Faces of Adaptation: Meet NW CASC University Director Meade Krosby

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We are excited to announce that Dr. Meade Krosby has stepped into the role of NW CASC University Director after serving as the Deputy University Director for over five years. In addition to her role as the NW CASC University Director, Meade is a Senior Scientist with the UW Climate Impacts Group (university host of the NW CASC).

Meade works closely with land and wildlife managers, policy makers and communities to understand and address climate impacts on natural systems and the people who depend on them. Her current work includes vulnerability assessment and adaptation planning; large landscape conservation planning for climate resilience; and efforts to build climate adaptation capacity and communities of practice.

Meade received a B.S. in Biology from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Washington. When she’s not in the office, you can find her surfing the Northwest coast with family and friends or working in the garden with her chickens.

What led you to work in the field of climate adaptation?

Like so many of us, I grew up in awe of the natural world – this led me to study ecology and evolutionary biology through college and graduate school. But as I completed my training it became harder and harder to not work more directly to address the threats facing the natural world. When I finished my PhD, I decided to pivot and focus my career on reducing climate risks to species and ecosystems. That in turn led me to work with resource managers and communities to support their climate adaptation efforts.

What does your day-to-day work look like?

Because the work I do is so collaborative, I spend a lot of time talking to people – at least half my day is usually spent in meetings (mostly virtual these days) with various project partners. The other half is spent doing some mix of research and writing; administration of the NW CASC and other projects; proposal writing; preparing or giving talks, trainings or lectures; and, of course, trying to stay on top of email. All of this is directed at supporting climate adaptation, whether that’s by providing science to inform action, training the next generation of scientists to work effectively with decision-makers, or raising awareness about climate change and what we can do to reduce harm to human and natural communities.

How does the NWCASC support climate resilience in the NW?

We support the development of actionable science to inform resource management in a changing climate. We do this by funding and conducting research to understand climate impacts on Northwest resources and management responses, by building the capacity of scientists to co-create research with resource managers to ensure it will be useful and used, and by fostering the networks that support learning and information-sharing in a time of rapid change.

What is your favorite thing about your work?

I feel deeply privileged to be able to work on the biggest challenges of our time – the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss – and to do that work together with incredibly dedicated scientists, managers and community partners. There’s real joy and meaning in working together to protect what we care about, despite the immense challenges we face. After five years as Deputy University Director, I’m excited to step into this new role and continue the good work of the NW CASC and its partners in promoting climate resilience across the Northwest.

Persist in Place or Shift in Space? How NW CASC Researchers are Making it Easier to Assess Species’ Adaptive Capacity in a Changing Climate

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Black-phase Cascade red fox of Mount Rainier National Park (known as Snag). The Cascade red fox is one of forty priority species for which NW CASC researchers and collaborators are conducting adaptive capacity assessments.
Source: Gretchen Kay Stuart

What is adaptive capacity?

Climate change is rapidly altering landscapes and habitats, disrupting biological processes and stressing species. As the climate changes, some species are better equipped to cope than others. This ability to cope with or adjust to changing climatic conditions, either by staying in place and adapting to new conditions, or moving to track more suitable conditions, is referred to as a species’ adaptive capacity. 

Why does it matter for climate adaptation?

Understanding a species’ adaptive capacity (AC) is a key factor in understanding its vulnerability to climate change. Researchers and resource managers look at species’ adaptive capacity, along with their exposure and sensitivity to climate change, to evaluate climate change vulnerability — an initial step in the adaptation planning process used to understand climate risks to species and help guide conservation decisions. Despite the important role adaptive capacity plays in conservation planning, the concept of AC has been difficult to apply in practice. Varying definitions and evaluation criteria related to adaptive capacity, and confusion distinguishing adaptive capacity from sensitivity, have created setbacks for managers trying to use AC to inform decision-making.

A New NW CASC Framework for Assessing Adaptive Capacity

Recognizing the need for better tools and methods to assess adaptive capacity, NW CASC researchers and a host of collaborators set to work on developing a new framework to help researchers and conservation practitioners incorporate AC into management practices. This team developed an attribute-based framework for evaluating adaptive capacity that can be applied to any species or system, along with guidelines to help natural resource managers use this framework in their conservation planning and decision-making. To create this framework, the research team reviewed existing literature and vulnerability assessment resources and drew from their diverse experiences in the fields of ecology, conservation biology, climate science and climate adaptation.

Thurman et al., 2020

The framework, introduced in their recent paper in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, is graphically represented as an AC wheel, which includes 36 attributes for assessing AC, organized into seven categories of related characteristics: distribution, movement, evolutionary potential, ecological role, abiotic niche, life history and demography. The AC wheel also highlights twelve core attributes — representing characteristics that are particularly important and typically have widely available data — providing a thorough way to assess AC even when information for other attributes is limited. For each attribute, species can be evaluated on a “low–moderate–high” scale. Looking at a species’ level of adaptive capacity across all attributes can paint a clearer picture of its overall vulnerability.

In addition to being applicable across taxa and geographies, the AC wheel includes attributes that can be measured at both species and population levels, allowing flexibility to help inform decisions across spatial scales and jurisdictions.

 

 

Helping Managers Help Wildlife

The western snowy plover is a federally threatened and state-endangered shorebird in Washington. Western snowy plovers are sensitive to coastal development and climate threats related to sea level rise, as they depend on coastal beaches and marshes for breeding and nesting habitat. Snowy plovers are one of the forty priority species for which NW CASC researchers and collaborators are conducting adaptive capacity assessments.
Source: Mick Thompson

This framework provides a detailed understanding of a species AC, which can directly support climate adaptation and conservation planning. The research team didn’t stop at developing this framework. They’ve published a follow-up paper in the journal Conservation Biology that links adaptive capacity assessments to on-the-ground management and have been working with state and federal management agencies in the Northwest region to demonstrate and implement the adaptive capacity framework on a diverse array of priority species. In collaboration with over 90 experts, they are completing adaptive capacity assessments for 40 priority species and are in the process of synthesizing those results. For each of these species, the project team is putting together summary reports to send to state and federal partners. The team is also organizing a workshop with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife this fall to talk about using the framework and results from the priority species’ assessments to inform climate adaptation planning.

The efforts described in this summary have been conducted through collaboration with many individuals representing state and federal agencies, universities and non-profits. The development of the adaptive capacity framework (introduced in the Frontiers paper) and the adaptive capacity menu (introduced in the Conservation Biology paper) represent different projects, both funded by the National CASC, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service. The Northwest CASC-funded project supported researchers in applying the AC framework to species in the Northwest. This NW CASC project is being led by Lindsey Thurman (USGS), Julian Olden (UW), Josh Lawler (UW), Jessica Halofsky (USDA NW Climate Hub), and Erik Beever (USGS NOROCK).

If you’d like to learn more about these efforts, please email Dr. Lindsey Thurman at lthurman@usgs.gov.

Hiring Opportunities: Leadership Positions at CIG and NW CASC!

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Do you want to help lead climate adaptation research across the Northwest? The UW Climate Impacts Group and the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center are hiring! The Climate Impacts Group is seeking a Director and the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center is seeking a Deputy University Director. In case you missed it, Amy Snover has retired after more than 20 years with our team. Learn more about each opportunity below. For both positions, applications received by July 15 will be prioritized.

The Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center is hosted by the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group. Both are EarthLab member organizations. 

CIG Director         NW CASC Deputy University Director

We’re Hiring a Deputy University Director!

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The Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (NW CASC) is hiring a Deputy University Director to play a leading role in the NW CASC’s efforts to foster actionable adaptation science across the Northwest.

The Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center is a federal-university partnership that produces accessible science on climate change impacts and adaptation actions for Northwest resource managers and decision makers. The NW CASC is hosted by the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group on behalf of a multi-university consortium that includes Boise State University, Oregon State University, University of Montana, Washington State University and Western Washington University. Both the NW CASC and the UW Climate Impacts Group are member organizations of UW EarthLab.

The NW CASC Deputy University Director will advance transdisciplinary research that addresses complex socio-ecological problems by: 1) facilitating training in actionable science for NW CASC Research Fellows; 2) playing a leading role in NW CASC regional capacity-building and collaborative research activities; and 3) evaluating the efficacy of NW CASC activities in advancing actionable climate science and regional communities of practice. The Deputy University Director will contribute to logistics, program management and integration for the NW CASC as a whole, which includes UW-based and distributed USGS staff, a University Leadership Team representing the NW CASC’s six consortium schools, and an Advisory Committee composed of federal, state and tribal resource management agencies. They will also help support the NW CASC’s engagement with the national CASC network.

We are seeking a candidate with a Ph.D. in an area of natural or social science related to climate change and with demonstrated experience conducting research, assessment, evaluation or stakeholder engagement related to climate change impacts and/or adaptation. Successful candidates will have experience co-creating knowledge and linking science and decision-making as well as teaching and mentoring. They will demonstrate cultural competence and a commitment to enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion within the NW CASC team and programs.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except where there are legal requirements such as license/certification/registration. The salary range for this position is $84,000 to $99,600 annually, depending on experience.

The position will be filled as soon as possible. Applications received by July 15, 2022 will be prioritized.

LEARN MORE & APPLY 

NW CASC University Director Amy Snover recognized in King County Proclamation and letter from WA Governor Inslee

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As Amy’s time with the UW Climate Impacts Group and NW CASC draws to a close, colleagues and leaders from across the Northwest have expressed the profound impact that Amy has had on helping the Northwest prepare for the impacts of climate change. In a recent retirement celebration held at the UW Arboretum, many shared their experiences working with Amy and how her dedication, humility and vision have influenced their work and touched their lives.

The celebration was made even more special by recognition from King County and Washington Governor Jay Inslee. King County published a proclamation that June 7, 2022 was officially Amy Snover Day in King County. This proclamation encourages King County residents to recognize and honor Amy’s contributions to safeguard our region’s natural resources, ensure public safety and protect our quality of life in the face of climate change.

Additionally, Washington Governor Jay Inslee wrote a letter to Amy thanking her for her hard work and leadership on the most pressing issue of our time. In his letter, Governor Inslee describes the UW Climate Impacts Group as “one of the preeminent scientific organizations in the world in translating global climate models to a smaller eco-region,” and commends Amy’s role in mainstreaming climate adaptation in state agency work.

King County’s Proclamation         Governor Inslee’s letter 

Though we’ll miss her fiercely, the UW Climate Impacts Group and Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center are committed to carrying on Amy’s passion and dedication towards building a more resilient world.

Thank you, Amy, for everything you’ve done for the NW CASC, Climate Impacts Group, the region and beyond. Wishing you the best on your next journey!

Q&A with Amy Snover, Outgoing University Director of the NW CASC and Director of the UW Climate Impacts Group

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Dr. Amy Snover recently sat down with UW News to reflect on her 20+ years at the Climate Impacts Group, what she’s most proud of, and share her thoughts on overcoming hopelessness in the face of climate change. Amy’s last day with the Climate Impacts Group and NW CASC is Wednesday, June 15, 2022. She is retiring to spend more time with her husband, Chip.

Amy has led the NW CASC since 2017. Her leadership and dedication to the NW CASC mission has contributed to a robust program that is advancing climate adaptation across the Northwest. Dr. Meade Krosby, currently the University Deputy Director for the NW CASC, will be taking over for Amy as the University Director.

Read the Q&A.

Amy Snover headshot

 

“No matter what you do, or what your skills are, you can have a role in shaping that future and thinking about how we prepare for and reduce climate change. Early on it seemed like you had to be a scientist or an engineer to have a role in this issue, but that’s not true at all. Everyone is implicated in building a resilient society, by which I mean: everyone is responsible, and everyone has something to give.”

– Dr. Amy Snover

 

The University of Washington Climate Impacts Group is Hiring a Director

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The University of Washington Climate Impacts Group, host of the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center, is hiring a director. The Director will provide strategic leadership and direction for the Group’s research, education and stakeholder engagement efforts aimed at improving societal and ecological resilience to climate variability and change and will represent the Climate Impacts Group on a regional and national scale.

Register for NW CASC Webinar: Meeting Today’s Climate Challenges by Transforming Science Training

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Register for NW CASC’s upcoming webinar, Meeting Today’s Climate Challenges by Transforming Science Training, on Wednesday, June 1 at 12 p.m. PT. In this webinar, Drs. Mary Ann Rozance, Meade Krosby and Amy Snover will discuss the need for science training that builds collaborative science skills at different career stages to develop a strong community of practice around actionable climate science.

Register for NW CASC Webinar: Environmental Science with (not at) Society

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Register for NW CASC’s upcoming webinar, Environmental Science with (not at) Society, on Tuesday, May 17 at 11 a.m. PT. In this webinar, Drs. Ferguson, Meadow and Huntington will discuss recommendations from their new paper Making a Difference: Planning for Engaged Participation in Environmental Research, which examines the early stages of five collaborative research case studies to understand common factors that yielded meaningful impacts within short project timelines.

Opportunity to Join Team in Developing Northwest Climate State of Knowledge Synthesis

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The University of Washington Climate Impacts Group is seeking enthusiastic individuals from NW CASC University Consortium members — Boise State University, Oregon State University, University of Montana, University of Washington, Washington State University, Western Washington University — who are interested in being part of a team to develop the Northwest Climate State of Knowledge Synthesis.

Project Goal:

The goal of this project, which is funded by the NW CASC, is to synthesize existing scientific knowledge of climate projections, impacts to natural systems and adaptation options relevant to natural resource management in the Northwest.

Project Audience:

The primary audience for the synthesis is technical staff in wildlife and land management agencies of federal, state, local and tribal governments. This synthesis will be developed as a resource that agencies can use in planning documents and vulnerability assessments and for increasing awareness within agencies about potential climate impacts and adaptation options.

Team Member Qualifications:

Team members can be University faculty, staff, graduate students or postdoctoral fellows from NW CASC University Consortium member universities. Ideal team members will have experience, or a strong interest in gaining experience, in the following areas:

  • Synthesizing scientific information, including peer-reviewed publications, gray literature and national and international climate reports with a focus on new information from the last 5 years and studies funded by the NW CASC.
  • Writing high-level summaries of climate impacts and adaptation practices for non-academic audiences.
  • Exploring techniques and creative solutions for sustained assessment of climate information that supports accessibility, updates, and presentation formats that effectively digest the proliferation of climate impacts and adaptation research. This could Include creative website or database design.
  • Collaborating with a team on a synthesis product like the National Climate Assessment and IPCC reports, but at a regional scale and specifically for impacts to and adaptation of species, habitats and ecosystems.

Commitment & Timing:

The time commitment can vary from as little as one quarter to as long as one year and compensation will be provided. All coordination among team members will be conducted virtually. The Climate Impacts Group is looking for people who can start now. The project is expected to continue through December 2023. If you’re interested, please read the project summary and participation details below and fill out the Google form to let the Climate Impacts Group know you’d like to participate.

Project Summary       Participation Details       Participation Form