The University of Washington School of Marine & Environmental Affairs (SMEA) is proud to congratulate Research Professor and Director Phil Levin on his election to the Washington State Academy of Sciences (WSAS).
Election to the Academy recognizes scientists and engineers whose work has made significant contributions to their fields and who are committed to using their expertise to help address Washington state’s most pressing challenges. 

The University of Washington School of Marine & Environmental Affairs (SMEA) is pleased to welcome Dr. Phil Levin as the School’s new Director.
An internationally recognized conservation scientist, Dr. Levin has dedicated his career to advancing interdisciplinary approaches that connect science, policy, and communities to address complex environmental challenges. His work bridges the natural and social sciences, helping develop innovative tools that support the conservation of marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems while recognizing the needs of the people who depend on them. 

The School of Marine & Environmental Affairs is proud to congratulate master’s student Tessa Marks on receiving a Fulbright Research Grant to Honduras.
Marks, a student in Marine & Environmental Affairs and International Studies, will conduct research on mangrove forests in the Bay Islands of Honduras, part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. Working with the Bay Islands Conservation Association on the island of Roatán, she will explore how ecological conditions, governance structures, and community priorities influence mangrove protection and restoration efforts. 

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 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. 

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. 

Second-year School of Marine and Environmental Affairs (SMEA) graduate students Amie Kusch and Clare Knife were recently invited to attend the FAO Expert Workshop: Turning Guidance into Action: Regional Insights for Implementing the Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome, Italy.
The invitation came from their FAO client, Amber Himes-Cornell, whose collaboration with the students is part of their SMEA capstone project. 

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.