Tressa Arbow presented her research, “Workforce Sustainability in the Washington Maritime Industry,” at the Washington Maritime Blue Strategy Rollout event on Tuesday, January 8. Washington Maritime Blue is a task force established by Governor Inslee in 2017 to develop a plan for increasing the competitiveness and sustainability of the Washington maritime industry, or Blue Economy. The roll out event was the formal delivery of the Strategic Plan, and included remarks from Advisory Council members and leaders of key demonstration projects. 

SMEA alumni were instrumental in working across the Senate aisle on S. 2511, the “Commercial Engagement through Ocean Technology (CENOTE) Act,” which was signed by President Trump on December 21, 2018. This legislation, advanced by U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), instructs NOAA to expand the use of unmanned maritime systems technology for collecting ocean data that can be used for academic, national security, and commercial purposes. 

SMEA Professor and Associate Director Nives Dolšak and UW Director of the Center for Environmental Politics Aseem Prakash recently wrote an article featured on The Hill titled, “Can the climate movement survive populism? Lessons from ‘yellow vest’ protests.” The article considers the “yellow vest” protests in France, which were prompted by the proposal for “green” levies on transportation fuel. The violent protests are part of a populist movement that reflect anger over high taxes and declining incomes. 

By Mackenzie Nelson
The spring 2018 quarter brought a new class to the SMEA register: “Ecopoetics Along Shorelines.” This course, taught by SMEA assistant professor Cleo Woelfle-Erskine and CHID and PoE lecturer July Hazard, highlighted the dynamic boundary that is the shoreline. The course was cross listed among CHID and Honors as well.
This course gave students the opportunity to participate in a field course as well as a weekly seminar. 

Why did you decide to pursue a Master of Marine Affairs?
I made the decision to go back to graduate school while in the middle of a new job search a few years ago. I come from a natural science background, but the job descriptions that attracted me most required a mix of natural and social science training. I realized that to be competitive in the job market, I would need to diversify my analytical skills and learn how to think critically about marine issues from a social science perspective. 

By Spencer Showalter
NGO Sector
Sascha Peterson, Class of 2007
Founder and Director of Adaptation International

What has your career path looked like since SMEA?

I did my thesis work at SMA with Ed Miles and Tom Leschine focused on bridging the gap between science and policy in climate change. After graduation, I worked briefly for the Climate Impacts Group at UW helping to develop the first state wide sea level rise projections. 

Alumnus Dan R. Herlihy graduated from the School of Marine Affairs in 1985 and is now a Senior Marine Consultant for the The Gerson Lehrman Group. We had a chance to catch up with Dan and hear about his job, his time at SMA, and advice he has for current SMEA students.
Can you give us a brief description of what you do? 

SMEA Professor and Associate Director Nives Dolšak, UW Director of the Center for Environmental Politics Aseem Prakash and Center for Environmental Politics Fellow Steven M. Karceski recently wrote an article featured on The Hill titled, “Read my lips: No new (carbon) tax.” The article considers why Initiative 1631, the carbon tax, is heading for defeat in the state of Washington, in spite of broad liberal support. 

Why did you decide to pursue a Master of Marine Affairs?
My 4-year undergraduate training in marine resource and environment planted me with a great interest in this field. With passion to explore the field of marine conservation and fishery management further, I spent my time working in environmental NGO. The working experience in NGO determined my interest in engaging in this field, but I felt I wanted to have a more specialized and systematic understanding in my work. 

Congratulations to SMEA alum Courtney Greiner, Professor Terrie Klinger and co-authors on their recent publication in the Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology titled “Habitat effects of macrophytes and shell on carbonate chemistry and juvenile clam recruitment, survival, and growth.” The article is based on Greiner’s thesis research, which investigated the collective effect of two ocean acidification adaptation strategies; shell hash and macrophytes.