Date: Friday, February 9th, 2024

SMEA’s Community Reception at Renaissance Seattle Hotel was fabulous! Special thanks to everyone who attended. We look forward to future SMEA events and chances to connect with alumni, supporters, faculty, students and post-docs! 

Monterey, CA
This November three students from the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs presented their research at the Western Society of Naturalists conference, in Monterey, CA. The annual meeting brings together students, academics, and professionals focusing on ecology, evolution, and natural history along the West Coast of the United States.
Taylor Hughes (she/her/hers, SMEA ‘25) presented a research project she conducted this summer at Friday Harbor Laboratories investigating how temperature affects the microscopic life stages of bull kelp, Nereocystis luetkeana. 

Location for all talks:On campus: Fishery Science Building (FSH), 1122 NE Boat Street, room 203Zoom:  NOTE: you will need to type in the password to enter the seminarVideo link: https://washington.zoom.us/j/92079340874Meeting ID: 920 7934 0874Passcode: seminarAudio-only option: +1 206 337 9723 US (Seattle)Meeting ID: 920 7934 0874

Thursday, October 12, 12-1 pm
Melissa Parks (she/her), Postdoctoral Scholar, University of Washington – School of Marine and Environmental Affairs and NOAA – Alaska Fisheries Science Center
Talk title: Exploring the Influence of Multispecies Interactions on Small Farmers’ Perceptions of and Responses to Climate Change in Oregon
Bio: Melissa Parks is an applied anthropologist researching human interactions with the environment and food systems in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. 

Seattle Times: Native nations on front lines of climate change share knowledge and find support at intensive camps
Tribes suffer some of the most severe impacts of climate change in the U.S. but often have the fewest resources to respond. This inspiring story shows how tribes are working together to make a difference.  SMEA student Michael Buck is prominent in pictures and video.  

 
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. 

On Thursday, June 8th, 2023 the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs held its graduation ceremony.
A welcome was given by SMEA Associate Director, Ryan Kelly, followed by opening remarks from the College of the Environment Dean, Maya Tolstoy, and special keynote speaker Stephen Metruck, Port of Seattle Executive Director. Graduating students Andrea Richter-Sanchez and Kurt Ellison were nominated as class speakers. 

The School of Marine & Environmental Affairs will hold its next faculty meeting on Thursday, June 1, at 12:00pm. Please see below for location details;
Ocean Sciences Building (OCN), Room 203 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 Ulla Johnson (ullaj@uw.edu) with any questions or for more information. 

You are invited to join the SMEA thesis and capstone presentations on Friday, May 12th in the Marine Studies Building, room 268. If you’d like to attend via Zoom, please contact Michaela Miller at mcski@uw.edu for details. The schedule of events is as follows:
May 19th 

Student
Faculty Advisor
Thesis/Capstone & Title
Client
Scheduled Time
Virtual/In-Person

Mallory Muna
Yoshi Ota
Thesis, “Towards Equity in Ocean Governance: A Case Study of Indigenous Chamorro Participation in Marine Conservation in the CNMI”
N/A
10-10:30am
Virtual

Hannah King & Maddie Hicks
Cleo Wolfle Hazard
Karuk Tribe Sahpihnîich (Beaver) Research and Recovery

10:45-11:15am
In-person

BREAK

Kristin Hayman
Phil Levin
Thesis, “Carbon & Health Co-Benefits of Afforestation & Avoided Forest Conversion in the Puget Sound Region”
N/A
12:15-12:45pm
In-person

Adrien Owens
Yoshi Ota
Thesis, “Local Perspectives and Cultural Values in Relation to “El Projecto Techos de Esperanza,” Bocas del Toro, Panamá”
N/A
1-1:30pm
In-person

BREAK

Caitie Sheban, Kat Husiak & Hannah Tennent
Sunny Jardine

Restoration in the Lower Duwamish River: Understanding Community
Stakeholders and their River Use Preferences
 
3-3:30pm
 In-person

Bryce Lewis-Smith
Griff
Thesis, “Grounded Constellations: Networks of Nourishment and Support Amongst Indigenous Resurgent Movements” 
AIS
3:45-4:15
Virtual

There will also be a networking happy hour immediately following the presentations. 

You are invited to join the SMEA thesis and capstone presentations on Friday, May 12th in the Marine Studies Building, room 268. If you’d like to attend via Zoom, please contact Michaela Miller at mcski@uw.edu for details. The schedule of events is as follows:

Student
Faculty Advisor
Thesis/Capstone & Title
Client
Scheduled Time
Virtual/In-Person

Ivana Suradja
Ere Aceves Bueno & Yoshi Ota
Thesis, “Application of Blue Transition to Community-based Marine Tourism in Indonesia”
N/A
9-9:30am
In-person/Hybrid

BREAK

Isabel Jamerson, Danny Kosiba, Oliva Horwedel
Griff
Sea Otter Reintroductions: Honoring Relationality and Balance on the Coast
Elakha Alliance
10-10:30am
In-person/Hybrid

BREAK

Leslie Nguyen
Nives Dolsak
Thesis, “Evaluating tenant relocation outcomes from flood-related voluntary property buyouts in the U.S.”
N/A
11-11:30am
In-person/Hybrid

Ellie Mason
Anne Beaudreau
Thesis, “Adaptive capacity of the Maine lobster fishery: Insights from the Maine Fishermen’s Climate Roundtable”
N/A
11:45-12:15pm
In-person/Hybrid

Emma Scallisi
Anne Beaudreau
Thesis, “Stewardship, advocacy, and knowledge in Juneau-area fisheries”
N/A
12:30-1:00pm
In-person/Hybrid

BREAK

Catalina Burch
Anne Beaudreau
Thesis, “Temperature effects on spatiotemporal patterns of forage fish and crustaceans in Gulf of Alaska groundfish diets”
N/A
1:30-2:00pm
In-person/Hybrid 

The School of Marine & Environmental Affairs will hold its next faculty meeting on Thursday, May 4, at 12:00pm. Please see below for location details;
Ocean Sciences Building (OCN), Room 203 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 Ulla Johnson (ullaj@uw.edu) with any questions or for more information.