Note from the Chair

Ray Huey

Despite the recent cold weather here in Seattle, the lengthening photoperiod signals the coming of spring. This will be an unusually busy one for us, as we brace for budget cuts from the state of Washington.  Even before we know the actual magnitude of those cuts, we're making curricular and other revisions to blunt the impact. All of us are working hard to implement cuts in ways that will enable us to preserve our missions in research, teaching and outreach. The next few years could be rough, but we will come through well positioned for the future.

On a positive note, I'm delighted to tell you about a new evening lecture series that will provide an opportunity to share exciting biology research with friends, alumni, and supporters. These are scientific talks, but are nonetheless designed to be accessible to a wide audience. 

Dr. Sam Wasser will give the inaugural talk on the evening of April 22. Sam gives great talks:  This one will be on his important work helping protect African elephants from poachers. Each year thousands of elephants are slaughtered for their ivory, which is shipped on the black market.  Customs officials seize tons of contraband ivory each year, but have no idea from which country it originated.

Sam’s lab developed techniques to extract DNA from contraband ivory and then compare it with DNA of known African populations. He can then pinpoint the geographic sources of ivory and where the elephants were killed. Wildlife rangers in those areas can then concentrate their efforts to curb further poaching of these magnificent animals.

This is an amazing story of genetic detective work in the face of crime syndicates and international smuggling, as well as a fascinating collaboration between biologists and the Interpol Working Group on Wildlife Crime.

Sam is a famed international leader in non-invasive methods of monitoring wildlife.  He is a research professor in the Department of Biology, holds the UW Endowed Chair in Conservation Biology, and is the director of the Center for Conservation Biology. You can read about his wildlife research on his Web site. Or better yet, join us for his seminar on April 22. Details are posted under the Events section of this E-newsletter. 

I hope you enjoy reading the rest of the E-newsletter and I look forward to seeing you on April 22!

Best,

Professor Raymond B. Huey
Department Chair