News out of ESS

Unlocking the secrets of icy moons: how the ‘cenotectic’ could revolutionize the search for life beyond Earth

As NASA’s Europa Clipper embarks on its 5.5-year journey to Europa, a new study in Nature Communications by University of Washington planetary scientist Baptiste Journaux reveals groundbreaking research that could revolutionize the search for habitability in our solar system and beyond.

ESS professor Harold Tobin ‘goes on tour’ as Ocean Discovery Lecturer for 2024-2025 academic year

ESS professor Harold Tobin was selected as one of six distinguished lecturers for the Ocean Discovery Lecture Series during the 2024-2025 academic year.

ShakeAlert gets first Washington test in recent Pacific Northwest earthquake

Early on March 3, many residents of the San Juan Islands and beyond were jolted awake by the rocking of a 4.5 magnitude earthquake. Located on the southeast side of Orcas Island, it fortunately caused no major damage and did not trigger a tsunami warning. It did, however, trigger the ShakeAlert earthquake early warning system, which alerts people via their smartphone as soon as an earthquake begins.

Erin Wirth wins Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers

Before leaving office, President Joe Biden awarded nearly 400 scientists and engineers the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding scientists and engineers early in their careers.

Honoring Women in Science at the College of the Environment

In honor of International Women and Girls in Science Day on February 11, 2025, we celebrate the women across the UW College of the Environment making significant contributions to the advancement of science. ESS associate professor Alison Duvall is highlighted in this roundup.

2024 PNSN Earthquake Catalog

In 2024 the PNSN located 3,272 earthquakes within Washington and Oregon, another pretty typical year for seismicity in the PNW.

UW ESS in the Media

Do small earthquakes mean a big quake might be coming in WA?, Bellingham Herald / ESS professor and PNSN Director Harold Tobin is interviewed

Desert planets like those in ‘Dune’ and ‘Star Wars’ unlikely to host life, NASA says, Space.com / ESS PhD student Haskelle White-Gianella is quoted

Professor Fang-Zhen Teng awarded Alumni Excellence Research Award, University of Maryland Alumni Association / Professor Teng was awarded Alumni Excellence Research Award from alma mater for his expertise in isotope geochemistry

Ice spy – ESS alum Peter Neff goes way down under studying ice cores in Antarctica, UW Magazine / ESS alum and polar glaciologist Peter Neff and team drill ice cores near the Thwaites Glacier that could provide a clearer picture of the history of weather patterns in the region

A weird ice that may form on alien planets has finally been observed, Science News / ESS assistant research professor and planetary scientist Baptiste Journaux is quoted

Federal layoffs and funding cuts threaten earthquake alerts in WA, Fox 13 / ESS professor and Washington State seismologist Harold Tobin is quoted

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