Big Blue Solutions

For a recent worldwide television event, PBS and BBC cast some pretty wild characters. "Big Blue Live," a three-night experiment in live broadcasting, told the story of Monterey Bay's environmental decimation and resurrection with a backdrop of the remarkable annual migration of whales, sharks and other marine life through these Northern California waters. Headquartered in Monterey, the Center for Ocean Solutions (COS) is an important partner in the bay's ongoing success and a source of powerful prescriptions for marine challenges. In the run-up to the program, NPR interviewed COS early career fellow Jesse Port about a marine life DNA-sequencing project that received early funding from Woods' Environmental Venture Projects (EVP) seed grant program. We look forward to seeing more ocean solutions from COS and other Woods-affiliated researchers, such as this 360-degree footage of a vibrant kelp forest (best on mobile device) featured in Big Blue Live and part of an immersive learning project funded by EVP. Speaking of solutions, check out environmental research and program highlights, publications, videos, news coverage and more in our 2014-2015 Annual Report.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey R. Koseff
Perry L. McCarty Director

Barton H. Thompson, Jr.
Perry L. McCarty Director

Seeking Environmental Leaders of Tomorrow

Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars from all seven of Stanford's schools are encouraged to apply for the Woods' Rising Environmental Leaders Program. The year-long program, which includes a one-week boot camp in Washington, D.C., helps participants connect research to action and build partnerships and leadership skills. It features perspectives from government, NGOs, think tanks and business leaders. The application deadline is Nov. 6.

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Ocean Solutions News

Looking for the latest on ocean news, research, publications and emerging solutions? Look no further than the Center for Ocean Solutions' newly launched quarterly newsletter.

Photo credit: Eric Johnson, NOAA Corps

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Social Capital as Key to Conservation

Preserving biodiversity while promoting sustainable rural development - the mission of the Osa & Golfito Initiative (INOGO) - depends on relations of reciprocity and trust among local-level institutions, organizations and social networks, according to research co-authored by Senior Fellow William Durham (Anthropology) and former INOGO researchers. The study points the way to where development-related investments are most likely to bear fruit.

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Forward Thinking at White House Drought Symposium

Woods Senior Fellow Buzz Thompson (Law) and Leon Szeptycki, executive director of the Water in the West Program, were invited to produce discussion papers for a symposium aimed at fostering coordination among government programs to enable communities to cope with drought. Their papers addressed strategies for developing drought resilience and approaches for leveraging investments and innovation by the private sector as well as state and local governments.

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New Conservation Strategy Benefits People and Nature

Study led by Woods-affiliated postdoctoral scholar Daniel Karp (Natural Capital Project) outlines a approach to habitat conservation that achieves diverse objectives.

Photo credit: Daniel Karp

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Climate Change: Reaching the Three-Degree Threshold

Earth could reach a 3-degree Celsius temperature rise from preindustrial levels in as little as 30 years, according to researchers, including Senior Fellow Robert Jackson (Earth System Science), who say stronger mitigation is needed.

Photo credit: Courtesy: Rob Jackson

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Ecological Society of America Showcases Century's Most Cited Papers

Stanford researchers, including several Woods fellows, among authors honored in centennial issue of largest professional society devoted to ecological science.

Photo credit: Ltshears

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High Risk of Tick-Borne Diseases on Bay Area Trails 

NBC Bay Area, Aug. 24
Discusses a new study co-authored by Senior Fellow Eric Lambin (Earth System Science) on surprising levels of tick-borne disease in the Bay Area.

Climate Change Intensifies California Drought, Scientists Say 

New York Times, Aug. 20
Senior Fellow David Lobell (Earth System Science) discusses the latest study on the connection between climate change and the California drought. 

Quick-Thinking Employee Saves Dozens From Motel 6 Gas Explosion

NBC Nightly News, Aug. 19
Senior Fellow Robert Jackson (Earth System Science) comments on factors behind natural gas explosions.

What Are the Odds? Long, Most Likely 

Wall Street Journal, Aug. 14
Cites study on low risk of shark bites off California coast co-authored by Senior Fellow Fiorenza Micheli (Biology).

Estudiantes de Diseño Apoyaron a 35 Emprendedores de Osa 

La Republica (in Spanish), Aug. 7
Notes that local design students supported 35 projects of "Caminos de Osa," a sustainable tourism program in Costa Rica led by Woods' Osa & Golfito Initiative and other organizations. 

A Once-Flourishing Pima Cotton Industry Withers in an Arid California 

New York Times, Aug. 7
Quotes Tara Moran, research associate at the Water in the West Program, about how the San Joaquin Valley's two groundwater basins are probably the most over-drafted in the state.

Read more News and Media Coverage from the Stanford Woods Institute's fellows and affiliated faculty, including fellows with our Leopold Leadership Program.

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