Currents

Abigayl Farr – Author

she/her
Email: abigaylf@uw.edu
Interests: climate change, shark conservation, environmental and social justice

Abby grew up in San Diego, California and studied Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology at California State University of Monterey Bay. She currently studies in the Marine and Environmental Affairs graduate program at the University of Washington. Her focus is on gaining skills and knowledge to help further marine conservation efforts.

Articles written by Abby:
Coming soon: Sharks: Key Players in the Health of Puget Sound’s Ecosystems

Amie Kusch – Social Media Coordinator

she/her
Email: akusch@uw.edu
LinkedIn

Amie grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and moved to Bozeman, Montana, for college. Ironically, she discovered her passion for ocean advocacy during her eight years living in the landlocked state. After graduating, Amie worked as a Field Representative for U.S. Senator Jon Tester, and later as a Program Assistant at Natural Resources Defense Council, where she supported initiatives focused on protecting wildlife. At SMEA, Amie is focused on developing Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

Articles written by Amie:
Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures: A Path Towards Equitable Biodiversity Conservation
Mount Rainier: Lessons Learned

Anna Lewis – Art Director

she/her
Email: alewis37@uw.edu
Interests: books, backpacking, and critical minerals

Anna grew up in Virginia and studied international affairs at James Madison University. Here at SMEA, she is combining her love of the environment with international energy transition politics.

Articles written by Anna:
Weaknesses in US/Canadian Transboundary Whale Conservation
Mining the Ocean Floor

Bea Pickett – Copy Editor

she/her
Email: bpickett@uw.edu
Interests: climate justice, science-informed policy, and environmental education

Drawn to this field by her love of coastal systems and her commitment to social justice, Bea intends to tackle environmental issues at the intersections of science, policy, and law. Believing that effective environmental governance depends upon an informed and meaningfully engaged public, she strives to build bridges through scientific communication and environmental education.

Articles written by Bea:
The future of the EPA? Reflecting on climate policy in the Biden administration and beyond
Stand Up for Science

Ellen Koch – Author

she/her
Email: eekoch@uw.edu
Interests: climate change mitigation and adaptation, food systems, climate law, science communication

Originally from Minnesota, Ellen attended UW-Madison for her undergraduate degree in Environmental Science and Life Sciences Communications. Having worked in clinical guidelines for a few years, she is pivoting back into the environmental field at SMEA. She hopes to combine her passion for art and communications with her interest in the environmental sciences to make a difference in her community and beyond.

Emily Bews – Managing Editor

she/her
Email: ebews@uw.edu

Hannah Pikel – Author

she/they
Email: hpikel@uw.edu
Interests: habitat restoration, climate resiliency and justice, coastal resource management

Originally from Indiana, Hannah came to Washington in 2017 to study marine science and policy. Her current research focuses on building ecological resiliency against sea level rise through nature-based solutions. Through her work, she hopes to prepare her community and beyond for climate change.

Articles written by Hannah:
Taking Matters into Our Own Hands: Community-Driven Restoration of the Duwamish River

Isaac Olson – Author

he/him
Email: ido77@uw.edu

Isaac is interested in turning scientific understanding into accessible and impactful environmental communication. Isaac lives on the unceded lands of the Coast Salish people, including the Duwamish and Suquamish Tribes, who have stewarded the lands since time immemorial, and uplifts work to undo historical inequities and inspire more just stewardship of our shared environment.

Articles written by Isaac:
Why is SMEA still so white?
Why aren’t we all talking about Palestine?

Kylie West – Author

she/her
Email: kyliew1@uw.edu
Interests: wildlife conservation, coastal resource management, Marine Protected Areas (MPA)

Articles written by Kylie:
Treading Lightly: The Power of Observation in the Natural Sciences

Lia Minckler – Author

she/her
Email: lianem@uw.edu
Interests: international marine policy, climate adaptation and mitigation, coral reef conservation, environmental journalism

Despite growing up in Colorado, she found an affinity for all things marine. Having worked for the USGS Washington Water Science Center, she’s looking forward to pivoting her policy work away from the nuances of bureaucratic administration and back towards environmental topics. She is thrilled to be in a place where she can indulge in both mountain and water activities, and is looking forward to seeing her first whale in person!

Articles written by Lia:
Coming soon: Nuclear Energy: the Future of “Clean” Energy?

Lou Guionnet – Author

she/her
Email: loug2@uw.edu
Interests: plastic pollution reduction, lamprey, sharks, co-productive science

Lou grew up in a family of divers in the San Francisco Bay Area and quickly fell in love with the ocean and its creatures. Her passion for protecting and conserving this incredible ecosystem has led her to recognize the need to involve affected communities from the start.

Articles written by Lou:
Coming soon: Plastic on Salish Sea Shores

Madison Gard – Editor-in-Chief

she/her
Email: mlgard@uw.edu
Interests: marine ecology, eDNA, science communications

After growing up in the Sonoran Desert of Tucson, Arizona, Maddie moved to the Pacific Northwest to pursue marine ecology and environmental stewardship. She’s researched pinniped foraging behaviors as well as worked on a trail crew stewarding Washington’s Greenway National Heritage Area. As a graduate student, she’s merging her loves for ecological research and science communication with effective interdisciplinary strategies for making an impact.

Articles written by Maddie:
Artificial Reefs to the Rescue: Puget Sound’s Success Stories and Lessons Learned
Blooming Concerns
Plant Power: Turning Wastewater into Biofuels

Tessa Marks – Author

she/her
Email: tmarks1@uw.edu
Interests: sustainable coastal development, climate mitigation and adaptation, environmental justice, carbon sequestration

Articles written by Tessa:
Thoughts on Sustainable Travel: Perspectives from Costa Rica