Climate Impacts Group

Don’t Get Crabby, Get Proactive! Invasive Species Science at the NW CASC

The European green crab (Carcinas maenas), brought to the area by ocean conditions altered by climate change, is threatening shellfish industries, Tribal food sources and estuarine habitats across the Pacific Northwest. Where it becomes established, it preys on clams, mussels and oysters, degrades habitat by destroying aquatic vegetation, and eats and competes with juvenile Dungeness crabs, massively disrupting marine ecosystems.

Fortunately, timely management responses and removal interventions have helped control the spread and impact of the European green crab. Researchers, state agencies and Tribes are working hard to understand how best to protect our ecosystems and resources from this threat.

The Northwest Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (NW RISCC) Network, a program within the CIG-hosted Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center, recently published a management brief, which shares information on the ways warming temperatures can influence this ongoing invasion and highlights the role climate adaptation can play in management. 

NW CASC Accepting Applications for 2026 Faculty Fellowship Program Until 7/15

The Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center, hosted by the Climate Impacts Group, is now accepting applications for our 2026 Faculty Fellowship Program, which supports research related to climate adaptation in Northwest natural and cultural resource management as well as training in the principles and practices of co-producing decision-relevant science. 

NW CASC Now Accepting Proposals for 2026 Faculty Fellowship Program

The Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center is now accepting applications for its 2026 Faculty Fellowship Program, a “last-mile” program that funds activities aimed at enhancing the usability of existing research for natural resource managers. The NW CASC invites applications from faculty and non-faculty scientists with primary investigator status at University of Washington, as well as Boise State University, Northwest Indian College, Oregon State University, Portland State University, University of Montana, Washington State University and Western Washington University. The NW CASC 2026 Faculty Fellowship Program funding will run from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. The deadline to submit applications is July 15, 2025. 

NW CASC Seeks Postdoc Focused on Coastal Squeeze

NW CASC is Hiring a Research Scientist!

The Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center is hiring a full-time research scientist to coordinate the Northwest Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (NW RISCC) Network and to lead the planning and implementation of our Actionable Science Deep Dives. Additionally, this position will contribute to logistics, program management and integration for the NW CASC as a whole.

The responsibilities of this new position will require significant partner outreach and engagement, science synthesis and event coordination. Thus, we are seeking candidates with strong organization and communication skills. Candidates must have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in natural resource management, environmental sciences, natural sciences, or a related field with a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience. 

Grizzlies are returning to WA’s North Cascades – how will that work?

Among the jagged peaks of the North Cascades, lush alpine meadows rich with berries and wildflowers blanket valleys carved by glaciers, some threaded with trickling creeks. But these idyllic landscapes are missing one big thing that had helped sustain them over the millennia: grizzly bears. Dr. Krosby is quoted. 

Join an Upcoming Input Session to Learn About NW CASC’s New Faculty Fellowship Program & Provide Feedback

The Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center is preparing to launch a Faculty Fellows Program to expand the community of Northwest researchers equipped to effectively co-produce actionable adaptation science. To ensure the new program meets the needs of faculty in the NW CASC Consortium, we are hosting two informational sessions to share our vision for the program and to seek feedback that will inform a Request for Proposals later this spring. If you’re interested in decision-relevant science that helps advance climate resilience in the Northwest, please join us and share your thoughts! 

NW CASC WEBINAR: Updating Your CV to Contextualize Your Contributions in Societally Engaged Work

Are you a researcher engaging with non-academic partners to develop science that meets real-world needs? If so, you may have noticed that the traditional format of scientific CVs, focused on comprehensive lists of publications and presentations, makes it challenging to convey the distinct skills, activities and products associated with your societally engaged research. So how do you develop a CV that accounts for these real-world contributions, yet still aligns with the traditional CV format expected in academia?

Join the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center’s interactive workshop on December 12 to find out! This work session is designed to support you in incorporating narrative elements into your CV that help contextualize your skills and experiences and better communicate your work. 

University of Washington Awarded Federal Funding to Host an Expanded Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center

The University of Washington has been awarded $7.4 million to continue hosting the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (NW CASC) for the next five years, leading a broad consortium of Northwest university and tribal partners to support natural and cultural resource managers in responding to climate risks and promoting regional resilience. The Climate Impacts Group at the University of Washington has hosted the NW CASC since 2017, during which time the Center has led ambitious partnerships and programming.

“We’re excited for this opportunity to expand our partners and programs to better serve the Northwest in preparing for climate risks and building regional resilience,” says NW CASC University Director, Meade Krosby. 

NW CASC seeks research fellowship program proposals

The Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center invites proposals for its 2023-2024 Research Fellowship Program from graduate students at University of Washington, Boise State University, Oregon State University, University of Montana, Washington State University and Western Washington University and from postdoctoral scholars at Boise State University, Oregon State University, University of Montana, Washington State University and Western Washington University (this fellowship cannot support postdocs at the University of Washington).

The Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center’s Research Fellowship Program supports research related to climate adaptation for Northwest natural and cultural resource management and provides training in the principles and practices of developing decision-relevant science.