College of the Environment

Title Authored on Link to edit Content
WWU's Alia Khan takes her students to study snow and ice in Greenland - virtually 2023-04-12
Pink snow is alive in the Cascade Range and it’s causing climate change

It’s not a trick of the light and you are not going crazy, pink snow does exist. In the spring and summer months, snow in Whatcom County’s mountains can turn pink. The color comes from an algae that can be found in alpine regions across the globe, and is more common than people think, said…

2023-03-27
WWU’s Marco Hatch Awarded a Coveted 2023 Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation 2023-03-21
Anacortes derailment once again raises concerns of environmental damage to Western Washington 2023-03-17
Gulf of Maine sees second-hottest year on record, report shows, ‘getting to the edge of habitability’

“One of the reasons that the Gulf of Maine is warming so rapidly is because of where it sits in the North Atlantic with regards to ocean circulation,” said Nina Whitney, an adjunct scientist at WHOI and research assistant professor at Western Washington University who was the lead author of the…

2023-02-27
'The Power of Nature and Storytelling' explores intersectional environmentalism 2023-02-17
Scientists try to keep up with chemical blizzard entering Puget Sound

The plants sterilize sewage and remove solids and organic materials from it. But they were never designed to remove things like antibiotics, cosmetics, hormones, pharmaceuticals, and other consumer products that wash down household drains.

“The latest estimate of the number of chemicals…

2023-02-06
Chemicals 'of concern' flowing into Puget Sound, affecting marine life, scientists say

"I would say the number of chemicals that are in the environment are of concern," said Ruth Sofield, a professor of environmental toxicology at Western Washington University.

The Puget Sound is too often a dumping ground for hundreds of chemicals, according to…

2023-02-06
Research Recap for Feb. 2, 2023 2023-02-02
Canyon Lake may soon become more accessible

Lack of access has stymied Western Washington University students from conducting research projects or taking field trips to the park. 

“Access to the forest supports the commitment to hands-on experiential learning via course-based field trips, group projects, and faculty-guided…

2023-01-10
Subscribe to College of the Environment