Transcript WASIC and EPScOR 2010

EPSCoR and WAISC
Promoting Community
Science in Rural
Alaska
Rates of Change to Rural Alaska
outside forces are changing the social and biophysical landscape
UAF, Alaska Climate Research Center
Climate Change
Globalization
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
Summer fish camp,
Togiak Alaska
Commercial collecting of roe on kelp
Togiak, AK.
WAISC
Science Results and Data
for Rural Alaska
EPSCoR and WAISC
Major sponsors
Marine Advisory
Program
College of Rural and Community
Development
Local data for Communities
•Building capacity for data
collection and field-based
techniques to inventory,
monitor and manage
environment
•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 2008
Dillingham, April 3-6
"Weathering Change, Monitoring Uncertainty"
Host: UAF Bristol Bay Campus, 11 Sponsors
183 participants (including 25 high school students)
69 papers
2 workshops
2 fieldtrips
WAISC 2009
Dillingham, 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 2009
Nome, 7-9 April
" Energizing our Future "
Host: UAF Northwest Campus
150 participants
78 papers – 20 local
2 fieldtrips
3 Workshop
WAISC 2009
Nome, 7-9 April
Highlights
• Reindeer herding session
• Reindeer butchering workshop
• Home retrofit workshop
• COASST training
• Bearing Strait Research Consortium Roundtable
• Local renewable energy projects
WAISC
Unalaska, 24-27-March-2010
“Linking Communities and Building Bridges"
Host: UAF Marine Advisory Program
106 participants
40 papers – 10 local
3 Workshops
3 Fieldtrips
WAISC 2009
Nome, 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
Rural Sustainable Communities
Human Capital
Natural Capital
• Science training
• Integrating TK
• Elders knowledge
• Baseline data on watershed
• Maximize ecological
goods and services
• Conserve renewable
resources
WAISC
Manufactured Capital
Social Capital
•Sustainable use of technology
•Greener lifestyles
•Reduce consumerism
• Inc. education levels
• Capacity building
• Institutional structures
• Partnerships
Future Paths
The Region Must Adapt to Change:
WASIC helps build local capacity
Thank You