In Our Nature

Before diving into her presentation, Crisca Bierwart turned to the audience and asked if we would be willing to introduce ourselves. As we individually took turns stating our names and why we were here, I quickly realized that contrary to my expectations, I was one of the only students present. In fact, most of the audience members were from various local and regional tribes including Ken Workman, a Duwamish tribe council member who is a direct descendant of Chief Sealth.

We were all gathered together to hear Bierwart, an affiliate associate professor of Anthropology at UW, discuss...

And just like that...we're almost halfway into winter quarter! If you haven't already, check out the sustainabilty events calendar, which is full of lectures, student organization meetings, volunteer opportunities and more. We've listed a few of the top options this week below, and you can always check out our calendar for a comprehensive listing of events. You can even subscribe to get weekly emails to keep up to date on all the sustainability events happening around UW!...

For the past three years, one of my New Year's resolutions has included keeping up with the news. And like most new year’s resolutions, I’ve never truly fulfilled this promise. While I can easily say that I’m a more engaged citizen now than I was when I entered college, I still feel there’s more I can do to actively stay in the loop on current events. Thus, in order to prove myself wrong this year, I’ve compiled a list of news outlets of which I’m going to keep tabs on for the next year. I’ve chosen to go with Grist, the Seattle Times, and the New York Times.

Now...

As we all fall into our usual routines for Winter quarter, jazz up your schedule and check out the sustainability events calendar! We've listed a few of the top options for this week below, and you can always check out our calendar for a comprehensive listing of events. You can even subscribe to get weekly emails to keep up to date on all the sustainability events happening around UW!

Some highlights coming up this week:

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The University of Washington will be well-represented at the upcoming Washington & Oregon Higher Education Sustainability Conference (WOHESC), taking place February 6-8 at Portland State University. 

Five representatives from UW Sustainability and the Campus Sustainabilty Fund are among the 11 UW speakers and panelists who will be featured at the conference. UW Sustainability Director Claudia Frere-Anderson is a featured speaker on Wednesday, Feb. 7, as part of the session "The Business Case | Campus Sustainability...

The Rabinovitch Lab was certified as a Gold Green Laboratory in October for their amazing green strategies. The Rabinovitch Lab focuses on pathology, and puts in great efforts to make sure their daily operations are sustainable.

Jeanne Fredrickson, laboratory manager of the Rabinovitch lab, is very enthusiastic and passionate about keeping her lab green. In 2008, when Jeanne first became lab manager, she had noticed the amount of Styrofoam her office was accumulating from different shipments and packages....

Christoph Strouse is working with our office helping with sustainability reporting and strategic planning. Christoph is studying Urban Planning and Public Policy to understand how cities can become innovative systems for transitioning toward a more equitable and sustainable society. He’s learning how campus sustainability master planning can be applied to district level community planning centered around public transportation and affordable housing. Professionally, his goal is to consult on sustainable international development, working at the intersection of the private sector, NGO’s,...

With the return of the Seattle grey, we're tempted to spend our time cozying up with a good book and a new Netflix show. And while that is a good option, this weather also provides the perfect opportunity to check out the sustainability events calendar! We've listed a few of the top options for this week below, and you can always check out our calendar for a comprehensive listing of events. You can even subscribe to get weekly emails to keep up to date on all the...

Guest post by Cailin Winston

Imagine living in a village where computer monitors and circuit boards line the streets, where the air creates a stinging sensation in your eyes and nose, where you dare not eat the rice that you grow because it is likely to be contaminated with heavy metals and toxins. This is Guiyu, China, one of the largest informal recycling operations for electronic waste in the world.

According to CNN, many tons of electronic waste - which includes...

Follow in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, “the time is always right to do what is right”, and intentionally set aside next Monday to support your favorite organization and celebrate Dr. King’s legacy.

The University of Washington is hosting a series of events through Jan. 18 to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and legacy; honor the work of generations of everyday activists; and rededicate ourselves to creating a just and equitable future for all. Part of the celebration is the...