This spring, Eitan Gerstle, 2nd year SMEA student, spent time in the Stillaguamish River estuary contributing to ongoing research on estuary restoration and its benefits for salmon and their prey.
Working as a research assistant with Dr. Anne Beaudreau, Eitan joined collaborators from The Nature Conservancy, Skagit River System Cooperative, and the Stillaguamish Tribe to help monitor ecological changes in restored estuarine habitats. 

SMEA alum Max Perkins has published his first lead-author paper in Ecosystem Services, titled “Exploring the disaster risk reduction and energy resilience benefits of coastal ecosystems and protected areas in Puerto Rico.” The paper was co-authored with SMEA Affiliate Faculty member Katir Arkema and colleagues.
In this research, Max applies a spatial model to identify where coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrasses help mitigate coastal hazard risks to nearshore energy infrastructure. 

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 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. 

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. 

Research led by SMEA Professor Ryan Kelly and research scientist Aden Yincheong Ip is currently featured on the University of Washington website’s front page.
Their study highlights an innovative method for monitoring salmon populations using airborne environmental DNA (eDNA). By collecting genetic material from the air, researchers can detect the presence of salmon without relying solely on traditional counting methods.
This approach offers a less invasive, more efficient way to track fish populations and could expand monitoring efforts in remote or difficult-to-access areas. 

SMEA Director Nives Dolsak, Ph.D., is serving as a guest editor for a special issue of Business & Society titled “Our Oceans as a Business-Society Nexus: Advancing the Interplay of Blue Economy, Blue Governance, and Blue Justice.”
The issue is co-edited with Matevž (Matt) Rašković, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand, and brings together interdisciplinary research examining the interactions between ocean-based economic activity, governance, and social equity.