WSAS Activites and Updates
We have significantly enhanced interactions with our members and external stakeholders. Our “in-reach” efforts have included increased contact with all WSAS members, the creation of a new guide for members, and more opportunities for members to actively contribute their expertise to WSAS. For example, all members are encouraged to consider serving on at least one of the three Topical Working Groups. We have also expanded “outreach” efforts to strengthen our relationships with WA State elected leaders, agencies, and non-profit organizations. Examples include:
- Co-sponsoring and participating in a workshop last fall with state legislators to identify issues our state will face in the coming years. This workshop led to the formation of a bipartisan Science and Technology Caucus with whom we look forward to working in the next biennium.
- Engaging in discussions with the Governor’s office and state agencies about key issues where the Academy can provide objective science or technical advice. Agencies include Agriculture, Commerce, Ecology, Fish and Wildlife, Natural Resources, and Puget Sound Partnership (PSP). WSAS members served as reviewers of nominations for the 2017 PSP Science Panel, and reviewed chapters of a forthcoming report of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
- Organizing and hosting two roundtable discussions on the implications to WA State of the goals to reduce its carbon footprint and of additive manufacturing of advanced materials. The roundtable discussions included roughly 20 experts from UW, WSU, and PNNL plus representatives from the Governor’s Office and the Department of Commerce. We are planning follow-up activities.
We are excited about a number of current and future WSAS projects including:
- Advising the WA State Department of Commerce on its Notice of Funding Opportunities for the Clean Energy Futures 3 competition.
- Developing a proposal to review integrated pest management related to burrowing shrimp in Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor.
- Forming a technical advisory committee as a companion activity to the Ruckelshaus Center’s project with the U.S. Forest Service to conduct a stakeholder assessment of the Spirit Lake/Toutle River System, as a follow up to a recent NASEM report (December 2017).
- Exploring the feasibility of several projects related to the Salish Sea.
To find out more about these projects and get involved, contact Donna Gerardi Riordan.
As a member, you can support WSAS by:
- Joining a TWG to help identify issues critical to our state that could benefit from an independent WSAS assessment. Contact information for TWG chairs can be found in the Member Guide (see below).
- Leading a TWG topic exploration. We recently implemented a phased approach to exploring the feasibility of new projects. Examples of possible activities include researching a topic, writing a white paper, and organizing an in-depth consensus study. The variety of possible activities, which require different levels of effort to lead organize and complete, allows you to contribute in a way that fits with your interests, schedule and other commitments.
- Learning more about being an active WSAS Member in our Member Guide (download here).
As you can see, there are many opportunities for WSAS members to get involved. Your contributions increase the ability of WSAS to impact and assist the environment, citizens and business of Washington State.
