At the University of Washington’s School of Marine and Environmental Affairs (SMEA), we’re proud of our students who engage with their communities, share their knowledge, and contribute to environmental stewardship across the region.

On October 4, first-year Master of Marine Affairs student James Bray volunteered with the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (HCSEG) at Shelton Oysterfest, helping connect community members with local salmon conservation efforts.

During the event, James helped spread awareness of HCSEG’s work supporting salmon habitat restoration and encouraging young people to get involved in salmon conservation and stewardship.

They also helped educate festivalgoers about salmon biology, including how scientists can estimate a salmon’s age by counting the rings on its scales. Similar to the rings of a tree, these patterns provide clues about a salmon’s age.

By sharing this information with the public, James helped make environmental science accessible and sparked opportunities for community members to learn more about the salmon that are an important part of our region’s ecosystems.

Community engagement is an important part of addressing marine and environmental challenges. Connecting with local organizations and community members creates opportunities to share knowledge, support conservation initiatives, and build a broader understanding of the environmental issues affecting our region.

At SMEA, we’re proud to see our students taking part in this work. James’s volunteer experience at Shelton Oysterfest is one example of how our students engage beyond the classroom and contribute to the communities and ecosystems they care about.

We’re grateful to students like James who help strengthen these connections and support a culture of environmental stewardship throughout our region.