2011 State Wide Science Fair!

On the weekend of March 19^th - 20^th, I was fortunate enough to volunteer and judge at the Alaska Science & Engineering Fair. This fair welcomes science, engineering, computer science, and mathematical projects from students K-12 in Alaska. More than 70 schools throughout Alaska were represented by a record number of more than 600 participating students. With a total of 513 individual and team projects the judges had their hands full on Saturday interviewing and scoring all of them. However, after a full day of work by judges, projects were chosen for awards presented at an awards ceremony on Sunday. The Senior High Grand Award winners for this year who will go onto the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in May are:

First place Sophia Meyers with "Possible Applications of Superorder Selachimorpha (shark) Characteristics in the Marine Industry"

Second place, Noah Betzen with "The Effects of Calcium Carbonate on Ocean Acidification"

The team project of Nicole Emanuel and Marie Gotti with "Analyzing Protein Content in Common Vegetarian Meat Substitutes".

Pictures of some of the other projects at this year's science fair.

The Alaska COSEE (Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence) Ocean Science Fair took place at the same time as a “fair within a fair” for projects related to the ocean, watersheds, or climate change that also have a cultural component. I helped judge these projects, as a scientist, on their scientific content at the same time that cultural and community experts judged them on their community and cultural relevance. More than 40 projects were judged for COSEE Ocean Science Fair awards, which were given in separate categories for ocean science and culture.

Winners of the ocean science awards were:

Elementary:

Ben Post and Nicholas Post (Turnagin Elementary, Anchorage; Teacher: Janet Post)

“What Boat Design Can Cary the Heaviest Load?”

Middle School:

Christian Escalante and Sierra Moskios (Unalaska; Teacher: Story Miller)

”Waving, Rotating, Creating”

High School (tie):

China Kantner and Ember Eck (Kotzebue; Teachers: Lance Westing and Robbie Everett)

“The Big Empty”

Molly Volk, Paige Olson and Courtney Bird (Petersburg; Teacher: Joni Johnson)

”Genetic Differentiation of Cancer magister”

Winners of the cultural awards were:

Elementary:

Naasha Tallman (Alaska Native Cultural Charter School, Anchorage; Teacher: Desiree Cronin)

” Does Water Exist on Other Planets in Our Solar System?”

Middle School:

Molly Adams (Barrow; Teacher: Emily Roseberry)

“Bowhead Whales”

High School (tie):

China Kantner and Ember Eck (Kotzebue; Teachers: Lance Westing and Robbie Everett)

” The Big Empty”

Jadyn Edwardsen (Barrow; Teacher: Emily Roseberry)

“How Does the Preparation of Sinew Affect its Strength?”

China Kantner and Ember Eck also received a combined ocean science and cultural award.

All the high school students who won a COSEE award will be invited to attend and present their projects at the Alaska Marine Science Symposium in Anchorage next January with all expenses covered by COSEE.

AWE Camp for 8th graders!

An awesome, all expenses paid, opportunity for students currently in 8^th grade!

AWE Camp is a federally funded science and math camp, which provides upcoming high school students with a unique experience to have fun while strengthening science and math skills related to the study of natural history and daily camp activities. Spend three weeks in Homer, Alaska learning how scientists, researchers, and you use science and math everyday. Build and paddle traditional Umiak and bidarka skin boats, study marine life, explore the coastline by kayak, and go hiking all while making new friends. Participate in a number of activities to learn about the natural history of Kachemak Bay and sharpen your outdoor skills. After the camp, participants will continue to work with a Life Coach for nine months to help each student work towards achieving their goals while linking them into other educational and career opportunities.

Camp 1 will take place from June 9^th - July 2^nd

Camp 2 will take place July 11^th – August 3^rd

For more information call (907) 351-0053 or visit www.ageya.org to apply!

High School Salmon Camp July 29th - August 2nd!

Spend five days in Bristol Bay this summer earning college credit and having fun! Salmon camp is offered for students ages 14-18 and takes place at Wood-Tikchik State Park. This is a great opportunity for students to study salmon biology, learn stream and lake ecology, and even participate in harnessing renewable energy. There are also opportunities to fish, hike, and canoe during this camp. To register and for more information contact: UAF Bristol Bay Campus at 907-842-5109 /

bb-esl-dept@alaska.edu or if in the Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation Service Area call Pearl Strub at 907-842-4370.

Scholarships are Available!!!!

Also check out their video to see what it is like!

Summer opportunities with the Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program

The Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) still has opportunities that are available for this summer!!!!

Their summer acceleration academy is open till March 31^st and sophomores and juniors in high school may apply. This academy will be held at UAA in Anchorage during the summer for six weeks.

ANSEP also has a summer bridge program for recent high school graduates who will be attending the University in the fall. This program begins May 23^rd and applications are due the first Friday in April.

For more information on these summer programs and for other opportunities offered through ANSEP please check out their website.

AMSFCC Newsletter!

The Alaska Marine Science & Fisheries Coalition is updating everything! Check out our newsletter to see what events are coming up, some opportunities available for this summer, and find out how you can get involved!

SW ALaska Salmon Science Symposium

The Southwest Alaska Salmon Science Symposium: Understanding Habitat and the Science of Sustainability will be taking place in Anchorage on April 13th and 14th at the Egan Center. This symposium will feature Drs. Thomas Quinn and Daniel Schindler and will include an evening session (7-9pm) on the 13th and a full day of presentations (8am - noon) and panel discussion (1-5pm) on the 14th. There also will be an opening reception and presentation that evening at the Anchorage Museum at the Rasmuson Center for: "Sailing for Salmon: 125 Years of Commercial Fishing in Bristol Bay."

This symposium is a cooperative effort of the USFWS, ADF&G, The Nature Conservancy, and Alaska Sea Grant. It is free to all however please RSVP by April 1st. The contact person for this event is Katrina Mueller (katrina_mueller@fws.gov or 907-786-3637). More information is also available at www.marineadvisory.org