UW Sustainability's blog

The new U District Link Light Rail Station is scheduled to open in 2021. This is an exciting investment in our neighborhood that will significantly change the way many people get around.  The U District Mobility Group, a community-led effort of neighbors, stakeholders, public agencies and nonprofit organizations, is holding a series of community workshops to collect community members’ ideas on barriers, opportunities, and potential solutions. The goal is a community-driven, holistic, multimodal U District station area mobility plan.

The UW Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration is seeking undergraduate student interns for spring quarter to work with the native plant nursery. Applications are due by Monday, March 5th.

Everyone is invited to join in a pair of upcoming work parties to restore Yesler Swamp, one of the few remaining swamps along Lake Washington. A group of UW Environmental Science students are organizing the volunteer opportunities on February 25 and March 3 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. as part of a capstone project. You can sign up here to be a volunteer.

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. 

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.

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.

The Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program at The University of Washington (DDCSP@UW is now accepting applications for the 2018-2019 cohort. Freshmen and sophomores with a passion for conservation and environmental justice are encouraged to apply by February 5, 2018.

If you're interested in games and the environment, sign up for the Sustainability Game Jam this weekend. Inviduals and teams will work Nov. 11-12 to create game concepts and prototypes that promote sustainability. 

Sambazon and The Ecology Center are looking for students with interesting and innovative sustainability ideas. Winning student projects will receive up to $4,000, along with a Spring semester mentorship from our ecological experts from The Ecology Center.

The “Greenhouse Initiative” competition is open to individuals and student groups. Student must submit a three-minute video by December 3 to enter.

The University of Washington has earned recognition from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) for its sustainability performance, with special recognition in the food & dining and transportation categories.