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