Take a deep dive into the ecology of marine top predators and the ocean ecosystems they rely on.

In this field-based Exploration Seminar we will study & conduct ecological assessments of coral,
mangrove & seagrass habitats to understand how development and climate change are impacting the largely pristine coastal ecosystems of a small Micronesian island.Credits can apply to major and minor requirements in Marine Biology. Application deadline is February 15, 2020.

Today the oceans have become the ultimate proving ground of whether humans are capable of achieving a sustainable relationship with a planet showing increasing signs of stress. Dealing with these complex human-environment interactions requires study rooted in both the social and natural sciences and responses that employ difficult-to-develop institutional arrangements.

The Northwest Fisheries Science Center conducts exciting and innovative research on topics that many in your community will find interesting.  Every other year, we hold a Science Symposium to highlight this research. This year, the event (SciSym 2020), will be held on March 31 and April 1, 2020, at NOAA’s Western Regional Center in Seattle.

Oceans Initiative is a team of scientists on a mission to protect marine wildlife. Our US team is based out of Seattle, WA. We are currently recruiting 4 highly motivated field technicians to collect behavioral and AIS data on killer whales and vessels from land-based study sites on San Juan Island for our summer 2020 field season.

The Seattle Aquarium is looking for a part-time youth engagement mentor to join the Volunteer Engagement team. This position works with the Youth Engagement team to implement the Youth Ocean Advocates volunteer program for high school–age youth in a manner that is both beneficial to the youth participating in the program and to the Aquarium’s mission.

 
Katie Hearther is a double major in both Marine Biology and Oceanography here at the University of Washington as well as a minor in Arctic Studies. She sat down with us to discuss her trajectory as a student, internship opportunities, and advice for prospective and current students interested in the marine sciences.
Why Marine Biology and what drew you to the marine science programs here at the University of Washington? 

Each year orcas consume more than 2.5 million adult Chinook salmon along the West Coast. Except for the endangered southern resident population in Washington, all other fish-eating orca populations that live along the coast, called “residents,” are growing in number. The rise of resident killer whales, and their appetite for large Chinook salmon, is driving a decline of the big fish.

A new experiment by the University of Washington has found that some corals are more likely to eat microplastics when they are consuming other food, yet microplastics alone are undesirable. Two coral species tested responded differently to the synthetic material, suggesting variations in how corals are adapting to life with microplastics. The study was published Dec. 3 in the journal Scientific Reports.

Junior and Senior Protected Species Observers are needed for a land-based monitoring of protected marine species for mitigation of dredging, pile driving and other marine construction activities inside protected harbors and bays in Southern California, USA.