SMEA’s Newest Alumni

Though the 2020-2021 academic year was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, SMEA students were undeterred. This academic year, 26 students will have received their Master’s of Marine Affairs. The Class of 2021 was in a unique position to have experienced a portion of their graduate studies in-person, while turning to virtual learning in the Spring 2020 quarter.
Despite the distance imposed on SMEA students, this cohort was able to make significant contributions and maintain the academic rigor expected for the degree, all while getting creative in forging social connections. 

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Dolšak Cited in Review of Amazon’s Climate Pledge

Stan and Alta Barer Professor of Sustainability Science, Dr. Nives Dolšak offered her expertise and insights to NBC News in their review of the climate pledge made by global business giant Amazon. Dolšak’s work on climate neutrality and global climate change policies has been featured across many outlets, and in the wake of Amazon’s climate pledge announcement, she has been interviewed and consulted on what the pledge means, its efficacy, and how it shifts the landscape for private business. 

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National Center for Atmospheric research names Cleo Woelfle-Erskine to Early Career Faculty Innovator Program

The National Center for Atmospheric Research has named SMEA Professor Cleo Woelfle-Erskine, to its Early Career Faculty Innovator Program, as was recently featured in UW News.
The designation comes with a $400,000 award and Woelfle-Erskine is among the new program’s second cohort, working with School of Environmental and Forest Sciences doctoral student Sofi Courtney.
The Faculty Innovator Program aims to support faculty researchers in the social, policy and behavioral sciences and graduate students for two years as they develop interdisciplinary research projects in partnership with the center. 

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SMEA June Faculty Meeting

The School of Marine & Environmental Affairs will hold its next faculty meeting on Thursday, June 3, 12:00 – 1:10 pm. Please see below for details on how to join;
Zoom Online Meeting
https://washington.zoom.us/j/98826108709 
Meeting ID: 988 2610 8709
Dial In
1-206-337-9723
A copy of the meeting agenda can be found here. Please contact Jackie Chapman (jachap@uw.edu) with any questions or for more information. 

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A grid of metal pins with the University of Washington "W" logo and the words "Husky 100".

Rogerson Selected for “Husky 100”

2021 SMEA graduate Abigail Rogerson has been named to the University of Washington’s “Husky 100”. Rogerson was a member of a capstone project team advised by Dr. Nives Dolšak, which presented their work “Cascadia transboundary climate change and natural resource governance” in March 2021.
The “Husky 100” recognizes 100 students; graduates, undergraduates, and professional students across the three campuses (Seattle, Bothell, Tacoma) “who are making the most of their time” at the University. 

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Nexus Graduate Fellow Lavallee to Present “Indigenous Ocean Ecologies” Work

As a culminating presentation by the Nexus Fellows in Indigenous Ocean Ecologies, first-year SMEA student and Nexus Graduate fellow Izzi Lavallee will lead a presentation on the work their “research family” has done around “Indigenous Ocean Ecologies”. The presentation will feature several undergrad fellows speaking about the community-engaged projects they designed this year. Izzi worked closely with SMEA Assistant Professor P. 

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Join SMEA for Professor of Practice Job Candidate Talk

On Monday, May 24, 12:30 PM PST the School of Marine & Environmental Affairs (SMEA) will host candidate Dr Yoshitaka Ota for the position of Professor of Practice. Please join SMEA as Dr. Ota presents his research. Details on the talk below:
“My outline of theory of practice for oceans”
Since when has the ocean become a boundary object that reinforces the dichotomy between nature and culture? 

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Eight Students to Present Thesis Research

Several students nearing graduation will be presenting their thesis research on Friday, May 14th. In pursuit of their Master’s of Marine Affairs, students may elect to complete a collaborative capstone project, focus on courses-only, or complete thesis research. Under the guidance of their faculty advisor, student presenters have worked for nearly the last two years on projects of their design.  This series of presentations represents the culmination of this work. 

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SMEA student James Lee is shown with golden sunlight on half of his face and shoulders. He's wearing a black zip up hoodie and baseball cap.

Q&A with James Lee

Why did you decide to pursue a Master of Marine Affairs?
About ten years ago I started organizing back in my hometown in the San Francisco Bay Area, working on everything from anti-eviction campaigns to wetland protection campaigns and local election campaigns. When I went back to school some years later to finish my bachelor’s degree, I was excited to be thinking about and working in marine science again, but I was bummed that the policy and advocacy work I was doing had to take a backseat to my education. 

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Young Sablefish Surviving Winter Despite Marine Heatwaves

Marine heatwaves in the Gulf of Alaska have led to lower growth, body condition, and survival for many fish species, but young sablefish (blackcod) have thrived. Juvenile sablefish can grow very quickly in these warmer temperatures, as long as they have access to high quality food. In a new publication, authored in part by Dr. Anne Beaudreau, fat storage and growth of sablefish was measured over their first two years of life to better understand their survival strategies. 

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