EPSCoR and WAISC
Promoting Community Science in Rural
Alaska
Rates of Change to Rural Alaska
Globalization
outside forces are changing the social and biophysical landscape
Climate Change
UAF, Alaska Climate Research Center
Challenges of Scientist Working in Remote Locations
Some Issues/Concerns• Limited capacity• Lab facilities or education space• Limited baseline data• Region has not traditionally seen science as an important learning experience.• Economy not diverse • Many more
Traditional Activities
Commercial collecting of roe on kelp Togiak, AK.
Summer fish camp,Togiak Alaska
WAISCScience Results and Data
for Rural Alaska
EPSCoR and WAISC
Marine Advisory Program
Major sponsors
College of Rural and Community Development
•Building capacity for data collection and field-based techniques to inventory, monitor and manage environment
Local data for Communities
•Bring data and results back to the communities were it was collected
Milestones• 2007 – UAF BBC and UAF NWC meet define a regional science conference• 2008 – First meeting hosted by UAF BBC in Dillingham• 2009 – UAF NWC hosts second WASIC in Nome• 2010 – UAF MAP hosts third WASIC in Unalaksa• 2010 – First WAISA membership meeting (AGM) held, constitution ratified and officers elected.• 2011 - Fourth WAISC to be hosted by UAF KU in Bethel
WAISC 2008Dillingham, April 3-6
"Weathering Change, Monitoring Uncertainty"Host: UAF Bristol Bay Campus, 11 Sponsors183 participants (including 25 high school students)69 papers 2 workshops 2 fieldtrips
WAISC 2009Dillingham, 3-6 April
Highlights• SWAMC pre-conference Sustainable Energy Workshop• Renewable energy sessions• Ret Screen and Homer Demo
• Mining in Bristol Bay• Nushagak-Mulchatna Watershed• Subsistence and TEK sessions• Local renewable energy projects•Keynote Speakers: Ray Barnhardt and Angayuqaq Oscar Kawagley, UAF Alaska Native Knowledge Network • Environmental economic workshop• Rural Education Workshop
WAISC 2009Nome, 7-9 April
" Energizing our Future "Host: UAF Northwest Campus150 participants78 papers – 20 local 2 fieldtrips 3 Workshop
WAISC 2009Nome, 7-9 April
Highlights• Reindeer herding session• Reindeer butchering workshop• Home retrofit workshop• COASST training• Bearing Strait Research Consortium Roundtable• Local renewable energy projects
WAISCUnalaska, 24-27-March-2010
“Linking Communities and Building Bridges"Host: UAF Marine Advisory Program106 participants40 papers – 10 local 3 Workshops 3 Fieldtrips
WAISC 2009Nome, April
Highlights•1st WAISA Annual General Meeting• Fisheries session• EPSCoR integration meeting• Environmental science sessions• Fieldtrips – UNISEA Processer, New diesel power plant, Orthodox church • Climate change panel discussion• Future of WAISC
Human Capital• Science training• Integrating TK • Elders knowledge• Baseline data on watershed
Rural Sustainable CommunitiesNatural Capital• Maximize ecological goods and services• Conserve renewable resources
Social Capital• Inc. education levels• Capacity building• Institutional structures • Partnerships
Manufactured Capital•Sustainable use of technology•Greener lifestyles•Reduce consumerism
WAISC
The Region Must Adapt to Change:WASIC helps build local capacity
Future Paths
Thank You
