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

WAISC Science 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 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, 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 1 st 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 Communities Natural 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