Winter 2021 Quarter message from SEFS Director Dan Brown

To the SEFS Community,

Greetings on the new academic quarter and the New Year. We all have hopes for improvements in the pandemic over this year, though we also know that we will continue working mostly remotely through the current academic year. 

SEFS Seminar with Burke Museum Tribal Liaison Polly Olsen on Jan. 20

SEFS is proud to welcome Burke Museum Tribal Liaison and member of the Yakama Tribe Polly Olsen as our Jan. 20 SEFS Seminar speaker.
According to her nomination for the UW Distinguished Staff Award, which she ultimately received in 2020, Olsen’s service to the University of Washington spans nearly 20 years, first through her work at the School of Medicine’s Native American Center of Excellence and Indigenous Wellness Research Institute, and as an advisor to the wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ project, and then as the Burke Museum Tribal Liaison beginning in 2017. 

UW Botanic Gardens Director Fred Hoyt to retire in January

University of Washington Botanic Gardens (UWBG) Director Fred Hoyt will retire at the end of January.
Hoyt’s career at UWBG has spanned 38 years during which he has played an important role in many aspects of the stewardship and growth of its collections and programs. 

SEFS professor Wirsing’s research sheds light on how predators shape our world

For 20 years, UW School of Environmental and Forest Sciences professor Aaron Wirsing and colleagues studied predator behavior among a variety of species that has culminated in a recently published report in Ecology Letters.  

POSTPONED: First SEFS Seminar postponed to Jan. 27

POSTPONED: Due to a power outage at our speaker’s location, SEFS is postponing this seminar to Jan. 27. 
Our first speaker of the quarter is rare species ecologist at the Center for Lands Management and University of Washington, Bothell affiliate faculty member Dr. 

SEFS professor emeritus Tukey remembered for horticultural contributions

Dr. Harold Tukey, Jr., UW School of Environmental and Forest Sciences emeritus professor, founding director of the Center for Urban Horticulture and former director of the Washington Park Arboretum is being remembered for his horticultural contributions to the University, Seattle and beyond. 

Holiday Recipes from the SEFS Community

This holiday season, the SEFS community gathered virtually to celebrate in place of its usual in-person party. As part of this special gathering, some of our community members gathered their favorite recipes for you to share. 

Fall 2020 Quarter milestones completed by students

As the Fall 2020 Quarter comes to a close, SEFS would like to congratulate the undergraduate and graduate students who have completed important milestones.
Graduate Students

Completed Final Exam (received Ph.D.)

Martin Bagaram
Catherine Kuhn
Zhengxin Lang
Carolyn Rachel Shores

Completed General Exam (Ph.D. 

SEFS professor Doty authors study that shows how microbes help plant growth

Recently published research from the UW School of Environmental and Forest Sciences and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has shown that microbes taken from trees that grow beside mountain-fed streams in Washington could make phosphorus trapped in soil more accessible to agricultural crops. 

The Great Debate: Real or fake holiday trees?

It’s a long-discussed debate: Should you get a real or fake tree for this holiday season?
UW School of Environment and Forest Sciences research professor and soils expert Sally Brown weighed in recently.