UW Earth & Space Sciences

PNSN Field Techs strapped a GoPro to the skids of a helicopter for a recon flyover of St. Andrews Rock (STAR). The station is hard to spot on the ridge line edge that the helicopter circles. Flying above Mt Rainier really puts into perspective how big this volcano actually is! St. Andrews Rock (STAR) flyover

Happy FieldworkFriday! We strapped a GoPro to the skids of a helicopter for a recon flyover of St. Andrews Rock (STAR). The station is hard to spot on the ridge that the helicopter circles. Flying above Mt Rainier really puts into perspective how big this volcano actually is! youtu.be/PJ242pHcBGU

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...

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...

Stay calm. The ‘earthquake swarm’ at Mount Rainier is normal Hundreds of earthquakes are detected at or near Mount Rainier each year, though typical swarms are smaller than what started last night.

Director Harold Tobin with @SeattleTimes about the ongoing EQ swarm at Mt Rainier: 
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
It’s the biggest swarm since 2009, we’re closely monitoring the EQ activity, but we don’t see anything to elevate the level of concern about volcanic activity at this time.

Position opening at the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network. For more information and to apply please visit bit.ly/4lHmP8M

The mountain is out! ⛰️
@uwess.bsky.social researchers went to Mt. Rainier last weekend to place 240 small seismometers around the park. The seismometers will capture tiny ground vibrations such as earthquakes & glacier quakes with the goal of better understanding surface hazards like avalanches.

NSF Geo-Futures Program Geo-Futures is a conference-based program funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) that engages with, and provides educational resources for, students interested in pursuing a career in the geo...

Deadline for the GeoFutures program has been extended to 07-11-25. The program provides travel & mentoring support for geoscience undergrads attending the 2025 SACNAS conference. @accessiblegeo.bsky.social @agu.org @official-bweems.bsky.social @sacnas.bsky.social environment.uw.edu/about/inclus...

Stay calm. The ‘earthquake swarm’ at Mount Rainier is normal Hundreds of earthquakes are detected at or near Mount Rainier each year, though typical swarms are smaller than what started last night.

Stay calm. The ‘earthquake swarm’ at Mount Rainier is normal - @haroldtobin.bsky.social, Washington's state seismologist, @uwess.bsky.social

www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

#UWEnvironment

Maya Tolstoy reflects on her leadership at UW Environment Maya Tolstoy is stepping down June 30 as the Maggie Walker Dean of the UW College of the Environment, returning to New York for family reasons. We sat down with Tolstoy as she reflected on leadership,...

Maya Tolstoy is stepping down June 30 as dean of our College, returning to New York for family reasons. We wish her well as she departs and thank her for her leadership. Here's our interview with Tolstoy about her impact, favorite memories and tenure as dean: environment.uw.edu/news/2025/06...

Happy #FieldworkFriday! Last week, we highlighted the installation of our newest volcano broadband monitoring station LAVA near the beautiful Mount Hood. Here is some more footage of the work done by our awesome field staff to bring this site to life!

Join us for "Driving Climate Action with Evidence-Based Solutions," a virtual panel during PNW Climate Week! 🗓️ July 16, 2-3 p.m. on Zoom. Here's a preview from one of our panelists.

Register + more info: lu.ma/7agmepme

#climate #pnw #climateweek #pacificnorthwest

Joel Thornton named interim dean of the College of the Environment University of Washington Provost Tricia R. Serio announced that Joel Thornton has agreed to serve as interim dean of the College of the Environment, effective July 1, until a new permanent dean is...

Welcome to Joel Thornton, who will serve as interim dean of the UW College of the Environment.

Thornton is an @uwatmossci.bsky.social atmospheric chemist who studies the impacts of human activities on air quality and climate. #UWEnvironment

www.washington.edu/news/2025/06...

Students in cap and gown sitting at Graduation with supporters in the background.

Class of 2025 standing on stage in cap and gown with ESS Faculty.

Congratulations ESS Class of 2025!! 🌎🎓
#UWgrad25

A tiny brown bear cub cries out towards the camera on the side of a gravel road.

A tiny brown bear cub walks out of tall green grass onto the side of a gravel road. The wheel of a pickup truck towers over it, for scale.

A tiny brown bear cub sits on the side of a gravel road, facing the camera. It has one paw slightly raised off of the ground.

Happy #FieldWorkFriday! An unexpected (but very cute) guest joined our field staff last week on the way to site TWL1. While this tiny bear cub showed up by itself, we bet Momma Bear was somewhere close by! Springtime always brings lots of cute new faces to our local wilderness.

Research Makes America UW research makes America healthier, safer and more prosperous. But those gains are now at risk.

UW research makes America healthier, safer and more prosperous. We’re proud to conduct more federally sponsored research on behalf of the American people than any other public university — changing lives and boosting the nation’s global competitiveness.

Learn more www.washington.edu/research-mak...

Paving bricks and gravel being laid along the southern side of seismic swing set structure. Black solar panels attached to metal box. Forest in background.

Field Technician walking in front of paver wall and seismic structure black solar panels. Forest in background.

Side view of seismic structure. Paving block wall and gravel in foreground. Green saplings and blue skyline in background.

Completed paving brick wall and gravel emplacement around seismic structure. Black solar panels and long horizontal antenna at top. Forest in background.

Happy #FieldworkFriday! As part of our preventative maintenance, sites that experience high temp fluctuations, like station HTW, have a gravel-backed wall built along the southern side. This sun blocking barrier helps keep the equipment cool and extends the life of our equipment.

Evidence-based program helps students see themselves as scientists The UW College of the Environment's Identity, Belonging and Inquiry in Science program pairs undergraduate students interested in research with graduate student mentors in the geosciences. The program...

A #UWEnvironment program is redefining how students connect with science.

Identity, Belonging, and Inquiry in Science (IBIS) uses evidence-based strategies, shifting how students perceive themselves and their place in #STEM.

environment.uw.edu/news/2025/06...

Logo for GeoFutures program.

We are accepting applications for the GeoFutures program. The program provides mentoring & travel support for geoscience undergrads attending the 2025 @sacnas.bsky.social conference. Priority app deadline 06-16-25 @cientificolatino.com @official-bweems.bsky.social environment.uw.edu/about/inclus...

Enjoyed listening to our @uwenvironment.bsky.social Inclusive Excellence Fellows present their final project proposals. Projects ranged from improving access to field experiences to mentoring programs for college staff. @uwsafs.bsky.social @uwess.bsky.social @uwmarinebiology.bsky.social

PNSN Field Technician in grey sweatshirt standing along metal ferry railing with mountains in background on both sides of Lake Chelan.

Field Technicians digging in vault hole in the ground with another field tech holding large red jackhammer with 3ft bit attached. Forest in background.

Field Technicians working on seismic station electronics box. Forest in background.

Completed seismic station. Wooden posts with metal boxes, vault buried under round rocks in background in forest.

Happy #FieldworkFriday! The Stehekin DREAM has come true! This site has been in the works for years and was finally installed last week at the northern tip of Lake Chelan. The station (DREAM) is online and helping to provide a more detailed picture of seismicity in the North Cascades.

Seattle PI newspaper cover from March 27, 1980 featuring PNSN's Steve Malone declaring the "Mt. St. Helens Eruption [will be] 'soon.'"

This week will feature posts on the May 18th Mt St Helens eruption anniversary, highlighting the PNSN's & the University of Washington's role in monitoring the 1980 seismic activity, and its lasting impact on the PNW, seismology, volcanology, and emergency management.

Seismologist digging on ashy slope of Mt St Helens to bury seismometer. Silver colored seismometer to his left.

Seismologists / field engineers on the side of Mt St Helens at station DOG holding canteen and camera with antenna in foreground and forest in distant background.

Seismologist and field engineers on forest road working on building a staiton. Person holding antenna in place and three others working on batteries and other parts of the installation.

Satellite view of Mt St Helens showing 2 stations that existed prior to March 1980 beginning earthquake sequence.

Earthquakes began at Mt St Helens on March 16, 1980. By May 17th over 10,000 earthquakes had shaken the mountain. In that same timeframe, scientists from the UW and USGS had deployed 15 additional stations around the volcano in a remarkable demonstration of ingenuity and bravery.

🐬🪸🐙 Just a few days until our UW Aquatic Sciences Open House, will we see you there?

🔬🌊 Bringing aquatic science to life in a free, fun event open to all ages at @uofwa.bsky.social.

🔜 Saturday 17 May, 10am-4pm, Fishery Sciences Building!

↪️ fish.uw.edu/aquatic-sciences-open-house

#SEASOpenHouse

Scientists loading helicopter with scientific equipment on forested road with Mt St Helens in background. White line drawn on volcano showing the modern profile of mountain after eruption.

Join 4 Pacific Northwest experts as they delve into the Cascadia Region's tectonics, volcanoes, and hazards, highlighting scientific progress over 4+ decades. Hear UW's Steve Malone's firsthand account of the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption. youtube.com/watch?v=2naM6Kun9J0

At #UWEnvironment, the questions we ask today shape the future we live in tomorrow. And while our curiosity drives us, our impact defines us.

Research for Washington. Research for the World.

environment.uw.edu/news/2025/04...

#UWInnovates

Aquatic Sciences Open House poster showing a child's hands holding a small crab

🌊 Just under 2 weeks until the #SEASOpenHouse

🪱 Kids book reading on parasites
🐡 Get up close with the world’s most interesting fish
🪨 Take a sediment core
🐧 Touch a real penguin flipper
🛥️Take the captain’s seat aboard a research boat
🦀 & much more!

👉 Visit fish.uw.edu/aquatic-sciences-open-house

We are hosting a day of science and invite you to join us! Families and science enthusiasts of all ages are welcome.

UW Biology Open House
UW Life Sciences Building
Saturday, May 17, 2025
10 AM to 2 PM

For more information, visit this link: tinyurl.com/UWBioOpenHou...

The Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center is now accepting applications for its 2026 Faculty Fellowship Program, supporting climate adaptation research. Open to faculty & non-faculty scientists with primary investigator status at @uofwa.bsky.social.

Learn more nwcasc.uw.edu/about/fundin...

🤿Has your kid dreamed of being a marine biologist? 🦈Or are they fascinated with the ocean? Join us for a free, fun day at UW where we're showing off 🐋wet sciences & what researchers are up to, from Puget Sound to across the world.

🔜 Sat 17 May, 10am-4pm.

↪️ fish.uw.edu/aquatic-sciences-open-house

Eight students from UW Environment honored in 2025 Husky 100 Congratulations to eight College of the Environment students recognized in the 2025 Husky 100! Each year, the Husky 100 recognizes 100 undergraduate, graduate and professional students from the UW Bot...

Congrats to our #UWEnvironment Husky 100! 🎉 🥳 🎉

Eight students from around the College of the Environment have been named @uofwa.bsky.social #Husky100 in 2025.

environment.uw.edu/news/2025/04...