communities’ overall health.

 

A snapshot of Saruul's Capstone research findings.
A snapshot of Saruul’s Capstone research findings.

Mysterious sword fern die-off remains a growing concern

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Paul Shannon
Healthy sword ferns in Seward Park, 2011.

The puzzling death of sword ferns in Seattle’s Seward Park is under ongoing investigation by Tim Billo, Paul Shannon and national fern experts the two are consulting with to address the problem.

King 5 News and KUOW spoke with Billo and Shannon and wrote about the concern recently as did Sierra Magazine, reporting yesterday that 11 acres of sword ferns have died in Seward Park so far, with no regrowth. If this pattern continues, the scientists on the project predict all ferns in the park could disappear for good in a decade.

For more on this ongoing research see:

Tim Billo speaks on King 5 News about fern die-off in Seward Park

 

 

Tim Billo speaks on King 5 News about fern die-off in Seward Park

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Sword ferns provide valuable ecosystem benefits, holding soil in place to prevent erosion and invasive plant growth. They also provide a habitat for forest birds such as the Pacific wren, and a food source for wildlife, such as mountain beavers. And in Seattle’s Seward Park, they are dying off at alarming rates.

Nobody really knows why, but Program on the Environment lecturer Tim Billo and Seward Park steward Paul Shannon have some ideas, which they shared with King 5 News reporter Alison Morrow last Friday. Check out the video.

Paul Shannon (2011), Jordan Jackson (2017).
Sword ferns flourish in Seward Park, in the 2011 photo on the left. The same area is almost devoid of ferns in the 2017 photo to the right.

 

According to Tim, sword ferns are just not regenerating. He’s been monitoring the decrease of ferns in Seward Park for the past two years to measure the rate at which ferns are dying, and to identify any known causes. Paul Shannon has noticed the decrease of ferns in the area for even longer and predicts all the ferns in the park could be gone in 10 years. There are concerns about the reverberating impacts of this unnatural phenomena, which may have implications in other parts of the region.

With Tim as his faculty advisor, Environmental Studies student and recent graduate Justin Beach investigated the fern die-off phenomenon as part of his Capstone project, and tested the effects of native mountain beavers on the ferns. Beavers are unlikely the cause of the die-off and are at risk if this primary food source is less available to them. There may be an as of yet unknown pathogen that is preying on the swordfern. Continued research is needed to save the ferns. Read more about Tim’s research on the sword fern die-off in one of Seattle’s beloved parks.

Student Perspective: Amy Haymond talks Capstone with Conservation Corridor

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Amy Haymond
Amy at Grand Canyon

Communicating on Twitter about environmental topics and Capstone project experiences has become the new norm for Environmental Studies students in Sean McDonald’s three-quarter Capstone Course Series. Some are still skeptical of the power of social media, while others, like Amy Haymond, have taken to it, finding value in the access it gives to myriad environmental leaders and organizations.

During the course’s “topic of the week” Twitter assignment, students were called to find and connect with an expert doing work related to their Capstone, and Amy tagged Conservation Corridor, who then reached out to Amy to provide a student perspective on studying wildlife connectivity.

Conservation Corridor aims to bridge science and the practice of conservation corridors. Amy’s Capstone focuses on the impact of humans on wildlife. Her main research question is:

“Does the implementation of wildlife corridors significantly reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions?”

Ready Amy’s blog post on Conservation Corridor to learn more about her research as she digs into mounds of information and explores the language around conservation corridors and why they are so vital to preserving wildlife.

“Twitter has become a powerful tool for connecting students, such as myself, to experts in the environmental community. I have connected to more people doing the work I want to do later in life because of Twitter than I have any other social media tool.” -Amy

Follow Program on the Environment on Twitter at @uwpoe and Amy @ahaymond5 and see what Capstone students are up to on @POEcap. 

Congratulations to Shruti Parikh, Mary Gates Research Scholar!

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Shruti Parikh
Shruti Parikh
Shruti Parikh

Shruti Parikh is a junior at UW, majoring in Environmental Studies and Environmental Sciences and Resource Management (ESRM), with a QSCI minor. She’s lived in Washington for the majority of her life and is passionate about good air quality.

She recently won a Mary Gates Research Scholarship for her research on using plants to purify air and reduce pollutants such as arsenic, a known carcinogen.

The increased concentration of arsenic in many areas has impacted human and ecosystem health. Phytoremediation is a cost-effective, eco-friendly technology that uses the natural ability of plants to remediate pollutants from contaminated soils. Shruti’s research uses endophytes, or beneficial bacteria that live inside of plants, to see if they can help improve the tolerance of their host plants to arsenic, thereby enhancing the process of phytoremediation. 

Which environmental issues most concern you?

I think pollution has always been a really big environmental issue to me. As someone who has asthma, I consider myself to be a pretty good indicator of air quality and I think it’s really concerning when I visit places like Atlanta, my birthplace, and have trouble breathing because of the terrible air quality. I really got into the whole Bellingham coal terminal issue when I was in high school because I was concerned about coal dust and the effect it has on humans. It actually connected me to the research I’m currently working on at Sharon Doty’s lab.

What is your research focus?

Shruti at work in the Doty Lab.
Shruti at work in the Doty Lab.

Four years ago, as a junior in high school, I decided to focus on arsenic found in coal dust and seek a way to remediate the coal dust contaminated soil. Since there are no known local hyper-accumulators of arsenic, I decided to test whether the Western Sword Fern could be a possible candidate, (there are a few non-native ferns that are known to accumulate high amounts of arsenic in their fronds). This experience got me really interested in research and after learning there was similar research being done at the UW, I decided to apply to the Doty Lab.

The Doty Lab is unique because it takes plants and pairs them with endophytes, bacteria living inside of plants to create a “plant-microbe partnership” that allow the plants to survive stressful conditions such as soil contamination.

While working at Dr. Doty’s lab, my research interests have broadened to include microbiology, molecular biology, and soil sciences.

What does your Mary Gates scholarship entail? How did you find out about it?

The scholarship gives me $5,000 over the course of two quarters, as well as the opportunity to be a part of the Mary Gates Scholars community. I  get to attend events such as the annual Gala and Spring Breakfast that allow me to connect with other scholars, and take part in other networking and career development opportunities.

I will be using the scholarship money to pay my tuition, which in the long run can help me save up for graduate school. I found about the scholarship through my Environmental Studies adviser, Ana, and one of my lab friends.

Shruti's Mary Gates Research poster.
Shruti’s Mary Gates Research poster.

Shruti presented her research at the UW Undergraduate Research Symposium. If you too want to showcase your research, submit your application by February 13, 2017. 

Shruti was also featured on KOMO 4 News EcoConsumer segment as a young Green Leader. 

What are your career aspirations?

I want to get a Ph.D. I’m not sure in what exactly, but it will be related to environmental science. I love research, and I want to continue doing it. However, the reason I started majoring in Environmental Studies before ESRM is because I think the application of environmental research is really important. A lot of times, research is published but no one ever does anything with it, and my goal is to see that my research actually gets applied; whether that’s through starting my own business, or becoming a professor and licensing my products to businesses – I have yet to decide!

Climate Change and Plant Ecology Work Study/Volunteer Research positions

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Professor Janneke Hille Ris Lambers at UW is seeking some Environmental Studies students to work with her this fall. Details below!

The HilleRisLambers lab studies the impacts of climate change on plant communities in the Pacific Northwest. We are interested in understanding how warming temperatures and declining snow levels will affect the geographic distribution of tree species and the phenology (seasonal timing) of wildflower reproduction. We have two kinds of opportunities available for undergraduates interested in being involved in research in our lab (starting fall of 2016, ideally for the whole academic year). Please see http://faculty.washington.edu/jhrl/Index.html for more information on lab research and projects.

  1. Research Experience / Research Credit. This is a volunteer position. We’re looking for 2-4 undergraduates to work on three projects addressing the following questions: A) How strongly is tree population growth limited by seed production and seedling germination? B) Is wildflower phenology (the timing of reproduction) determined by snow melt dynamics, and how does this differ among species? C) How will plant communities reshuffle with climate change? Tasks include sorting and identifying tree seeds from litter samples, identifying phenological stages of wildlfowers in herbarium specimens and in online photo databases, and entering data. We expect undergraduates to spend at least 8 hours a week on the project. Undergraduates may also participate in weekly lab meetings (if this works with their schedules) to present research updates and discuss relevant scientific literature. If mutually desired, positions can be extended beyond Winter quarter, and undergraduates can take ownership over a portion of data collection / processing and present a poster at the Mary Gates Symposium (in the Spring). Research credit (Bio399) can also be provided if desired. Applicants must be able to work for several 2-4 hour blocks of time between 8 AM and 6 PM on
  1. Work Study Student Assistant. We’re looking for 1-2 undergraduate students with work study funds to assist with several ongoing research projects. Tasks include processing samples and data entry, and undergraduates will work with different members of the lab over the course of the quarter. Pay is $13 an hour (depending on experience – work study eligibility required), and we expect a minimum of 6 hours of work a week (up to 19 hours). Work study students are encouraged to attend weekly lab meetings, if desired, but on their own

 

Ideal applicants for both positions are interested in ecology, forestry or in the environmental impacts of climate change (e.g. majoring in or planning to major in Biology, Environmental Science and Resource Management, or Environmental Studies). Relevant coursework is desirable, but not required. All applicants should be enthusiastic, hard-working, organized and reliable.

To apply for either position:

Please send an email to Janneke Hille Ris Lambers (jhrl@uw.edu), with subject line “Work Study 2016 Application” or “Research Experience 2016 Application” (depending on which position you are interested in), and include the following:

  1. One-two paragraphs on why you are interested in the
  2. Attach a CV/resume including information on relevant classes, work and/or research experience, and the names and contact information of at least 2
  3. Transcript(s) – informal is fine

The position will remain open until filled, but applications received before Monday, the 26th of September will be given priority (that is when we will start reviewing applications). Ideally, work will begin the 10th of October (the second full week of the quarter).

URP Research Opportunities, Funding, Competitions, Classes!

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Hope you’re staying cool this summer. URP brings the following research-related opportunities, presentations, and deadlines to your attention.

(1) URP Seeks Undergraduate Research Leaders – Apply by September 1

(2) Attend a URP Info Session to get started in undergrad research
(3) EIP-Presidential Scholarship – Apply by September 9
(4) Journal of Young Investigators Undergraduate Research Photography Competition – Submit by September 1, 2016
(5) Attend the Society for Redox Biology and Medicine (SfRRBM) International Conference in San Francisco – Submit Abstract by Sept. 1, 2016
(6) Apply for an Undergraduate Research Conference Travel Award
(7) Enroll in Research Exposed! for Autumn Quarter (General Studies 391 D)
(8) Incoming Transfer Students! Enroll in Undergraduate Research for CC Transfer Students! (General Studies 391K) – see attached flyer
(9) Apply for the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship

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(1) Apply to be an Undergraduate Research Leader!  

Apply by Sept. 1, 2016

The Undergraduate Research Program (URP) is seeking enthusiastic and experienced undergraduate researchers from all disciplines to be Undergraduate Research Leaders (URLs) for the 2016-17 academic year.

URLs serve a central role in connecting undergraduates to support services of the URP. The goal of the URL program is to increase awareness and participation of undergraduates doing research in a range of disciplines. As a URL, you can motivate future undergraduate researchers! Anticipated URL time commitment is approximately 8-10 hours/month and dependent on quarterly events and student availability.

More information and application available here

Questions? Contact the URP Staff at urp@uw.edu or (206) 543-4282

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 (2) Attend an Undergraduate Research Program Info Session!

Fridays, September 2nd and 9th, from 2:30pm – 3:20pm in MGH 171

These sessions are designed primarily for undergraduates who have yet to begin research and they provide research resources, information on funding, and suggestions for approaching faculty. Additionally, the sessions are highly student-driven, with an emphasis on student questions and concerns. Students interested in attending the UW, including community college transfer students, are welcome to the sessions.

Register today!

Questions? Contact the URP Staff at urp@uw.edu or (206) 543-4282

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(3) The Early Identification Program within the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity is pleased to announce that the 2016-17 Presidential Scholarship applications are now open

Apply by September 9, 2016

The Presidential Scholarship supports students who have clearly demonstrated scholastic achievement, an interest in research, and plan to attend graduate school (doctoral or master’s programs). The award will be for $3,333.00 for 3-quarters during the 2016-2017 academic year. Upon receipt of the award, students will be expected to submit a formal research proposal, conduct three consecutive quarters of research, meet regularly with the EIP staff, present their work at the joint Early Identification/McNair Program Annual Spring Research Conference and concurrent Undergraduate Research Symposium, and comply with the other requirements of Presidential Scholars. Awards are contingent upon the continued availability of funds.

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY:

An applicant should be affiliated with either the Early Identification Program, Ronald E. McNair Program or any of the LSAMP, TRIO-SSS, OMAD or EXPD programs.

Applicants should also:
1)      Conduct a research project with the supervision of a faculty member for the  three consecutive quarters of the 2016-2017 academic year
2)      Plans to attend graduate school
3)      Have a minimum of 125 credits
4)      We give priority to students with a minimum GPA of 3.0, and who regularly use the EIP, McNair, LSAMP, EXPD or OMAD programs.

The Application and additional information can be found here

Please direct any questions to eip@uw.edu

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(4) Undergraduate Research Photography Competition, sponsored by the Journal of Young Investigators.

Submit by September 1, 2016

The Journal of Young Investigators is pleased to host the 2016 International Undergraduate Research Photography Competition. Show your research in one image—be it be a molecular model, an image taken under the microscope, or a snapshot of the field where your work takes place– for a chance to win. Please include a brief (1-3 sentence) description of the image and its ties to your work. Entries will be judged by the JYI Executive Board.

Three winners will receive unique JYI items and certificate.

One winner will be featured on our website and the cover of 2016 Best of JYI Publication.

Submit your image and brief description to cdo@jyi.org

For more information, visit www.jyi.org

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(5) Attend the Society for Redox Biology and Medicine Annual SFRR International Conference in San Francisco

Abstract Submission Deadline: September 1, 2016

The Society for Redox Biology and Medicine’s Annual Meeting has long been the premier venue for cutting edge research in all aspects of redox biology, featuring the latest technologies and applications in basic and translational research. The 23rd Annual Meeting, a joint meeting with the Society for Free Radical Research International (SFRBM/SFRRI 2016), will feature four days of scientific communication at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco on November 16 – 19, 2016 in San Francisco, CA, USA.

Check out their website to learn more!

Don’t forget that you may also apply for an Undergraduate Conference Travel Award to support travel and conference registration expenses.

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(6) Apply for an Undergraduate Research Conference Travel Award

Publicly communicating your own research and sharing your ideas with others are important parts of engaging in academic research.

The URCTA enables you to extend your research experience by contributing to important discussions of current research at professional conferences by providing funding toward national conference travel expenses and registration fees

We encourage all students who have a paper, poster, or scholarly creative work that has been accepted for presentation at a professional conference to apply for an award.

Funding for this program is generously provided by the UW’s Office of Research, the Mary Gates Endowment for Students, and the Undergraduate Research Program.

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(7) Enroll in Research Exposed! for Autumn Quarter

General Studies 391 D | 1 credit | SLN 15450

Research Exposed! (GEN ST 391 D) offers undergraduates an opportunity to learn about current, exciting research in a wide variety of disciplines, including the process of discovery, how faculty come up with an idea for research, how inquiry is structured in the different disciplines, and how students can become involved in the knowledge-making process.

Presentations by UW faculty focus on specific issues such as ethics and the culture of research. Students attend weekly, fifty-minute discussions and have the opportunity to ask the speaker questions following each presentation. This course may be repeated for credit (1 credit/quarter-3 quarters max); speakers and topics will vary.

See the UW Time Schedule entry (SLN 15450) to register.
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(8) Incoming Transfer Students: Enroll in Undergraduate Research Intensive for Community College Transfer Students 1-Day Workshop (September 22) + course (Fridays, 1:30-2:20 PM)

General Studies 391 K | 2 credits |  SLN: 15456

The Undergraduate Research Intensive designed for incoming transfer students comprises an initial 1-day pre-autumn quarter workshop, held September 22 on the UW Seattle campus, followed by weekly sessions during the quarter designed to help transfer students attain and excel in undergraduate research positions.The course will demystify the research process at UW and provide instruction in research-related skills and resources. All students receive one-on-one advising with Undergraduate Research Program staff and interact with peer researchers.

For more information & to request an add code, contact urp@uw.edu and include the following:
1.      Your full name:
2.      Transfer institution
3.      UW student number:
4.      Major, intended major, or area(s) of interest:

See attached flyer for more info.

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(9) Apply for the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship

The Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship application is now open. This scholarship was created by the US Department of State to increase access to study or internships abroad for students of high financial need. To be eligible for this award, students must be receiving a Pell grant as part of their financial aid package at the time they apply. This scholarship is open to all undergraduate majors.

Award amounts vary but students can receive up to $5,000. Students planning to begin their study abroad programs between December 15, 2016 and April 15th 2017 should apply by October, 4 2016. Students must be receiving college credit for their programs but only need to be abroad for a minimum of 28 consecutive days to be eligible. In addition, the scholarship application does not require letters of recommendation.

More information about this scholarship and selection criteria can be found on the Benjamin A. Gilman website.


Study at Friday Harbor Labs – Info Session 1/21

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Spend a quarter studying in residence at the UW’s marine field station at Friday Harbor Labs (FHL). Undergraduates can study at FHL in spring, summer or autumn quarters. The deadline for spring/summer applications is February 1.

●      Explore the marine environment of the Salish Sea where your classroom is a marine preserve, and the boats are just steps away from your dorm.

●      Courses for all levels from introductory marine biology to advanced research apprenticeships.

●      Get to know your teachers with class sizes frequently less than 20 students.

Info Session

Thursday, January 21, 10:30-11:20 am, Fishery Sciences Building (FSH) 203.

RSVP

Get all the information you need to know to plan for a quarter or course at Friday Harbor Labs. Meet faculty, TAs, and students from past quarters, and learn about the courses offered this year.

Courses

(Spring) Marine Biology Quarter: Students starting their exploration of the marine environment (few or no pre-reqs) build a schedule around courses in introductory marine biology, science writing, statistics, or oceanography. Spring 2016 course list.

(Spring) Marine Zoology/Botany (Zoo-Bot) Quarter: A fixed schedule of three integrated courses (for undergrads with biological sciences background), including an individual research project mentored by FHL faculty and instructors.

(Summer): A selection of intensive, half-term (5 week) courses including Marine Invertebrate Zoology or Ecology & Conservation of Marine Birds & Mammals. Summer 2016 course list.

Spring/Summer application deadline: Feb. 1, 2016 – APPLY NOW

 Explore Friday Harbor Labs

Read student profiles, course details, and more about living and studying in the San Juan Islands at UW Marine Biology or Friday Harbor Labs.

Contact advisers Joe Kobayashi (marbiol@uw.edu) or Stacy Markman (fhladmin@uw.edu) to set up an appointment or ask questions.