Doing Environmental Science in Rural Alaska

Rural ChallengesPromoting place appropriate environmental education and

research

Needed:Local Environmental Training and Data

• Fisheries field staff• Water and watershed monitors• Toxicology techs• Naturalist• Ecotour guides• NEPA specialist• F&W technicians

Education Model• Appropriate use of distance education technology• Bridging programs with high schools• Regional field-based science intensives• Internships• Capstone research projects• Presentation of student project results in scientific

format

•Training in conventional field-based techniques used by agencies to inventory, monitor and manage natural resources

Community Science

• Includes the ecological concepts of sustained yield and ecosystem management

Environmental Studies CertificateProvide quality academic instruction and

training responsive to regional needs.

• Help students and communities to adapt to the overwhelming social, ecological, and economic changes presently occurring

• Protecting and enriching regional culture.

On-Line Tools• Blackboard• Elluminate Live • Online interactive labs

• E-texts• Google Earth• Google Docs

On-Line Labs

On-Line Lab

Laboratory intensivesBoth at UAF BBC and NOAA -Auke Bay (Juneau)

Field Methods CourseAugust 2009 – Port Heiden in Bristol Bay

Bristol Bay Environmental Science Laboratory

WAISC 08Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference

• To promote academic programs in western Alaska• 183 participants (including: 25 high school students, • Eleven sponsors (EPSCoR, Renewable Resources, TNC, NOAA, N-M Land Trust, Pebble Partnership, BBEDC, BBNC, USFWS – Togiak NWR, USDA-CSREES) • 60 presentations and 2 workshops.

Bristol Bay Campus Science Courses

Total courses offered

Catalog courses offered

Students Enrolled in Science Courses

Total Students

High School Students

Rural Students Rock