August 27, 2025
Fund for Science and Technology invests in the UW College of the Environment to further innovation and research related to climate solutions
The UW College of the Environment received a $10 million grant from Foundation for Science and Technology to expand climate solutions work.Dennis Wise/University of Washington
The University of Washington’s College of the Environment will expand its work related to climate solutions thanks to a grant announced today from Fund for Science and Technology, FFST, a new foundation within the Paul G. Allen philanthropic ecosystem.
The College of the Environment will use the $10 million grant from FFST to deepen its work in researching climate solutions, climate prediction and environmental monitoring through field observation and data modeling.
“Our mission is to enable accelerated discovery and catalyze progress through transformational science and technology,” said Dr. Lynda Stuart, FFST’s chief executive officer. “We need more solutions for some of the most defining challenges of our time, which is why the foundation is focused on bioscience, a range of environmental issues, and the role AI can play to benefit people and the planet. These were three priority areas for Paul Allen, and our early grantees are at the forefront of that work.”
The College of the Environment is the largest environment-focused institute of higher learning in the United States. College of the Environment faculty include globally recognized experts in atmospheric and climate science, geology, forestry, oceanography, fisheries, marine policy and more.
“This generous support from FFST represents a vital investment in the UW College of the Environment, strengthening our ability to drive the research, discovery and solutions required to address the most pressing climate challenges of our time,” said UW President Robert J. Jones. “The University of Washington is deeply grateful for our long-standing relationship with the Paul G. Allen philanthropic ecosystem, and to Dr. Stuart and her team for their vision and commitment to advancing this critical work.”
Read related coverage in The Seattle Times.
Through the grant, researchers will build on strengths in the atmospheric and ocean sciences that can be applied to climate solutions, climate prediction and environmental monitoring through robust field observations and theoretical and AI-based modeling. College of the Environment experts hope to gain a better understanding of climate and ecosystem health, which in turn supports the health and wellbeing of all Earth’s inhabitants.
“Support from FFST will drive research that transcends traditional boundaries to tackle the urgent challenges of our rapidly changing environment,” said Ginger Armbrust, associate dean of research and program lead at the College of the Environment. “Working across scientific disciplines allows us to understand the truly complex nature of these changes and helps us develop the tools that could potentially mitigate them.”
This investment comes at a critical time for environmental science, when support across the funding landscape is uncertain. “We are deeply grateful to FFST for their support of the UW and the College of the Environment,” Interim Dean Joel Thornton said. “This investment will ensure we can continue to discover and understand our world, and to pursue bold and innovative solutions to the environmental challenges we face by leveraging the breadth of expertise across the College, the UW and our region.”
For more information about FFST, read this press release. Contact John Meyer at the College of the Environment at jjmeyer@uw.edu.
Tag(s): College of the Environment • Ginger Armbrust • Joel Thornton • Research Makes America • Robert J. Jones