The School of Marine and Environmental Affairs will hold its next faculty meeting on Thursday, March 5th, at 12:00 pm. Please see below for location details:
MAR Room 268 or via Zoom
A copy of the meeting agenda, 3-5-26 Faculty Meeting Agenda, is provided. Please contact Hailie Borges (hrb25@uw.edu) with any questions or for more information. 

Please join us in celebrating Dr. Terrie Klinger on her retirement and transition to Professor Emeritus in 2026.  
A benthic ecologist, Dr. Klinger’s research has focused on applying ecological theory to practical management solutions, including ecosystem-based approaches to managing natural resources in the ocean, the ecological effects of environmental stressors, such as ocean acidification and habitat loss, and how rocky intertidal communities respond to and recover from disturbance. 

Since graduating from SMEA in 2023, Andrew Kenfick has continued his work in salmon conservation, transforming a classroom policy analysis into proposed state legislation.
Andrew co-drafted a bill for the Washington state Legislature to ban the chemical 6PPD from tires sold in Washington. Used since the 1960’s to prevent tire cracking and degradation, 6PPD transforms in the environment into 6PPD-quinone, a pollutant so toxic that even small amounts can kill juvenile and adult coho salmon. 

SMEA Director Nives Dolsak co-authored “In situ or ex situ overseas climate adaptation? Public support for immigration and climate aid in the Netherlands” (European Political Science Review).
The study explores Dutch public support for international climate adaptation, comparing financial aid to vulnerable countries with accepting climate-related migrants. Survey results from nearly 1,200 respondents show stronger support for policies that:

Include fewer immigrants and lower volumes of aid,

Focus on migrants from geographically or culturally closer countries,

Partner with countries that trade with the Netherlands and commit early to climate neutrality. 

The School of Marine and Environmental Affairs will hold its next faculty meeting on Thursday, February 5th, at 12:00 pm. Please see below for location details:
MAR Room 268 or via Zoom
A copy of the meeting agenda 2-5-26 Faculty Meeting Agenda is provided. Please contact Hailie Borges (hrb25@uw.edu) with any questions or for more information. 

The School of Marine and Environmental Affairs welcomed faculty, students, alumni, partners, and friends to the 2025 SMEA Community Reception, an evening dedicated to connection, conversation, and community.
Held as a gathering space for the broader SMEA network, the reception provided an opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, meet new members of our community, and celebrate the shared work that advances marine and environmental solutions. 

We’re excited to share a new publication by SMEA Professor Emeritus Marc Miller: “The Emergence of Hyper-Museums: Dubai’s Museum of the Future,” published in Arctic Review on Law and Politics.
In this article, Professor Miller explores the rise of “hyper-museums”, innovative cultural institutions that blend technology, design, and immersive experiences to redefine what a museum can be. Using Dubai’s Museum of the Future as a case study, he examines how these institutions are shaping cultural innovation, influencing society, and setting new standards for museums worldwide. 

George Thomas Jr. recently celebrated a major milestone: research connected to his floating wetlands capstone project was published in Science Direct. The multi-year capstone brought together several SMEA alumni (classes of 2019,2020, and 2021), and Geogre continued contributing to the work after graduation, serving as a co-author on the newly published article through ScienceDirect titled “Water Quality benefits of a nature-based solution: Constructed floating wetlands tested on two urban waterways”. 

Dear SMEA friends, 
Each academic year at SMEA brings new energy. This autumn, we were thrilled to welcome 34 new first-year students. As is always the case, they come from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds, ranging from aquatic and fishery sciences, biology, marine biology, other natural and physical sciences, chemical and biological engineering, to environmental studies, cinema and photography, ethnic studies, history, political science, sociology, and sustainable community development. 

The School of Marine and Environmental Affairs hosted its biennial Community Reception on November 22 at the Silver Cloud Inn, bringing together students, alumni, faculty, partners, and supporters for an evening of connection and celebration. The evening began with conversation, reconnecting, and building new relationships across the SMEA community.
Midway through the Evening, guests gathered for a short program featuring remarks from Dan Hull, Chair of the SMEA Director’s Council, Steve Metruck, Executive Director of the Port of Seattle and SMEA Professor of Practice, and SMEA Director and Professor Nives Dolšak.