Monthly Archives: April 2011

EPA launches new strategy to promote use of green infrastructure for environmental and economic benefits

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching a new strategy to promote the use of green infrastructure by cities and towns to reduce stormwater runoff that pollutes our nation’s streams, creeks, rivers, lakes and coastal waters. Green infrastructure decreases pollution to local waterways by treating rain where it falls and keeping polluted stormwater from […] … learn more→

New software to support interest in extreme science

The University of Chicago’s Flash Center for Computational Science released a major new version of supercomputer code, called FLASH 4-alpha, on April 29. Based on previous software for simulating exploding stars, this is the first version of the FLASH code that has extensive capabilities for simulating high-energy density physics experiments. The U.S. Department of Energy’s […] … learn more→

Cutting \’food miles\’ doesn\’t necessarily make \’cents\’

As food suppliers attempt to meet the growing demand for local products, a new study finds it\’s not always economically or environmentally viable for multi-product industries to focus heavily on local sales. \”The dairy sector is an excellent example for examining the economic consequences of increased localization of food supply chains,\” said Miguel Gomez, professor […] … learn more→

Have a clean, green spring

Now that spring is underway and the weather is warmer, thoughts turn to freshening up your surroundings. Spring cleaning is a time-honored tradition, and can result in simplifying and organizing your home and/or office without impacting the environment by following some simple strategies. “Spring cleaning is a great time to think about your environmental impact […] … learn more→

Sustaining vulnerable lives

Patient safety is a hot topic in the U.S., Australia and Europe. Large resources are set aside for research projects that will make life safer for patients. In Norway, the research field is still new – but researchers from Stavanger are in the forefront. \”Until about five years ago the Norwegian health care system had […] … learn more→

Big business of biodiversity dependent on seed

Seed banks must become more than ‘stamp-collections\’ of species if global conservation efforts are to be successful, according to two eminent plant biologists. They write in Science this week that effective seed banks are essential to stemming the tide of extinction and environmental degradation. Dr David Merritt, an honorary adjunct lecturer in The University of […] … learn more→

Husky Green Awards 2011: Two students, one staffer, two sustainability groups

Three individuals and two groups were honored at the UW Earth Day celebration as winners of the second annual Husky Green Award. The award, sponsored by the Environmental Stewardship Advisory Committee, recognizes those who have shown leadership, initiative and dedication to environmental stewardship and sustainability at the University of Washington. Individual winners are: Alicia Halberg, […] … learn more→

Fluctuations before the fall: Predicting and preventing environmental collapse

By closely monitoring environmental conditions at a remote Wisconsin lake, researchers have found that models used to assess catastrophic changes in economic and medical systems can also predict environmental collapse. Stock market crashes, epileptic seizures, and ecological breakdowns are all preceded by a measurable increase in variance—be it fluctuations in brain waves, the Dow Jones […] … learn more→