Natural Resources

Health of amphibians in oil sand fields area assessed

By Will Ferguson, WSU College of Arts and Science The impact of pollutants from the world’s largest oil sand field on the health of amphibians marks the focus of a team of research biologists from Washington State University and Canada.

Jan. 27-29: Helping neighborhoods adapt to climate change

SAN FRANCISCO – Five public, community workshops to help some San Francisco neighborhoods adapt to sea level rising, flooding and drought will be hosted by the Washington State University Adaptive Water Urbanism Initiative Jan. 27-29.

Research: Arctic’s role as climate moderator threatened

By Eric Sorensen, WSU science writer SAN FRANCISCO – Scientists in a rare and sometimes dangerous study of the Arctic have found that the region’s thinning sea ice is more prone to melting and storms, threatening its role as a moderator of the planet’s climate.

Study finds life under lake ice complex, surprisingly active

By Eric Sorensen, WSU science writer PULLMAN, Wash. – As long as ecologists have studied temperate lakes, the winter has been their off-season. It’s difficult, even dangerous, to look under the ice, and they figured plants, animals and algae weren’t doing much in the dark and cold anyway.

Grant brings science of stormwater pollution to businesses

By Scott Weybright, College of Agricultural, Human & Natural Resource Sciences PUYALLUP, Wash. – Businesses in the Puget Sound watershed must navigate a complex series of stormwater runoff regulations and permits. But business owners often don’t understand why those regulations exist.

New grant to help cities make better water decisions

By Erik Gomez, Voiland College of Engineering & Architecture intern PULLMAN, Wash. – A Washington State University researcher has received a $2.5 million National Science Foundation grant to develop a statistical model that will help city managers make more informed sustainable water decisions.

Sept. 22-24: Public invited to help plan for sea level rise

By Scott Weybright, College of Agricultural, Human & Natural Resource Sciences SEATTLE – Community workshops to design a “blue greenway” to help the South Park and Georgetown neighborhoods adapt to rising tides associated with climate change will be held Sept. 22-24 at Seattle Community College’s Georgetown campus in C222.

Oct. 3, 4: Symposium on new, clean energy materials

EVERETT, Wash. – Washington state’s Joint Center for Deployment and Research in Earth Abundant Materials (JCDREAM) will hold its inaugural research symposium Oct. 3 and 4. The free forum begins at 1 p.m. Oct. 3 at the Henry M. Jackson Center Wilderness Auditorium at Everett Community College.