Capstone Projects by Year
Capstone Projects
2025 – coming soon
2024 – coming soon
2023
2022
2021
2020
2025
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 Identifying enabling conditions for positive biodiversity outcomes in aquaculture Student: Indra Behar, Elyse Kelsey, Karina Thiel-Klare Advisor: David Fluharty Client: Amber Himes-Cornell, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization  | 
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 The Public Perceptions of Aquaculture in Oregon Student: Kyla Bivens, Delaney Cyphers, Kenza Oualim, Advisor: Ryan Kelly Client: John Moehl, Oregon Aquaculture Association  | 
2024
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 Improving capacity of governments and the fisheries sector to conserve marine biodiversity through the use of “other effective area-based conservation measures” Student: Francesca Nash, Marissa Ortega, Courtney Skalley Advisor: Dave Fluharty Client: Amber Himes-Cornell, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization  | 
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 Community Acceptance, Engagement, and Stewardship for San Juan Island Tidal Energy Development Student: Ali Alobaid, Jazzmin Fragiacomo, Rachel Gates Advisor: Nives Dolsak Client: Andrea Copping & Katie Arkema, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory  | 
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 Excavating the regulatory process and risks posed by expansion of mining projects in Alaska watersheds Student: Elise Adams, Nika Hoffman, Jessica Lechtenberg, Katalin Plummer, Jack Winterhalter Advisor: Anne Beaudreau Client: Chris Sergeant  | 
2023
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 Restoration in the Lower Duwamish River: Understanding Community Stakeholders and their River Use Preferences Students: Hannah Tennent, Kathryn Husiak, Caitie Sheban Advisor: Sunny Jardine Client: John Floberg, NOAA  | 
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 Finding Common Ground: Communicating Across Borders to Restore the Salish Sea Students: Luke Hiserman, Jessica Rose, Kris Thompson Advisor: Patrick Christie & Jonathan Warran, JSIS Clients: Tulalip Tribes, Puyallup Tribes, SeaLegacy, John Weller, WA Sea Grant, UW Center for Human Rights  | 
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 Improving capacity of governments and the fisheries sector to conserve marine biodiversity through the use of “other effective area-based conservation measures” Students: Sarah Davidson, Xavier Nelson-Rowntree, Lucy Bowser Advisor: Dave Fluharty Client: Amber Himes-Cornell, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization  | 
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 Karuk Tribe Sahpihnîich (Beaver) Research and Recovery Students: Maddie Hicks, Hannah King Advisor: Cleo Wolfle Hazard Client: Emilio Tripp & Daniel Sarna, Karuk Tribe Dept. of Natural Resources Wildlife Division  | 
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 Multi-level governance for conserving migratory shorebirds Students: Elley Donnelly, Molly Daly Advisor: Nives Dolsak Client: Trina Bayard, Audubon Washington  | 
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 NNA Planning: Community-based Mitigation and Adaptive Strategies for River Flooding and Erosion in Alaska Native Communities Student: Kellie Cutsinger, Amelia Wells Advisor: Cleo Wolfle Hazard Client: Cassandra Rutherford, Iowa State University  | 
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 Tracking ESA-listed fish research on the West Coast Student: Rory Spurr, Alana Santana Advisor: Anne Beaudreau Client: Diana Dishman, NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region  | 
2022
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 Equitable Solutions for a Clean and Resilient Salish Sea Students: Robinson Low, Darby Swayne Advisor: Phillip Levin Clients: The Nature Conservancy and The Puget Sound Partnership  | 
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 Floodplain Management for All: Addressing the Inequities and Needs of Indigenous Communities Students: Tanya Eiison, Olivia Zimmerman Advisor: Phil Levin Client: The Nature Conservancy  | 
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 Polar Science at a Human Scale: Knowledge Co-Production for Hazard Planning, Food Sovereignty, and Climate Adaptation in the Alaskan Arctic Students: Abigail Ames, Kathryn Loy, Chase Puentes, Kayla Stevenson, Nicolette Worrell Advisor: P.J. Griffin Client: Kivalina Volunteer Search and Rescue (KVL-SAR) and the City of Kivalina  | 
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 Improving Capacity of Governments and the Fisheries Sector to Conserve Marine Biodiversity Through the Use of “Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures” Students: Clay McKean, Caroline Potter Faculty Sponsor: David Fluharty Client: Amber Himes-Cornell – The principal client for this project is the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome, Italy; however, the products will be used to engage governments from all over the world.  | 
2021
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 Mainstreaming Climate Adaptation into Decision-making Statewide Students: Alanna Green, Corey King Advisor: Nives Dolsak Client: Amy Snover, Jason Vogel; UW CLIMATE IMPACTS GROUP  | 
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 Marine Spatial Planning for Kelp Aquaculture Site Selection Students: Katie Byrnes, Kalloway Page Advisor: Eric Laschever Client: Nicole Naar, Dan Tonnes, NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service  | 
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 Duwamish Floating Wetlands Project Students: George Thomas, Daniel Roberts, James Lee, Samantha Klein Advisors: Cleo Wolfle-Erskine & Dave Fluharty Client: GREEN FUTURES RESEARCH AND DESIGN LAB, UW [King County Waterworks, Port of Seattle, Rose Foundation and Community Groups]; Leanne Andrews Project Manager  | 
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 Finding Common Ground: Communicating Across Borders to Restore Puget Sound Student: Alexander Rodzyanko Advisor: Patrick Christie Client: TULALIP TRIBES [Washington Sea Grant, SMEA] Jonathan Warren (AIS), Francesca Hillary (Round River and advisory Tulalip Tribes), John Weller (Independent Film Maker), Inez Bill (Hilbulb Cultural Center)  | 
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 Potential Impacts of Re-Opening the Trawl Rockfish Conservation Area off the Costs of Oregon and California Students: Pat Dodd, Marissa Pauling, Christina Madonia Advisor: Phil Levin Client: Gretchen Henshew and colleagues, NOAA Fisheries  | 
2020
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 Lessons Learned from Tropical Ocean Learning Networks Students: Henry Bell, Dave Berndtson, Katy Dalton, Marlena Skrobe Advisor: Patrick Christie Client: Dr. Leopoldo Cavaleri Gerhardinger (International Collective in Support of Fishworkers, Brazil  | 
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 The Implications of Uncertainty in Bycatch Estimates for Pacific Halibut and Sablefish Students: Louis Foristall, Angela Moran Advisor: Sunny Jardine Client: Deep Sea Fishermen’s Union and Fishing Vessel Owner’s Association  | 
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 Restoring groundwater and salmon with the help of beavers and bulldozers Klamath Basin, CA Students: Deborah Rose, Ian Stanfield Advisor: Cleo Woelfle-Erskine Clients: Scott River Watershed Council, Quartz Valley Indian Community, Karuk Tribe Department of Natural Resources, Mid-Klamath Watershed Council, Michael Pollock, PhD, NOAA NWFSC  | 
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 Promoting U.S. Bi-coastal Collaboration to Enhance State and Regional Level “Knowledge to Action” OA Initiatives Students: Chris Boylan, Susannah Maher Advisor: Eric Laschever Client: International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification  | 
2019
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 Weathering Future Hazards, Washington’s Coastal Resilience Project Students: John Downing, Mariko Kobayashi, Ryan Swanson Advisor: Clare Ryan Client: WA Sea Grant  | 
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 West Coast Groundfish Catch Shares: Options for the Adaptive Management Program Students: Katrina Chicojay Moore, Kelly Martin, Emilie Franke Advisor: Sunny Jardine Client: Frank Lockhart (NOAA)  | 
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 Sea Level Rise and Capital Facilities Investment Students: Lauren Kerber, Erik Landahl, Zuehing Sheng Advisor: Nives Dolsak Client: Nicole Faghin & Bobbak Talebi, Washington Sea Grant & Climate Impacts Group  | 
2018
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 Oil Exports: New Shipping Patterns and Changing Risks of Spills Students: Ian Hanna, Valerie Cleland Advisor: Mary Baker Client: NOAA Emergency Response Division, Doug Helton  | 
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 Setting Seattle’s Course: What Will it Take to Become the Nation’s Premier Sustainable Seafood City? Students: Kadie McShirley, Emily Rhoades, Brittany Flittner, Henry Peterson Advisor: Eddie Allison Client: The Nature Conservancy of Washington  | 
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 Assessing Policy Approaches for Addressing Sea Level Rise in King County Students: James Roubal, Charlene Vasquez Advisor: Nives Dolsak Client: Climate Impacts Group, University of Washington in partnership with the King County Climate Change Team (Amy Snover)  | 
2017
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 Economic and Sociocultural Impacts and Future Implications of the 2015 Harfmful Algal Bloom-Induced Shellfish Closures in Two Fishery-Dependent Communities Students: Amy Brodbeck, Sara Brostrom, Jerilyn Coberly, Scott McGrew Advisors: Terrie Klinger Client: JPB Environmental Health Fellows Program  | 
2016
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 Identifying and Assessing Emerging Risks in Marine Transportation Students: Megan Desillier, Seth Sivinski, Nicole White Advisors: Tom Leschine & Bob Pavia Client: NOAA and ITOPF  |