The Blue Carbon, Green Fields project team is an interdisciplinary group of researchers and farmers with a vast range of experience and expertise. Team members include soil scientists, food systems experts, economists, outreach specialists and both sea- and land-based farmers. While the project is led by researchers at UW, it would not be possible without the partnership of team members from Viva Farms, the Puget Sound Restoration Fund, Washington State University and Baywater Shellfish.
UW team members
Sarah Collier, project director – Dr. Collier is an assistant professor in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences and core faculty in the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health program.
Meg Chadsey, co-investigator – Dr. Chadsey is a carbon specialist with Washington Sea Grant.
Alan Ismach, project coordinator – Ismach is a research coordinator with Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences and the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health program.
Brittany Johnson, co-investigator – Dr. Johnson is an assistant professor in Environmental and Forest Sciences.
Melanie Malone, co-investigator – Dr. Malone is an associate professor in UW Bothell’s School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences.
Jacqueline Powell, project administrator – Powell is a project administrator with Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences and the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health program.
Sergey Rabotyagov, co-investigator – Dr. Rabotyagov is an associate professor in Environmental and Forest Sciences.
Eli Wheat, co-investigator – Dr. Wheat is an assistant teaching professor in the Program on the Environment and faculty in the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health program.
Partner organizations
Washington State University Puyallup, Organic Farming Systems and Nutrient Management Program – WSU Puyallup’s Organic Farming Systems and Nutrient Management Program focuses on organic farming systems, organic amendments, composting, cover crop management and soil health, working with an interdisciplinary team to study a range of issues important to small-scale, direct-market and organic agriculture, including nutrient management, food safety, soil quality, weed management, economics, marketing and on-farm research.
Puget Sound Restoration Fund – Puget Sound Restoration Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to recovering coastal resources and maintaining connection to them through a variety of work focused on marine habitat restoration, water quality and Puget Sound native species.
Viva Farms – Viva Farms is a nonprofit farm business support organization and organic incubator with farms in both King and Skagit counties. Their mission is to empower aspiring and limited-resource farmers by providing access to the essentials needed to start and operate a farm business, including training and education in both English and Spanish.
Baywater Shellfish – Baywater Shellfish is a long-established commercial shellfish farm on the Olympic Peninsula that markets oysters and clams, and collaborates on a wide range of environmental sustainability research and work.