In Our Nature

The Daily took a look at what Seattle's new composting ordinanice means for the University of Washington.

The law prohibiting food waste and compostable items from trash headed to the landfill went into effect on Jan. 1, as part of Seattle's push to divert 60% of the city's waste away from the landfill. UW is already at 60% diversion, but the campus has a goal of 70% waste diversion by 2020.

“To have local legislation that helps that process is something we really welcome and really...

Here are some highlights from our Sustainability Events calendar for the week of Jan. 12, 2015. If you know of any events which should be added, let us know.

If you're a sustainability-minded UW employee, chances are you've heard of the Green Office Certification program. If you're really lucky, perhaps you already work in a certified office and have the swag to show off your green cred! If you're unfamiliar with the program, or daunted by the requirements for certification, read on - it's easier than you think...

What is an ideal food system? That question will be explored Tuesday at the event Creative Re-Imaginings for Food Systems: The Art and Science of Bees, Flight, and Food, hosted by The Common Acre and 21 Acres.

The event, held at 21 Acres in Woodinville, will being with a panel of experts followed by an audience discussion which will find creative solutions for our food systems. The night will...

The 2015 Bevan Series on Sustainable Fisheries starts today with a talk on what fisheries can learn from marine mammal management by Andre Punt, director of the School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences. 

The series features weekly talks on sustainable fisheries every Thursday at 4:30 p.m. until March 12, at the Fishery Sciences Auditorium (1122 N.E. Boat Street). The series examines the biological and social ramifications of our past, present, and future use of...

Know someone at UW who is a unsung sustainability hero? Give them the recognition they deserve by nominating them for a Husky Green Award!

The Husky Green Awards recognize individuals and teams from all UW campuses who demonstrate initiative, leadership and dedication to environmental stewardship and sustainability. Several dozen students, faculty and staff have received Husky Green Awards since the program began in 2010. Students, faculty, and staff from any of the UW campuses are eligible, and any member of the UW community can...

UW computer science doctoral student Justin Bare recently partnered with local nonprofit Carbon Washinton to create an online tool to give Washington residents the ability to calculate how a state carbon tax swap proposed by the Carbon Washington might impact them financially. The Carbon Tax Swap Caclulator is a neutral, unbiased tool that gives users access to unique information and sheds light on how the tax swap proposal might impact them personally.

>> Read more on the tool...

In an op-ed published in the LA Times titled "What do you get if you map coming climate disasters? Hello Pacific Northwest", columnist David Sarasohn interviews UW atmospheric professor Cliff Mass on the future of the Pacific Northwest serving as a refuge for Californians and others from across the country seeking relief from the impacts of climate change.

>> Make sure to check out Mass'...

A group of UW oceanography students recently spent 10 days aboard UW’s large research vessel, the Thomas G. Thompson, to conduct research for their senior thesis projects. The 24 students traveled to Nootka Sound off the west coast of Vancouver Island and blogged about their daily experiences.

During the trip, shifts...

The University of Washington School of Environmental and Forest Sciences wants to know: What does climate change mean to you? Show your vision with a short three-minute video, and you could win a $5,000 prize!

The SEFS contest is open to all high school and undergraduate college students in the state of Washington. Videos can be up to 3 minutes long, and can be in any format you choose: Claymation, music video, film noir mystery, ballet, stand-up comedy routine, rock opera, documentary...and everything else in between.

Prizes will be awarded in high school and undergraduate...