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The path to salmon restoration may lead through their stomachs – UW News

Image Source: Earth’sbuddy (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

Little is known about how much food salmon need, per river mile, to survive. And yet, chemicals, non-native (and some native) species, and habitat degradation all work to decrease the amount of food available to salmon. New research from SAFS‘ Robert Naiman, David Beauchamp, and others, suggests that there are currently too many young salmon in the Columbia River Basin, and not enough food. Check out this UW News story for more information about what this might mean for salmon restoration, or read their journal article!

November 28th, 2012 | Tags: , , ,

Washington state declares war on ocean acidification – Nature

Moored Autonomous pCO2 (MAP-CO2) Buoy for ocean acidification research. Buoy engineered and deployed by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. An increase in monitoring is just one of the recommendations of the blue ribbon panel. Image Source: Hendee (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

On Tuesday, Gov. Gregoire’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Ocean Acidification released its recommendations, including a 42-point action plan, to tackle ocean acidification at both regional and global scales. The first effort of its kind in the nation, the initiative is detailed in a report by a governor-appointed panel of scientists, policy-makers and shellfish industry representatives. Governor Gregoire also announced the coming of an ocean acidification research center at UW; more details on this exciting development will be shared as soon as they’re available! Read more about the panel’s findings, and how Washington will take action on them, here, or in this Washington Post article.

November 27th, 2012 | Tags: , ,

Course on communicating science to the public includes the opportunity to present at Town Hall

Hey students: are you wondering how to make sure that your research makes a difference in the world? Do you want to enhance your ability to explain your science to family and friends? Maybe you’d like to practice public speaking? Check out the seminar from Engage, and learn how to communicate science to the public more effectively. The seminar includes the opportunity to present your research at Seattle Town Hall! Sign up today!

Communicating Science to the Public Effectively (CENV 500)
Winter 2013
3 credits (Credit/No Credit)
Meets Tuesdays 9:30-12:20 in Fish 203
This is a seminar, discussion-based course for graduate students in the sciences that focuses on effective techniques for sharing scientific research with non-specialists. At the end of the quarter, each student will present a 30 minute public talk on their graduate research to be delivered during the 2013 Engage: The Science Speaker Series at Town Hall Seattle.

In this course, students will:
- Develop and practice several analogies to distill their research
- Create a variety of concise research promoting statements
- Practice story-telling and audience consideration
- Use improvisation as a public speaking tool
- Engage in weekly readings and discussions
- Hear from guest speakers on science communication

General information about Engage: The Science Speaker Series and Seminar

What others have written:
Crafting the Story Behind the Science A&S Perspectives Newsletter
Designing a Practical Science Communication Curriculum The Intersection at Discover Blogs
Engage Speaker Series: Where science meets storytelling UW Today

Questions?  Email Jessica Rohde rohdej@uw.edu

November 27th, 2012 | Tags: ,

Forests across the world are poorly prepared for water stress – NYTimes

Water stress makes trees more susceptible to beetle infestation. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Climate change means that, on average, the summers will be warmer, and with warmer temperatures there will be less water available for plants. A world-wide study has found that most forest tree species operate within a very narrow window for water stress, making them and the associated ecosystems highly vulnerable to global warming. Read more about this study here.

Additionally, new research suggests that pine beetles that benefit from trees’ water stress are now contributing to global warming. Learn why here.

November 26th, 2012 | Tags: ,

Sea changes harming ocean now could someday undermine marine food chain – Seattle Times

New research by Seattle scientists shows that pteropods — tiny snail-like sea creatures crucial to marine food webs — are being damaged decades earlier than expected by ocean acidification, the souring of seas from human-caused carbon-dioxide emissions.  Read more about this phenomenon and how it relates to the Puget Sound here.

November 26th, 2012

UW bests Pac-12… in sustainability – UW News

The University of Washington has the strongest sustainability performance in the Pac-12 and is among the top 10 of all North American universities and colleges according to a new self-rating system to measure sustainability. Congratulations to our whole community! Read more about this exciting rating here.

November 26th, 2012 | Tags: , ,

The new White Salmon – National Geographic

What is it like to float a river, recently undammed? Follow along with these rafters blogging for National Geographic, who ran the White Salmon about a year after Condit Dam was removed, releasing an old river and a new river at once.

November 21st, 2012 | Tags: , , ,
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