Environmental Sciences

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Introduction

Chair: David Wallin

Environmental science draws on basic knowledge of the physical, chemical, biological and quantitative aspects of natural systems. The knowledge of how natural systems work is applied to solving problems largely created by human activities. Often these problems are represented by disturbances in the functioning of natural systems. Humans are altering their own life-support systems — the air, the water and the soil. Scales of disturbance range from the molecular and cellular to individuals, populations, ecosystems, and regional and global levels.

Graduates in environmental science enter a wide variety of career paths in local, state and federal governments, universities, and the private sector. Fields include environmental toxicology, environmental chemistry, terrestrial ecology, environmental impact assessment, watershed studies, air pollution control, solid and hazardous waste management, and marine pollution assessment. Many graduates choose to pursue advanced studies.

Faculty

The interdisciplinary nature of environmental science is reflected in the wide-ranging expertise of the environmental science faculty. Oceanographers, toxicologists, chemists, biologists, limnologists, terrestrial ecologists and others work together as an interdisciplinary team to offer a curriculum grounded in the sciences, but oriented to the understanding and solution of environmental problems. Active engagement in research allows the faculty to bring an analysis of new knowledge into the classroom.

Facilities and Equipment

Facilities are available for teaching laboratory courses and for student research projects. Students gain practical hands-on experience in data collection and analysis in both laboratory and field settings including terrestrial, aquatic, estuarine and marine environments. Specialized equipment is available for a wide variety of applications including toxicological and water quality monitoring (in a state-certified lab), atmospheric chemistry, dendrochronology, global positioning systems, wildlife telemetry, and forest and aquatic habitat characterization. Instrumentation includes an autoanalyzer for phosphorous, carbon and nitrogen, a gamma ray detector for sediment dating and a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) equipped with a camera for underwater viewing of the marine environment. Extensive computer facilities include a Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing laboratory with state-of-the-art capabilities.

The Shannon Point Marine Center offers access to aquaria and a wide variety of laboratory and field sampling equipment for students interested in the marine environment.

The Canyon Lake Creek Community Forest provides access to 2,300 acres in the foothills of Mt. Baker.

In addition to these university owned facilities, our location provides unparalleled access to public lands that cover a range of environments including the alpine zone, dense old-growth forests, wetlands, lakes, streams, estuaries and the coast.

Faculty

DAVID O. WALLIN (1995) Chair and Professor. BS (biology), Juniata College; MA (biology), The College of William and Mary; PhD (environmental science), University of Virginia.
JENISE M. BAUMAN (2014) Associate Professor. BS (horticulture), Eastern Kentucky University; MS (plant pathology), West Virginia University; PhD (botany) Miami University.
CHARLES J. BARNHART (2014) Assistant Professor. BS (physics and astronomy), University of Washington-Seattle; PhD (planetary geophysics), University of California-Santa Cruz.
BRIAN L. BINGHAM (1995) Professor. BS (zoology), MS (zoology), Brigham Young University; PhD (biology), Florida State University.
LEO R. BODENSTEINER (1995) Professor. BA (biology), Moorhead State University; MA (zoology), PhD (zoology), Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.
ANDREW G. BUNN (2006) Professor. BS (zoology) The Evergreen State College; MEM (resource ecology) Duke University; PhD (environmental science), Montana State University-Bozeman.
REBECCA BUNN (2010) Associate Professor. BS, (civil engineering), Michigan Technology Institute; MS, (environmental engineering) University of Colorado; PhD (land resources and environmental science), Montana State University.
MARCO B.A. HATCH (2016) Assistant Professor. BS (Aquatic and Fishery Sciences), University of Washington; MS and PhD (Biological Oceanography), Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego.
JAMES M. HELFIELD (2005) Associate Professor. BA (English), Duke University; MSc (physical geography), University of Toronto; PhD (forest ecology), University of Washington.
STEVEN J. HOLLENHORST (2012) Professor and Dean, Huxley College of the Environment. BS, MS (recreation and park management), University of Oregon; PhD (recreation and park management), The Ohio State University.
ALIA L. KHAN (2018) Assistant Professor. BS (environmental health science), University of North Carolina; MS (biogeoscience), University of Colorado; PhD (civil and environmental engineering), University of Colorado.
WAYNE G. LANDIS (1989) Professor and Director, Institute of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. BA (biology), Wake Forest University; MA (biology) and PhD (zoology), Indiana University.
BROOKE A. LOVE (2012) Associate Professor, BS (engineering geology) Stanford University, PhD (chemical oceanography) University of Washington.
ROBIN A. MATTHEWS (1986) Professor and Director, Institute for Watershed Studies. BS (biology), University of California-Riverside; MS (environmental studies), Indiana University; PhD (botany/aquatic ecology), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
JOHN F. McLAUGHLIN (1996) Associate Professor. BA (biological sciences), BA (biochemistry), BA (integrated science program), Northwestern University; MS (biological sciences) and PhD (biological sciences, population biology), Stanford University.
ERIKA McPHEE-SHAW (2017) Professor. BA (physics) Dartmouth College; PhD (oceanography) University of Washington.
MANUEL D. MONTAÑO (2018) Assistant Professor. BS (chemistry), Colorado School of Mines; PhD (applied chemistry), Colorado School of Mines.
JOHN M. RYBCZYK (2000) Professor. BS (wildlife biology), Michigan State University; MS (ecosystem biology), Eastern Michigan University; PhD (oceanography and coastal science), Louisiana State University.
IMRAN SHEIKH (2017) Assistant Professor. BS (biomedical engineering), University of Wisconsin; MS, PhD (energy and resources), University of California-Berkeley.
DAVID H. SHULL (2003) Professor. BS (oceanography), University of Washington; MS (oceanography), University of Connecticut; PhD (environmental, coastal and ocean sciences), University of Massachusetts.
FROYLAN E. SIFUENTES (2019) Assistant Professor. BS (chemical engineering) Massachusetts Institute of Technology; MS, PhD (energy and resources)  University of California, Berkeley. 
KATHRYN L. SOBOCINSKI (2019) Assistant Professor. BA (environmental studies), Connecticut College; MS (aquatic and fishery sciences) University of Washington; PhD (marine science) The College of William and Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine Science. 
RUTH M. SOFIELD (2003) Professor. BA, West Virginia University; MS, McNeese State University; PhD (environmental science and engineering), Colorado School of Mines.
ANGELA L. STRECKER (2019) Associate Professor and Director, Institute for Watershed Studies. BSc Honours (biology), University of Regina, PhD (biology), Queen’s University. 

Research Faculty

JOHN D. ALL (2015) Research Professor. BA (environmental history and environmental science), Duke University; Masters (environmental ethics certificate), JD (environmental law), University of Georgia; PhD (geography, global change, and applied anthropology) University of Arizona.
TARANG KHANGAONKAR (2018) Research Professor. BS (naval architecture) Indian Institute of Technology; Masters (ocean engineering), University of Miami; PhD (applied marine physics/ ocean engineering) University of Miami.  
CARL G. SCHMIDT (2018) Research Professor. BS (physics) University of Nevada-Reno, MS (atmospheric Science) University of Nevada-Reno, PhD (atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences) University of Colorado-Boulder.
SYLVIA YANG (2019) Assistant Research Professor. AB (biology) Harvard University; PhD (biology) University of Washington.

Emeritus Faculty

JOHN T. (JACK) HARDY Professor Emeritus of Environmental Sciences. BA, University of California-Santa Barbara; MA, Oregon State University; PhD, University of Washington.
PETER S. HOMANN Professor. BA (natural sciences) and BS (chemistry), Case Western Reserve University; MS (forest ecology), Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies; PhD (forest soils, nutrient cycling), University of Washington.
J. RICHARD MAYER Professor Emeritus of Environmental Science. BS, Union College; MA, Columbia University; PhD, Yale University.
ROBERT L. MONAHAN Professor Emeritus of Geography and Environmental Social Sciences. BA, University of Washington; MA, University of Michigan; PhD, McGill University.
LYNN A. ROBBINS Professor Emeritus of Environmental Studies. BA, University of Utah; MA, PhD, University of Oregon.
BRADLEY F. SMITH Professor Emeritus of Huxley College of the Environment. BA, MA, Western Michigan University; PhD, University of Michigan.
THOMAS A. TERICH Professor Emeritus of Geography. BA and MA, California State University, Los Angeles; PhD, Oregon State University.
HERBERT H. WEBBER Professor Emeritus of Geography and Environmental Social Sciences. BSc, PhD, University of British Columbia.
MING-HO YU Professor Emeritus of Huxley College. BS, National Taiwan University; MS, PhD, Utah State University.

Adjunct Faculty

JAMES D. ALLAWAY, PhD (natural resources, policy, and planning), Cornell University.
JUDE APPLE, Research Coordinator at Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research, PhD (marine and estuarine ecology), University of Maryland.
TRACY K. COLLIER, Senior Associate and Project Manager, Ocean Associates, Inc. PhD (Fisheries), University of Washington. 
PAUL DINNEL Marine Scientist, Shannon Point Marine Center. PhD (fisheries), University of Washington.
STEFAN FREELAN, MS (geography), Western Washington University.
JERRY FREILICH, Research and Monitoring Coordinator, Olympic National Park, PhD (aquatic ecology), University of Georgia.
ROGER N. FULLER Coastal Resource Specialist, Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, BS (animal science), University of Illinois; MS (plant ecology), University of Washington.
APRIL MARKIEWICZ, MS (environmental science), Western Washington University.
BRADY OLSON, Marine Scientist, Shannon Point Marine Center. PhD (biological oceanography), University of Washington.
CLIFF RICE, PhD, Research Scientist, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
MICHAEL G. STONER, Environmental Manager, Port of Bellingham. MS (forest soils), University of Washington.
SUZANNE STROM, Marine Scientist, Shannon Point Marine Center. PhD (biological oceanography), University of Washington.
KATHRYN L. VAN ALSTYNE, Marine Scientist, Shannon Point Marine Center. PhD (marine ecology), University of Washington.
SETH VIDANA, WWU Sustainability Coordinator. MEd (environmental education), Western Washington University.
SAUL WEISBERG, Executive Director, North Cascades Institute. MS (biology), Western Washington University.

Affiliated Faculty

JOHN BOWER, Associate Professor, Fairhaven College
DON BURGESS, Assistant Professor, SMATE 
CRAIG DUNN, Associate Professor, Management, CBE
VICTOR NOLET, Professor, Woodring College of Education
ARUNAS OSLAPAS, Professor, Engineering Technology
DEBRA J. SALAZAR, Professor, Department of Political Science
DAVID SATTLER, Professor, Department of Psychology
STEPHEN D. SULKIN, Professor and Director, Shannon Point
PHIL THOMPSON, Assistant Professor, Economics, CBE
JOHN TUXILL, Assistant Professor, Fairhaven College

Programs

• Environmental Science — Freshwater & Terrestrial Ecology Emphasis, BS
• Environmental Science — Marine Science Emphasis, BS
• Environmental Science — Toxicology Emphasis, BS
• Environmental Science, BS
• Student/Faculty Designed, BS (Huxley College of the Environment)

• Environmental Science Extension Major, BS

• Environmental Science Minor

• Environmental Science, Marine and Estuarine Science (MES), Thesis, MS
• Environmental Science, Thesis, MS

• Mountain Research Skills Certificate

Courses

Courses numbered X37; X97; 300, 400, 500 are described in the University Academic Policies  section of this catalog.

• ESCI 101 - Environmental Studies: A Scientific Approach
• ESCI 204 - The Oceans: Topics in Marine Science
• ESCI 205 - Distinguished Scholar Program Seminar: Ds
• ESCI 225 - Beginning Ecology
• ESCI 300 - Directed Independent Study
• ESCI 302 - Environmental Disturbances
• ESCI 307 - Topics in Environmental Science
• ESCI 308 - Writing in Environmental Science
• ESCI 310 - Environmental Systems
• ESCI 314 - The Science of Cheesemaking
• ESCI 315 - Art, Science and Ethics of Flyfishing
• ESCI 316 - Advanced Flyfishing: river stewarship, reflection, and native trout
• ESCI 321 - Oceanography
• ESCI 322 - Oceanography Laboratory
• ESCI 325 - Fundamentals of Ecology
• ESCI 328 - Introduction to Ecosystem Management
• ESCI 330 - Natural History of the Pacific Northwest
• ESCI 333 - Introduction to Environmental Toxicology
• ESCI 340 - Biostatistical Analysis
• ESCI 360 - Energy Efficient and Carbon Neutral Design
• ESCI 361 - Water Quality
• ESCI 380 - Energy and Environment
• ESCI 392 - Introduction to Global Change
• ESCI 400 - Directed Independent Study
• ESCI 402 - Topics in Environmental Studies
• ESCI 407 - Forest Ecology
• ESCI 408 - Field Methods in Wildlife Ecology
• ESCI 410 - Habitat and Ecology of Pacific Salmon and Trout
• ESCI 411 - Habitat Assessment of Pacific Salmon and Trout
• ESCI 417 - The State of the Salish Sea Ecosystem
• ESCI 423 - Reconstructing Climate
• ESCI 425 - Environmental Biology of Fishes
• ESCI 426 - Marine Invertebrates and Their Environment
• ESCI 428 - Freshwater Algae Bioindicators
• ESCI 429 - Stream Ecology
• ESCI 430 - Limnology and Limnology Lab
• ESCI 431 - Watershed Biogeochemistry
• ESCI 432 - Topics in Marine Ecology
• ESCI 433 - Population Biology
• ESCI 434 - Scientific Conference Preparation, Participation, and Evaluation
• ESCI 435 - Landscape Ecology
• ESCI 439 - Conservation of Biological Diversity
• ESCI 440 - Wetlands Ecology
• ESCI 442 - Introduction to Remote Sensing
• ESCI 443 - Ecological Images
• ESCI 444 - Biogeochemistry of Marine Sediments
• ESCI 445 - Marine Geochemistry
• ESCI 452 - Introduction to Science and Management of Contaminated Sites
• ESCI 453 - Science and Management of Contaminated Sites
• ESCI 454 - Science, Management and Outreach of Contaminated Sites
• ESCI 455 - Environmental Toxicology I
• ESCI 456 - Environmental Toxicology II
• ESCI 457 - Environmental Toxicology Laboratory I
• ESCI 458 - Environmental Toxicology Laboratory II
• ESCI 459 - Aquatic Toxicology
• ESCI 460 - Contaminant Fate and Transport
• ESCI 461 - Mechanical and Environmental Systems in Buildings
• ESCI 462 - Air Pollution
• ESCI 463 - Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment
• ESCI 464 - Sustainable Building Analysis and Design
• ESCI 465 - Plant and Soil Interactions
• ESCI 466 - Life Cycle Analysis
• ESCI 470 - Ecological Restoration
• ESCI 475 - Renewable Electric Power Systems
• ESCI 480 - Applications in Energy Production
• ESCI 490 - Environmental Risk Assessment
• ESCI 491 - Oceanography of the Salish Sea
• ESCI 492 - Climate Change
• ESCI 493 - Environmental Impact Assessment
• ESCI 494 - Marine Conservation
• ESCI 495 - Teaching Practicum
• ESCI 496 - Integration of Environmental Science and Policy
• ESCI 498A - Senior Thesis
• ESCI 498B - Internship
• ESCI 498C - Senior Project
• ESCI 498D - International Study
• ESCI 499A - Seminar: Huxley Speaker Series
• ESCI 499B - Seminar
• ESCI 499C - Seminar
• ESCI 499D - Solar Power and its Impacts
• ESCI 499E - Seminar
• ESCI 499F - Seminar
• ESCI 499G - Seminar
• ESCI 499H - Seminar
• ESCI 499I - Seminar
• ESCI 499J - Seminar
• ESCI 499K - Seminar
• ESCI 499L - Seminar
• ESCI 499M - Seminar
• ESCI 499N - Seminar
• ESCI 499O - Seminar
• ESCI 499P - Seminar
• ESCI 499Q - Seminar
• ESCI 499R - Seminar
• ESCI 499S - Seminar: Integration of Environmental Science and Policy
• ESCI 499T - Seminar
• ESCI 499U - Seminar
• ESCI 499V - Seminar
• ESCI 499W - Seminar
• ESCI 499X - Seminar
• ESCI 499Y - Seminar

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