EarthLab News
EarthLab’s Second Annual Spring Showcase
On Thursday, April 10th, the UW Center for Urban Horticulture was buzzing with over 100 EarthLab friends, partners, and supporters for the second annual EarthLab Spring Showcase. Across the different backgrounds, disciplines, and experiences of the attendees in the room, the evening was a powerful reminder of the strength we have when we come together in pursuit of climate solutions.
The evening’s programming began with opening remarks from University of Washington and EarthLab leadership.
Q&A: UW researchers examine mental impact of Girl Scouts’ interactions with nature
New research from the University of Washington Center for Nature and Health, recently published in the Journal of Environmental Education, examined whether children’s interactions with nature that are embodied, rather than just visual, are associated with being in the moment and feeling connected to something beyond the self.
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WASCO, CIG & Partners Publish Pacific Northwest 2024 Water Year Impacts Assessment
The fifth Pacific Northwest Water Year Impacts Assessment, released today, presents a detailed examination of seasonal climate conditions across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho for the 2024 water year (October 1, 2023–September 30, 2024). The Pacific Northwest Water Year Impacts Assessment is produced through a collaboration between the Washington State Climate Office, the Climate Impacts Group at the University of Washington, Oregon Climate Service, Idaho Department of Water Resources, and is funded by the NOAA National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). The assessment integrates climate data, sector-specific surveys, and community-reported impacts to provide a holistic picture of how water year conditions influence the region.
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New research to measure WA’s climate resilience
Carlie Stowe, climate resilience specialist for the Climate Impacts Group at the University of Washington and the paper's lead author, said building resilience is critical in order to minimize effects from droughts, fires and other extreme weather events.
"As the government is investing in resilience, we want to make sure that we're spending that money wisely," Stowe urged. "And that the programs and activities we're investing in are resulting in increased resilience."
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Susan Dickerson-Lange Joins UW Climate Impacts Group as the New Director
The Climate Impacts Group (CIG) welcomes Susan Dickerson-Lange as its new director. In her role, Dickerson-Lange will provide strategic leadership for CIG, driving financial stewardship and fundraising while supporting the team to deepen partnerships and expand offerings advancing climate resilience in the Pacific Northwest.
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Doris Duke Conservation Scholars at UW Publishes Case Study on Organizational Impacts
Program team members Meera Lee Sethi and Martha Groom developed this case study to assess whether and how partnering with DDCSP@UW can facilitate organizational change toward greater equity within the conservation nonprofits and government agencies that host its interns, using data from semi structured interviews with current and former mentors.
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Happy Black History Month!
Did You Know?
Black History Month as we know it today initially began 99 years ago when Carter G. Woodson (a Black historian, author and scholar) established Negro History Week. Since its creation, there has always been an annual theme to explore Black history and culture across time and space, throughout the U.S., Africa, and the Diaspora. This year’s theme for Black History Month is African Americans and Labor, which explores how “work and working of all kinds – free and unfree, skilled, and unskilled, vocational and voluntary – intersect with the collective experiences of Black people.”
Get Involved
In honor of Black History Month, we’ve put together some resources, collections on campus, and events happening in our community this February.
Washington State Climate Office Launches New Website, Advancing Strategic Goals
The Washington State Climate Office (WASCO) has officially launched a new website and introduced an updated visual identity, marking a significant step forward in the Office’s ongoing evolution. This milestone comes nearly a year after the release of WASCO’s strategic plan and demonstrates a continued commitment to expanding climate services, strengthening science communication and community engagement, and supporting informed decision-making in the pursuit of state-wide and regional climate resilience using historical climate data and seasonal forecasts.
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UW Students: Join Us February 26 for Climate Justice Conversations & Connections
At the University of Washington, many students are leading the charge in reimagining how we take equitable action on climate change. Join us this winter for a cozy, interactive social mixer designed to strengthen connections among UW students passionate about climate justice.
Together, we’ll explore topics that matter most to you and set the stage for a spring event (like the one we hosted last year) that centers student perspectives on building a just and equitable climate future.