A river of research
From the Pacific Northwest and Alaska to further afield, rivers are one of the aquatic environments where UW School of Aquatic and Fisheries Science (SAFS) researchers are actively working to ensure a healthy, sustainable ecosystem for the future.
On World Rivers Day – an international celebration and awareness day for the world’s waterways – we are highlighting some of the extensive research underway at SAFS and through partnerships with different institutions.
So what research is taking place?
Future Rivers
It’s all in the name. Preparing UW students to tackle the challenges that the future will bring, the National Science Foundation Research Traineeship called Future Rivers is bringing modern data science, communications training, and innovative technical training to the study of moving waters.
Bringing together expertise from different disciplines, the innovative program is focused on transforming freshwater science and preparing students for future careers in freshwater ecology and conservation.
Freshwater Initiative
Launched by UW Engineering, UW College of the Environment and UW Tacoma in 2014, the Freshwater Initiative is reinventing water research by understanding the issues in these aquatic ecosystems and the effect on many different populations, both human and wild.
Aiming to give students deeper knowledge in their own specialization whilst effectively collaborating with other disciplines, some of the specific research areas include water generation using renewables, conservation education, predicting extreme events and tackling food, water and energy dynamics around river systems.
Everybody loves salmon
We can’t ignore one of the most recognizable fish: the salmon. Because salmon straddle the freshwater and marine environments in a unique way through their life cycle, research focused on salmon helps us understand the impact of climate change on aquatic environments to sustainable fisheries management.
At SAFS, our researchers are delivering exciting new insights into salmon and other aquatic wildlife, partnering on projects such as the Alaska Salmon Program.
Just a snapshot
This is only a glimpse of the scientific work undertaken by SAFS and our research partners focused on the freshwater environment.
As we celebrate World Rivers Day, explore our website to see all the ways we are pursuing research to ensure they keep flowing.