Tuesday, December 15, 2009

December News & Student Interview

A lot has actually been going on in the Anchorage area. Here are a couple of events from the first couple of weeks in December:

The Alaska Young Fishermen's Summit (AYFS) 2009 was held at the Anchorage Hilton Hotel on December 7th-9th. AYFS provides training and networking opportunities for new fishermen entering the business or more seasoned fishermen wishing to take a leadership role in their industry. In the coming weeks, an official participant will write a review of his or her impression of the summit -- stay tuned!

The Interior Aleutians Campus (UAF) had its 13th Annual Interior American Indian Science & Engineering Society Science Fair on December 11th. Projects from schools like Cruikshank School in Beaver, Tsuk Taih School in Chalkyitsik, Nenana School, Fort Yukon School, and the Iditarod School District presented their work to the public!
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Student Interview of the Month

Another important component of this blog are the student interviews. Students who are actually in the muck of the course work and in the reality of student-professor interactions offer the most accurate picture of life on the road towards a professional in fisheries and marine sciences. Considering the size of our state and the lack of roads, the educational journey towards these careers require enthusiastic travelers.

Alaska is unique in that every community has so much character and culture. It is often difficult for students to not only move large distances but also to uproot from one's comfort zone of cultural idiosyncrasies. But it has been done and has yielded great results! Our student interviews are snapshots of such successes. This month, we are featuring a student in the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Fisheries program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Shelley Woods is from Dillingham and currently a UAF undergraduate.
What interested you in pursuing a degree in fisheries?
I worked on a counting tower one summer, but I have been fishing my entire life. I realized there is a fun job behind the scene of every fishery and I wanted to know more about how it worked!

How are you and your family handling the change (now that you are an independent, university student)?
They have gotten used to me not being home most of the year. I call on a regular basis and Facebook/Myspace/cell phones in the village have all helped to make communication easier. I also return every change I get, like Christmas and summer breaks.

How would you describe the transition academically and emotionally?
In the beginning, I went to a private school with a huge attitude that I was the smartest and best student because I was the top of my class. I learned really quick that the skills to do well in high school were useless in college. I had to put in a lot of work outside of class to be successful, and I still struggle with that. I skated through school in Dillingham, but college is always a challenge. I haven't learned good study skills or time management. I have managed to get this far (soon to be graduating) so I'm doing something right. But I wish I learned to study and manage my time earlier.

What was your high school career like (courses, extracurriculars, etc)?
I was on every page of my senior yearbook. My friends in the lower 48 thought that was so funny. It was just that I needed to stay busy in the village, and what better way than being involved in everything? I did well in all my classes and really enjoyed high school. I really miss traveling around the state and playing volleyball and doing NYO!

How has the UAF program helped you personally?
Personally, I feel there is a good support system at this school and in Fairbanks in general. It is a relatively small university and Fairbanks is a "small big town". You see familiar faces everywhere. That helped me feel at home and get to know people.

What has been the most challenging aspect of the program?
Probably keeping focused. There wasn't a particular course that was really challenging. Wait, Ichthyology was tough! Just spelling the course name is hard. In that class you have to memorize a lot of Latin and Greek scientific names for fish species and how the evolution progressed. Pretty challenging! But like any other course, the material is presented and you just have to get through it.

What has been the most interesting hands-on experience you've had thus far in your program?
The most interesting hands-on experience was taking Fisheries Techniques with Dr. Amanda Rosenberger and Dr. Trent Sutton. This was also my favorite course. We spent a lot of time in a laboratory, but also spent time in the field practicing what we were learning. My classmates were so enthusiastic also, which made the course a success for me. We not only had fun and got to know each other really well but went out and did real fishy things.

Who is your role model?
Dr. Carol-Ann Woody is my hero! She is a scientist who does consulting work all over Alaska, but also focused her work in Lake Clark and that area, and has done a lot of work studying effects of Pebble and being proactive.

What do you hope to do with your degree afterwards? What/where would be your ideal job?
I will probably be working for an agency for a few years. Most likely the State of Alaska or a Native organization. Eventually I want to be a private consultant and do work across the world!
Shelley was recently admitted to UAF's graduate school in the Fisheries Master's Program. She will be studying salmon use on the North Slope with Dr. Courtney Carothers and she is "really excited because [I] get to study traditional ecological knowledge"!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

posted by Stefanie Benca

"Sharks & Skates" Discovery Lab in Homer & Nanwalek

A couple of weeks ago, I ventured off to Homer to work with the Kachemak Bay Research Reserve (KBRR) and the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G). It was an opportunity to see first-hand the difference between urban and rural science education. I had the privilege to work with Carmen Field, the Marine Educator at KBRR. Throughout the summer, KBRR delivers a series of "Discovery Labs" at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center. These science labs are free to the public and universally age friendly. Topics range from sharks and marine invertebrates to estuary edibles and geology.

During the week of November 4th, the topic was "Sharks & Skates". We had experts (such as Fish & Game's Dr. Ken Goldman) come and dissect a spiny dogfish shark. There were also microscopes (to look at teeth and shark scales called 'denticles') and a plethora of fossilized artifacts. There were also many interesting facts floating around the room -- for example, did you know that 'shark fin soup' is a delicacy in Asia and runs for $100 per bowl? It is amazing how life luxuries can have a large impact on nature.

After four sessions in Homer (allowing a number of different classes from the Homer School District to visit), we packed up the lab and flew to Nanwalek. This is a small village located at the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula (10 miles southwest of Seldovia). Working with science/math teacher Derek Bynagle, we worked with all of the students in Nanwalek (K-12). With a village population of slightly over 200, it is not surprising that many grade levels are combined. Overall, the students thoroughly enjoyed the presentation and there were a number of budding scientists. It is amazing how hands-on activities unleash a flood of interests. Many of the students had a profound interest in fisheries and marine biology, and it was evident by their enthusiasm and ability to spout out answers.

To see pictures from Nanwalek, click here.

Afterwards, I had the opportunity to informally "interview" the researchers of the Lower Cook Inlet Department of Fish and Game. Speaking to 10-15 different employees, I was pleasantly surprised to see everyone investing in the fish/research industry in such different ways. Some were at the microscope while others were aerial fish counters and looking into security system gadgets (and hydrogen power) to set up a remote camera for counting. Many young people (myself included) have a skewed image of a career in fisheries -- it is actually quite versatile! If you are interested in hands-on, out-in-the-field work and the intellectual challenge of bench research, this is the field for you! It is no wonder that 37% of UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Science's students continue onto work at ADF&G post-graduation.

Nanwalek School Houses K-12

Airplane to Nanwalek: Weather Permitted Travel
Lovely Nanwalek Airport