Over the last two decades, there has been huge growth in the availability of different ‘omics methods used to study marine mammals. A new paper published in Marine Mammal Science, involving 19 scientists from around the globe, has laid out best practices for collecting and preserving marine mammal biological samples in the ‘omics era.

Each year, hundreds of students apply for the competitive NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship. Read our Q&A with SAFS undergrad, Michael Han, who along with three other College of the Environment students, was chosen as a 2024 NOAA Hollings Scholar and attended orientation in the nation’s capital.

In a new episode of UW Environment’s Fieldsound podcast, they’re joined by those behind the GEODUC program, which boosts belonging in geosciences for transfer students.

We’re happy to announce this year’s Faculty Merit Award winners, given annually to graduating students at all ranks in recognition of exceptional achievement and contributions to the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. This is by far the most prestigious of the many awards conferred by the School to students, where the nominations come directly from SAFS faculty.

Swimming around tropical coral reefs in a colorful array are an ever-changing multitude of fishes, some in schools of hundreds, others in pairs, and ones that prefer their own company. These are the fishes divers see on a heathy coral reef, but they are often only half of the diversity found in the reef’s fishes. The “hidden half” are the cryptobenthic fishes.

From microplastics to seabirds, and everything in between, Tetiaroa offers new insights on tropical ecosystems for UW Professors and researchers.

The number of people diving into aquatic sciences during the 2024 Open House on 18 May more than doubled this year, with 1,200 visitors of all ages joining us for a day of hands-on activities.

Eric Essington, UW Biology senior, has been working on his independent research project in the Roberts Lab for the past year, looking into a familiar hard-shelled mollusk: the oyster. Why? To simulate temperature changes associated with climate change and explore the impact on Pacific oysters.

How is our food system shaped by the choices of consumers, retailers, farmers, and fish harvesters?
If you’re interested in food and food policy, NUTR 490/FISH 497B Special Topics: Economics of Food Systems is a new undergraduate course offered in autumn 2024 by UW SAFS, in conjunction with the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health Program in the School of Public Health, which explores the economic forces that shape individual decisions and overall outcomes in our food system. 

Congratulations to Markus Min, the recipient of the 2023-2024 Award for Outstanding Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Accessibility (DEIJA) given by the College of the Environment. Markus, a Ph.D. Candidate in SAFS, has been a trusted leader since joining the school in fall of 2020, and a strong advocate for equity and inclusion at both the unit level and across the College.