EarthLab News
Reconnecting with Nature: A Summer Intern’s Journey
By Anika Vinayak
Science Communication Intern, Summer 2026
There’s nothing quite like a Pacific Northwest summer — when the clouds finally part and the whole region remembers what sunshine feels like. This year was no exception. I spent it hiking Lake Serene and Snow Lake, swimming in Green Lake and Lake Union, and taking nature walks all over the city to soak in the sun.
Summer leadership updates from EarthLab: Getting to know Susan Dickerson-Lange
As we prepare for a new academic year to begin next month, the EarthLab team is continuing at its usual busy pace, supporting our funded grant teams and mentoring our summer interns who are wrapping up their final projects this week. This summer also brings a change in EarthLab’s leadership.
Phil Levin has stepped down as interim executive director to begin a permanent appointment as the new director of the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs.
Finding My Piece of the Puzzle
By Meg Parent
Conservation Science Intern, Summer 2026
Puzzles have always made sense to me. Grouping the pieces first by edge and non-edge, and then by color or pattern, and then eventually fitting them all together to create one big picture. Each piece fits nicely in the palm of my hand, with just a few identifying colors or shapes, seemingly insignificant until it fits into place.
UW Environment celebrates partnership and impact at Community-Engaged Research Symposium
In late May, more than 120 colleagues from the University of Washington came together for an inaugural showcase and conversation about community-engaged research across the College of Environment. Community-engaged research is central to the University of Washington’s mission as a public university: Learning with and from communities is deeply embedded in our commitment to the people of Washington state and beyond.
Read more
EarthLab Grants Program Expands with New Incubator and Rapid Response Grants
From early childhood classrooms to prescribed fire surveys, UW-led teams will advance environmental work across the country.
May 19, 2026
Twelve University of Washington research teams will receive funding through EarthLab’s Grants Program, the organization announced today. The Incubator Grants and Rapid Response Grants — both launched in February 2026 — mark the first expansion of the program since 2019.
These two new programs grew out of insights from researchers and community partners over five cohorts of Innovation Grants: that their work often begins before traditional funding cycles can respond.
Learning to collaborate across differences through Intergenerational Dialogue event series
It turns out that, sometimes, the most effective way to have a real conversation isn’t in a meeting room, but on the side of the road by a broken down bus.
David Troutt, the Natural Resources Director of the Nisqually Indian Tribe and Chair of the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Council, learned this from his mentor Billy Frank Jr. – a member of the Nisqually Indian Tribe and one of the most influential environmental advocates in Washington state history, known for his decades of work defending tribal fishing treaty rights.
Three former EarthLab summer interns honored in 2026 Husky 100
Congratulations to three former EarthLab summer interns recognized in the 2026 Husky 100!
Each year, the Husky 100 recognizes 100 undergraduate, graduate and professional students from the UW Bothell, Seattle and Tacoma campuses in all areas of study who are making the most of their time at the University of Washington. The recipients actively connect what happens inside and outside of the classroom and apply what they learn to make a difference on campus, in their communities and for the future.
Why nature contact is good for us
Most people agree that time in nature is good for our mental and physical health. Whether it’s a remote wilderness backpacking trip or 15 minutes spent sitting on a park bench, people tend to feel better if they have some interactions with nature. Many scientific studies confirm this as well. Over the past two decades, and especially in the last few years, researchers have increasingly documented the positive effects of natural spaces on mental health and well-being. This includes outcomes like feeling less lonely, lower levels of burnout and depression and better abilities to cope during stressful situations.
Read more
Assessment of nature in the US now available for public comment
The Nature Record, a sweeping assessment of the state of nature in the U.S., was published in draft form for public comment and review in March. The report explores the impact of human development, including biodiversity loss, as well as the resilience of nature.
Read more
Finding My Place in Climate Work Beyond the Lab
By Angelina Durbin
Climate Health Risk Tool Communications Intern, Summer 2025
For the majority of my life, I believed that climate work had a single entry point. If I wanted to make a meaningful contribution, I needed to be an engineer or a researcher who spent hours in the lab each day. This belief was instilled in me early on due to my educational background.
