As enrollment at the UW College of the Environment continues to climb, a KING 5 reporter interviews Marine Biology student Sarah about why she chose her degree path and her experience as a UW student. 

On board the UW Oceanography-operated research vessel during the VISIONS 2023 expedition, Avery Jenkins, a second year undergraduate in Marine Biology, had an immersive experience conducting deep sea research. He shared his 14-day trip with us and what it was like to be on the research cruise. Interested in applying for the 2024 VISIONS expedition? Keep an eye out for when applications open in early Spring. 

In Part 2 of our ‘Where Are They Now?’ Alumni Series, UW Marine Biology graduate, Jake Kirschner, shares how his degree prepared him for his career with the Port of Everett. 

As much as she loves research, Marjorie Wonham, the newest faculty member in the UW Marine Biology program, is passionate about teaching. Joining the program as an Associate Teaching Professor based at Friday Harbor Laboratories (FHL), Marjorie brings expertise to our program, having established herself as a researcher in marine invasion ecology and a leader in pedagogy in the marine sciences and field-based education. 

Why did you decide to study marine biology?

I was in elementary school, probably 2nd or 3rd grade, sitting in the library with nothing to do, quite bored. I decided to take a browse in the science section, because my interest in the fiction available at the time was low. As I sifted through, I stumbled across this encyclopedia of different shark species and some surface level facts about them. 

What set you on the path to study marine biology?
I was 5 years old and watching Finding Nemo in the movie theater – that’s the moment I knew I wanted to be a marine biologist. Exploring beaches, snorkeling on holiday in Hawaii – these were things I’ve always loved to do. As a military kid, I moved to Washington and immediately fell in love with the incredible natural environment that’s really unique to us here. 

The National Diversity in Stem Conference (NDiSTEM) organized by the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) is the largest multidisciplinary and multicultural STEM diversity event in the U.S., serving to equip, empower, and energize participants for their academic and professional paths in STEM.
At the 2023 event held in October in Portland, SAFS graduate student, Nicole Doran, won the research presentation prize for Best Graduate Student Oral Presentation in the field of Ecology and Evolution, and recent Marine Biology graduate, Olivia Anderson, won a Native American/Indigenous Student Research Abstract Award. 

While volunteering with the Seattle Aquarium last year, Marine Biology sophomore, Alice Vimal, met Dr Sylvia Earle as part of the SeaChange 2022 event. She shares her passion for marine life and the ocean, and her experience as a Youth Ocean Advocate.
Watch the video below (starting at 33 minutes) to find out more about what inspired her love of marine biology. 

What brought a UW Marine Biology student to California in 2023? Marine mammal research! Ashley Rendon, in her junior year at UW and an Air Force reservist, spent just under a month with NOAA’s Marine Mammal Laboratory on San Miguel Island, the westernmost island of the California Channel Islands.
Finding out about the internship through an email sent by UW Marine Biology adviser Joe Kobayashi, Ashley applied to be a part of the research experience which focuses on population abundance, vital rate estimates, and foraging ecology of California sea lions and northern fur seals. 

In the third episode of the “Where Are They Now?” series, we speak to Jacob Kirschner (BS 2020) who is an Environmental Management Specialist at the Port of Everett.
The series showcases UW’s Marine Biology graduates in their early careers.

Interested in being featured and sharing your story? Please contact Niamh Owen-McLaughlin.