Alongside two student researchers from her lab, SAFS Assistant Professor Amy Van Cise has been out on the Puget Sound for a few days conducting killer whale research. Working with a team comprised of UW students, Wild Orca, and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, they’re assisted in locating fecal samples from the whales by Wild Orca’s poop-sniffing dog, Eba.
Amy Van Cise, with student researchers Sofia Kaiaua and Mollie Ball, were aboard the Wild Orca boat with Research Director Dr. 

Working for more than 15 years in Alaska’s Bristol Bay region, SAFS PhD student Sarah O’Neal, recently published a new paper in BioScience examining the gap between ecological science and environmental management. Sarah’s article focuses on indirect ecological effects and how these are often defined differently in regulatory decisions.

A meeting of the IUCN/SSC Polar Bear Specialist Group (PBSG) was held at SAFS on 10-14 June 2024, co-chaired by Professor Kristin Laidre.

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.

We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 SAFS DEIJ and Community Service Recognition Award: Julia Indivero and Claire Vaage.

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