P. Sean McDonald

Associate Teaching Professor

P. Sean McDonald

Associate Teaching Professor

Courses

Education

  • B.S. Biology, Marine Emphasis, Western Washington University, 1997
  • Ph.D. Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, 2006

I am the Capstone instructor for Program on the Environment and maintain an active research program focused on applied marine ecology in the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. I direct the internship activities and senior research of Environmental Studies students. I assist each student in developing an independent scholarly project that dovetails with their hands-on work. The goal is to prepare students for careers in environmentally related fields by aiding them in synthesizing their academic coursework and professional (internship) experience.

My research program focuses on applying ecological principles to problems involving the exploitation, cultivation, and conservation of aquatic species in a changing global landscape. In particular, I am interested in individual and community responses to major agents of ecosystem change, such as climate change, ocean acidification, and nearshore hypoxia. Invasive species are a particularly potent form of ecosystem change. I have studied invasive European green crab since 1998, and I am UW faculty PI for the WSG Crab Team program, which focuses on monitoring and control of the species in the Pacific Northwest.

Due to my interest in environmental communication and bringing science to the general public, I frequently collaborate with groups, such as Cascadia Climate Action, to moderate and help organize speakers for monthly Climate Science on Tap events in Seattle. I teach ENVIR 400: Professional Environmental Communication, and the accompanying seminar (ENVIR 387).

In addition to regular office hours, you can directly book short Zoom appointments with me at select times [direct scheduling link].