Autumn 2010- Winter 2011
Message from the Director
In 2011, we continue to be challenged to do “more with less” in these ongoing severe budgetary times for the State. Yet, the School remains vibrant, productive, and renowned. Across the University, academic units are providing performance metrics for program reviews to help determine resource distribution and further budget cuts. In response, data are gathered that will, understandably, portray each unit in the best possible terms. These metrics reflect the elements of successful programs: role in the field, quality, strategic relevance, student demand, and value to the State. You will be glad to know that SAFS excels in all.
Did you know?
SAFS is ranked top in the nation
In exhaustive reviews published by the National Research Council in 2010 and The Chronicle of Higher Education previously, the School has ranked #1 nationally among aquatic and fishery science schools. Our faculty are among the best in the world Three are members of the Washington State Academy of Sciences.
Four (20% of our teaching faculty) have been honored as UW Distinguished Teachers.
Our faculty publish, on average, about four peer-reviewed articles annually, of which an increasing number appear in influential journals such as Science, Nature, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
Our students receive the best fishery science education
More than half of SAFS undergraduate majors participate in independent study projects, and 100% of seniors receive in-depth experiential learning through the “Capstone” thesis project. And some of these undergraduates go on to publish their research findings.
Most of our PhD students publish one or more journal papers before graduating, as do more than 30% of our MS graduates. Collectively, they are authors on almost 50% of the total papers published annually by the School. All attend major conferences and give talks and poster presentations.
More than 80% of SAFS graduate students find careers of first choice, and 15% of our PhD graduates have gone on to faculty positions. Our students are trained for careers in federal, state, and tribal agencies, NGOs, industry, and academia.
Our school is a valuable resource to the State
We provide value through best science, advice, testimony, education, leadership, and outreach about myriad issues that affect the residents and the economy of Washington State.
We engage in debate and help define issues of wide public interest, such as the effects of hatcheries on wild populations, use of marine protected areas for conservation, water regulation and health of salmon, habitat restoration, and the global freshwater crisis.
News media, government panels, citizen oversight committees, and hundreds of individuals ask us for our opinions in formal testimony, keynote addresses, and as expert witnesses on numerous issues that affect the health of aquatic systems and resources, and the people who depend upon them.
Your ongoing support helps us to meet the challenge
We are doing more! Perhaps with less support from the State, but nonetheless, we are building for the future with ongoing generous support from you…our alumni and friends.