UW School of Marine and Environmental Affairs

🎉Congratulations to SMEA 2nd-year student Marria Peduto, who was awarded a CICOES Graduate Student Fellowship for her research with SMEA faculty member Anne Beaudreau on advocacy coalitions in Bering Sea fisheries management. 🐟

🎓 Alumni Spotlight: Kevin Grant ’04

As Superintendent of NOAA’s Olympic Coast Sanctuary, Kevin leads efforts in marine protection, research, and Tribal collaboration. Proud to celebrate his impact! 🌊

#SMEAAlumni #NOAA #OceanConservation #AlumniSpotlight

Washed in on the Tide | School of Marine and Environmental Affairs What is this column? We are experimenting with ways to engage with our alumni and to inspire current students with their accomplishments. This section is a random walk through what we’ve recently obse...

New " Washed in the Tide" just dropped!

SMEA alumni are driving change in ocean science, policy, and more!

This edition is a snapshot of what impact likes like across sectors.

Read more about these incredible changmakers doing incredible things: smea.uw.edu/about/news/2...

#UWSMEA

12 UW professors elected to Washington State Academy of Sciences Election recognizes the new member’s “outstanding record of scientific and technical achievement and willingness to assist the Academy in providing the best available scientific information and...

@uwess.bsky.social Eric Steig elected to Washington State Academy of Sciences. #UWEnvironment @uwnews.uw.edu

www.washington.edu/news/2025/07...

Valiant Near-Peer Mentoring Program A program for first-generation undergraduate students in the College of the Environment Program purpose The Valiant Mentoring Program is a near-peer mentoring program that supports first generation* u...

Thrilled to announce the new Valiant Near-Peer Mentoring Program. Sponsored by the Valiant Endowment Fund, the program supports first gen undergrads enrolled in an @uwenvironment.bsky.social degree program. Details below. @uwess.bsky.social @uwsafs.bsky.social environment.uw.edu/about/inclus...

Increasingly Acidic Seas Threaten Oyster Farming

SMEA Professor Terrie Klinger is featured in the NYT for her work on ocean acidification + climate change impacts on oyster farming. A timely and important read.

🔗 www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/s...
#OceanScience #SMEA #ClimateChange #Oysters #BlueSkyScience

Penalty or premium for foreign ownership in Thailand? Comparing public support for waste-to-energy plants operated by Thai, Japanese, and Chinese Companies Waste-to-energy (WtE) projects use municipal waste to generate energy. While they increase local environmental and health risks, they also generate local environmental and economic benefits. If facili...

New research co-authored by SMEA’s Director Nives Dolšak digs into what makes people support (or not support) waste-to-energy plants in Thailand.

Super interesting look at trust, foreign firms, and sustainability.
🔗 journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...

#EnvPolicy #EnergyJustice #Thailand #SMEA

News | School of Marine and Environmental Affairs

Our Summer 2025 newsletter just went live ☀️

It’s full of SMEA highlights — grads, research, alumni moves, and a note from our director on where we’re headed.

It’s a good one → smea.uw.edu/about/news/?...

#SMEA #MarineAffairs #EnvironmentalWork #AlumniNews #GradSeason

Underwater turbine spinning for 6 years off Scotland's coast is a breakthrough for tidal energy Submerged in about 40 meters of water off Scotland’s coast, a turbine has been spinning for more than six years to harness the power of ocean tides and generate electricity.

Scotland is turning tides into power.

The MeyGen project is scaling up—installing new underwater turbines that could deliver steady, clean electricity to thousands of homes.

Tidal energy may finally be ready for the spotlight. 🌊

🔗 apnews.com/article/tida...
#TidalPower #MarineEnergy #ClimateTech

A new article co-authored by Connor Lewis-Smith (SMEA'20) explores how shellfish growers perceive ocean acidification and the uncertainty in their operations.

📖 fish.uw.edu/2025/05/chan...

#oceanacidification #SMEA #climatechange

Who will benefit from melting glaciers? In a remote corner of North America, salmon and mining companies are vying for new territory.

As glaciers melt on the AK–BC border, new land is opening and being rapidly claimed for mining. Indigenous leaders + researchers, like SMEA’s Chris Sergeant, are pushing back to protect salmon, sovereignty, and ecosystems.

Read the piece from @grist: grist.org/indigenous/m...

This year's SMEA graduates selected a truly inspiring keynote speaker: Amanda Fisher, retired Coast Guard Commander proud SMEA alum '10. Her words reminded us of the strength, service, and community that defines our program. #SMEA2025

Congrats to the SMEA Class of 2025! You’re off to shape the future of our coasts, oceans & communities. Special shoutout to student speaker Luke Weaver for his kind words and wisdom.

Here’s to the next wave!

Dr. Patrick Christie has a new publication out examining how transdisciplinary research can support sustainability and transform conflict in marine and coastal regions.

Click here to read it for free!: linktr.ee/uwsmea?utm_s...

#SMEAatUW

Q&A with Mel Good | School of Marine and Environmental Affairs Describe your experience in applying to and selecting a graduate program. Applying to graduate school was one of the most difficult things I have ever done. Not necessarily because it was hard to p...

This month's student spotlight is...Mel Good!
Get to know continuing student Mel Good as they open up about their experience applying to SMEA, their passion for marine mammals, and their favorite Filipino food spots!
smea.uw.edu/about/news/2...

Scientists want to track the world's biodiversity using DNA in the air Scientists have found a way to sample DNA out of the air on a large scale — making it possible to one day track the health and well being of all kinds of species around the world.

Professor Ryan Kelly was interviewed for his work with environmental DNA!

Scientists want to track the world’s biodiversity using DNA in the air by Ari Daniel.

www.npr.org/2025/05/22/g...

DNA captured from the air could track wildlife, invasive species—and humans Technology could be a boon for science, but raises ethical concerns

Professor Ryan Kelly was interviewed for his work with environmental DNA!

DNA captured from the air could track wildlife, invasive species–and humans by Warren Cornwall.
www.science.org/content/arti...

Congratulations to the soon-to-be graduates who have presented their thesis or capstone work today!

Our student spotlight for May is...Kenza Oualim!

Get to know second-year Kenza Oualim as she shares her passion for natural spaces, an eye-opening capstone, and working towards her dream job.

Read her Q&A here: smea.uw.edu/about/news/2...

Some coverage of my research with @uafairbanks's Anne Beaudreau and Maggie Chan on Alaska charter #fisheries https://web.sfos.uaf.edu/wordpress/news/?p=2634

Our final speaker for spring 2025 is Kiley Mukai (Pazcoguin)--City of Shoreline (SMEA Alum)

Join us on May 22nd from 12-1pm, in person:

Fishery Science Building (FSH), 1122 NE Boat Street, Room 203

Zoom:
Video link: washington.zoom.us/j/92079340874
Passcode: seminar
Meeting ID: 920 7934 0874

Sea otters are a surprisingly common prey of wolves in SE Alaska. New work by our co-op unit that Trump wants to shut down.
depts.washington.edu/pnwcesu/proj...

Please join us on Friday, May 16 and 23, as some of our soon-to-be graduates share their theses and capstone work.

Join us in person in MAR 168, or over Zoom:

washington.zoom.us/j/9614509275...

Meeting ID: 961 4509 2750

Passcode: 292533

We look forward to having you join us!

Tomorrow! Kristin Hoelting will be joining us this Thursday, May 8th at noon. Hope to see you in FSH 203 or on Zoom!

Tomorrow! Don't miss this exclusive event with esteemed panelists, legends in their fields!
The panelists will discuss personal fulfillment through volunteering and connecting meaningfully to local natural surroundings and like-minded people in our coastal communities.
events.uw.edu/event/DiveIn...

SMEA's special zoom gathering is THIS Thursday, May 8 from 2-3 pm PST- Dive into Action: Get involved in marine and environmental affairs! See you there!
explore.uw.edu/index.php/em...

Dive into Action: Get involved in marine and environmental affairs!
Our esteemed panelists are UW alumni and supporters of SMEA who have devoted much of their lives and work to marine and environmental affairs.
Thursday, May 8, 2-3 p.m. PST
See you there!
RSVP here: explore.uw.edu/index.php/em...

Trump’s NOAA firings leave Northwest workers in ‘purgatory’ Fisheries scientists who were fired by the Trump administration say they've been living in limbo as their work is sidelined.

NOAA keeps fisheries healthy + abundant to sustain fishing that fuels coastal economies. As climate impacts push fisheries to their brink, NOAA cuts are threatening our ability to rebound fish populations in the PNW and across the country.
Read more in the Seattle Times:
tinyurl.com/7w9k9ree

The Husky 100 recognizes 100 UW undergraduate and graduate students who are making the most of their time at the UW.

This year SMEA's own Elyse Kelsey was selected as one of the 100!

Congratualtions, Elyse!

#Husky100 #SMEAatUW

Celebrate the impact of service in our marine waters and coastal communities and learn about new volunteer opportunities connected to SMEA!

Registration: events.uw.edu/event/DiveIn...