A recent article in Nature, written by Aisling Irwin, highlights emerging advances in environmental DNA (eDNA), including research led by Ryan Kelly, professor at the University of Washington’s School of Marine and Environmental Affairs (SMEA).
Kelly’s work is helping to expand the frontiers of how scientists monitor and understand ecosystems. While eDNA has traditionally been collected from water or soil, his research demonstrates that DNA can also be captured from the air. 

SMEA’s Student Environmental Affairs Society (SEAS) invites students and professionals to attend Blue Drinks, a networking event focused on marine and coastal issues.
Blue Drinks offers an opportunity to connect with others in the field, exchange ideas, and discuss the current challenges shaping our oceans and coasts. The event comes at an important time for SMEA students, as first-year students prepare for summer internships and second-year students get ready to graduate and begin their careers. 

The School of Marine and Environmental Affairs (SMEA) is pleased to announce its Spring 2026 Departmental Speaker Series, coordinated by Dave Fluharty. This quarter’s theme, Informing Trade Offs, highlights the complex decisions shaping environmental science, policy, and management today.
The series brings together faculty, practitioners, and alumni to share interdisciplinary perspectives and real-world experience across a range of environmental careers. Sessions are open to SMEA students, the University of Washington community, and the public. 

At SMEA, our community extends far beyond the classroom. Whether you are an alum, partner, or supporter of marine and environmental leadership, there are many ways to stay connected and involved.
Follow Us on Social MediaStay up to date on student work, research, alumni achievements, and upcoming events by following us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.@UWSMEA
Volunteer with SMEAShare your knowledge and experience with the next generation of marine and environmental leaders. 

SMEA affiliate faculty member Katie Arkema and SMEA graduate Max Perkins, alongside SMEA alumni Mikaela Freeman and Debbie Rose, have co-authored a new paper, Reimagining community-centered engagement to guide offshore wind planning and development.
Current approaches to community engagement in energy development often prioritize meeting minimum regulatory requirements, treating engagement as a procedural step rather than a meaningful process. This paper argues that more durable and effective energy solutions require shared power, transparency, and sustained relationships with communities. 

A new research article co-authored by Nives Dolšak, Director of SMEA, has been published in Environmental Research Communications.
The study examines environmental policy and governance dynamics that influence how societies address complex environmental challenges. By analyzing policy frameworks and public perspectives, the research contributes to a deeper understanding of the institutional and social factors shaping environmental decision-making.
This work adds to a growing body of scholarship exploring how policy design, political institutions, and public engagement affect environmental outcomes and sustainability initiatives. 

Recently, SMEA students Josh Hymes, Marissa Scott, Miriam Stearns, alumna Marria Peduto, and their advisor Anne Beaudreau traveled to Juneau, Alaska, to attend a meeting on subsistence resource management in the Tongass National Forest. While there, they spoke with community leaders who emphasized the importance of customary and traditional harvests for food, cultural practices, and livelihoods. The SMEA team also had an opportunity to discuss their work to develop a communication toolkit for subsistence management staff and the public. 

SMEA alumna Lindsay Gordon is helping bring global attention to climate change and sea-level rise through film as the Impact Producer of the award-winning documentary Oceania: Journey to the Center. The feature-length film tells the story of life on an atoll in the Pacific island nation of Kiribati, which scientists predict could become uninhabitable by 2030 due to rising sea levels and warming temperatures driven by climate change. 

The School of Marine and Environmental Affairs (SMEA) at the University of Washington is pleased to announce that Dr. Shana Hirsch will join the faculty as an Assistant Professor beginning in Fall 2026.
Dr. Hirsch is a qualitative social scientist with a background in natural resource politics, policy, and management. Her research focuses on emerging technologies and their impact on individuals, communities, and policies related to sustainability and equity. 

One of the many advantages of studying at SMEA is the opportunity to engage with the vast resources available across the University of Washington.
Recently, students in the Marine Science in the Coastal Zone course, taught by Assistant Professor Erendira Aceves Bueno, Ph.D., visited the UW Fish Collection, a globally significant archive of fish biodiversity. During their visit, students had the chance to observe an incredible diversity of species up close, from beautifully preserved coastal fishes to the striking and unforgettable deep-sea anglerfish.