What are aquatic invasive species? How did they get here, are they spreading, and should we be worried?
At the Freshwater Ecology and Conservation Lab booth during the SEAS Open House on 21 May, you will learn about invasive species in our Washington waterways and what you can do to limit their introduction and further spread. If you are brave enough, you can even touch a live invasive red swamp crayfish (pictured above)! 

A team of scientists from around the world have joined together to call for a strong precautionary approach in extractive activities in the deep sea, as the science needed to evaluate risks lags far behind.
Joining scientists from Oregon State University, University of California Santa Cruz, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research in New Zealand and University of Bergen in Norway, Helena McMonagle from the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences (and a guest student at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) worked on the study published in Communications Earth & Environment. 

Did you know that seabirds link the ocean and the land? They forage for food in the ocean and nest on the land, making them an important part of two very different ecosystems.
At the booth organized by the Converse and Gardner labs at the SEAS Open House, you will learn about seabirds and the methods we use to study them. 

What fieldwork did the Applied Ecology Lab get up to last summer? Mark Scheuerell, Associate Professor at SAFS, shared insights into Washington’s aquaculture and some of the research underway at his lab.
Washington is the nation’s leading producer of farmed clams, oysters, and mussels, contributing nearly $200 million to our economy and supporting over 1900 jobs. Accordingly, there is demand for growth within the shellfish aquaculture industry, but a key impediment to doing so sustainably is that we don’t have a firm grasp on the ecological implications of converting nearshore habitat to shellfish production. 

Tiny pieces of plastic in the ocean might seem innocuous on their own, but their growing presence is a frustrating issue facing marine ecosystems. The particles’ small size makes them difficult to clean up, and it also allows them to easily burrow into marine environments or even get ingested by ocean organisms. 

Now in its 12th year of being held at SAFS, a workshop led by graduate students to support applicants for the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is celebrating the successful award to five students this year.
The NSF GRFP aims to ensure the quality, vitality, and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the US and broaden participation in science and engineering of underrepresented groups. 

We are excited to announce that the Equity & Inclusion Committee has released the “Undergraduate Mentorship Guide for Community-Building”, which is now available on the SAFS DEI webpage! The guide is designed to help undergraduate students and their mentors navigate the mentoring relationship and achieve success.
This mentorship guide is intended primarily for undergraduate students (mentees) and for graduate students, postdocs, and staff, (who may serve as mentors) at SAFS. 

Join us every Friday this Spring for the SAFS Cafe.
The SAFS faculty are pleased to host you for hot drinks and snacks, and a chance to take a quick break from your day to catch up with colleagues.
When: Fridays at 10am
Where: FISH second floor kitchen and patio
What should I bring? Bring your coffee or tea and stop by for a snack and a chat! 

Join your SAFS Community for a special All Hands Meeting where you can ask all of your burning questions!
Want to know more about the life of a post doc? Interested in the graduate program process? Always wanted to ask a faculty member what their day looks like? Wondering what are some of the important topics impacting our school? Want to know how SAFS is working to be more inclusive? 

The SAFS Boots in the Mud fund is a special opportunity to provide our students with materials and equipment needed for immersive learning opportunities.