On June 28, 2023, Dean Tolstoy and Director Dolšak hosted Admiral Linda Fagan, Commandant of the U. S. Coast Guard and SMEA alumna (MMA ’00). For reference, Admiral Fagan is the 27th Commandant of the United States Coast Guard (USCG), overseeing operations of more than 50,000 members and a fleet of 259 cutters, 200 aircraft, and 1,600 boats. Admiral Fagan was in Seattle to preside over the change of command ceremony for Healy, an active icebreaker homeported in Seattle. 

SMEA Associate Professor Anne Beaudreau was recently featured on Juneau’s KTOO Juneau Afternoon discussion on selective sports fisheries for marked hatchery salmon alongside presenters from Juneau Libraries and SMEAKMG. The full episode is available here. 

The Ocean Nexus Center, directed by SMEA Professor of Practice Yoshi Ota, has introduced a new blog focusing on human dimensions of ocean space. New articles are posted every Friday through July 31st.  You can read the first few articles at the links below:
Introducing Human Dimensions of Oceans: From a Sociological Perspective
Introducing Environmental Sociology and its Importance for Ocean Space

Degrowth, Environmental Sociology, and the Blue Economy
More than Mermaids: Reclaiming the Lost Feminist Voice in the Sociology of Oceans
Aquaculture and Political Economy: Food System as Social Structure
  

SMEA Associate Professor Ryan Kelly and UW’s College of the Environment Senior Communications Director John Meyer were featured in King5’s Evening segment last month. The segment highlights Northwest life and focused on Kelly and Meyer’s book, Between the Tides in Washington and Oregon: Exploring Beaches and Tidepools. The book, co-authored with SMEA professor Terrie Klinger, is described by King5 as, “…the ultimate guide to exploring different areas at low tide.”
You can read the full article and view the news clip here. 

SMEA Director and Professor Nives Dolsak has co-authored a journal article published in PLOS Climate. The article titled, “Varieties of just transition: Public support in South Africa’s Mpumalanga coal community for different policy options” reviews public support for “Just Transition” (JT) through four policy types: individual compensation, financial support to local governments, individual reskilling, and upgrading local infrastructure. The primary focus is on South Africa for its large coal mining sector, and features in-depth interviews with over 50 coal miners, Eskom power planter workers, and community members within the Mpumalanga province. 

SMEA Assistant Professor P. Joshua Griffin has authored a piece in The Conversation titled, “Arctic sea ice loss and fierce storms leave Kivalina’s volunteer search and rescue fighting to protect their island from climate disasters”. This article addresses Kivalina, Alaska’s efforts to adapt to sea-level rise, the continuing loss of sea ice, and the increasing ferocity of Arctic storms. The piece also provides an assessment of the cost of moving vulnerable Arctic communities as the effects of climate change continue to impact Arctic shores. 

SMEA Associate Professor Sunny Jardine has been named President-elect of the North American Association of Fisheries Economists (NAAFE) for a four-year term. NAAFE is an association which influences the shape of fisheries management and policies in the US and elsewhere. The primary goal of the association is encouraging open communication among fisheries economists. You can learn more about NAAFE here. Please join us in congratulating Sunny! 

SMEA Professor of Practice Phil Levin has been appointed to the White House! The Biden-Harris administration has announced Phil’s appointment as director of the inaugural United States National Nature Assessment (NNA). The NNA uses an interdisciplinary lens to review the impact of nature on everyday human life. An assessment is tentatively scheduled for release in 2026. During this appointment, Phil will pause his teaching and advising responsibilities within SMEA. 

Affiliate SMEA faculty member, Eric Laschever, in collaboration with Associate Professor Ryan Kelly, Michelle Hoge, and Kai Lee, recently published an article in the Columbia Journal of Environmental Law, which provides a legal analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) under existing U.S. federal statutes. The work was presented on April 4th at the New York Associated Journal Symposium. A copy of the journal article is available for review here. 

The School of Marine & Environmental Affairs will hold its next faculty meeting on Thursday, April 6, at 12:00pm. Please see below for location details;
Ocean  Building, Room 207 or via Zoom using the information below:
https://washington.zoom.us/j/93393936028?pwd=ZUxHS3liOGQ0ZTB6L0tyZDVPMEFYdz09
Meeting ID: 933 9393 6028
Passcode: 457426 US (Seattle)
A copy of the meeting agenda can be found here. Please contact Michaela Miller (mcski@uw.edu) with any questions or for more information.