Art & Nature Workshop for Kids!

A fun science workshop will take place in Homer from March 14th to the 18th for kids between the ages of 10 and 14. Field study sessions outdoors and art studio sessions are planned Monday through Friday from 1pm to 4pm. This Art & Nature Workshop is presented by the Homer Council on the Arts and the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies with support from the Homer Foundation. The cost of the workshop is $60 and includes materials and transportation from HCOA. Space is limited so you should register soon. Registration can be done on-line at hcoa@homerart.org or call 235-4288.

Click on the flyer to see a bigger image!

APU Career Fair

Alaska Pacific University (APU) is having a career fair in the Atwood Center on campus February 25th from 10am - 8pm. Bring your resume and check out what summer jobs, internships, career opportunities, volunteer work, and more is happening in Alaska. For more information contact APU Career Services at counseling@alaskapacific.edu. You can also check out their website and the flyer for the career fair!

2011 Anchorage City Wide Career and Job Fair!

The City Wide Career and Job Fair will take place at the Wells Fargo Sports Center on the UAA Campus in Anchorage on February 18th from 11am - 5pm. Whether you are searching for a summer job, out to network, or just curious to see what opportunities are available around Alaska you should check it out! Numerous representatives from around the state will be there to recruit for full-time, part-time, internships, and also permanent and seasonal employment. For more information contact the UAA Career Services Center or check out their flyer!

http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/careerservices/upload/2011-City-Wide-Employer-Flyer.pdf

January Event: Alaska Marine Science Symposium

January 18-22, Anchorage

FREE: Register @ the Door

The Alaska Marine Science Symposium will be held in Anchorage January 18-22. This is an amazing opportunity to learn about the various "research activities in the marine regions off Alaska". Whether you are an established scientist or prospective student, this will be a great place to connect with old and new colleagues or mentors and discover some new areas of research interests. There will be many presenters and special key note speakers (Mike Beck, Kate Moran, Mike Sigler, and Rodger Havery -- click here to learn about these speakers). Please take a look at the full agenda to find sessions that pique your interests! There will also be a lot of booths with a tremendous amount of information. In fact, the Alaska Marine Science & Fisheries Career Coalition (AMSFCC) will have a booth next to Alaska Sea Grant. Come talk to us about the Future Alaskans in Fisheries & Marine Science Project! We will also have information from our partners (click here for a list of our partners) and their programs. Learn about the accomplishments that have about from the collaborated efforts of AMSFCC (this will also be highlighted at the coalition's own session on Friday, 02/12). Please contact stefanie.benca@gmail.com for more information on this particular session.

All of the sessions will undoubtedly be stimulating. For example: Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE) along with the Alaska Ocean Observing System and the North Pacific Research Board will share their new SeaNET project as an effective tool to "communicate ocean science". One of the many roles of SeaNET is to provide scientifically sound news on climate change and the weaving of traditional knowledge and Western science.

Along with sessions, there will be fun lunchtime events. For example, on Tuesday, the various National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB) teams around Alaska will challenge veteran scientists in a fast-paced competition. These teams are geared up to compete on February 5-7 at the Alaska Tsunami Ocean Sciences Bowl in Seward. This is the regional competition for Alaska high school students -- the winning team will compete against other regional teams from all over the United States. Needless to say, these students will give the veterans a run for their money on all topics related to the study of the oceans! Below is the promotional video for the National Ocean Sciences Bowl.

Please take advantage of the Alaska Marine Science Symposium. Remember, it's FREE! Also, make sure your high school has its own NOSB team! Click here for more information on how to get involved.

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!

__________________________________________

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"!

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

Welcome to the official Future Alaskans in Fisheries & Marine Science blog!

The sole intention of this blog is to highlight the various adventures (those related to fisheries and the marine sciences) going on in Alaska. The picture above illustrates this well -- during the month of August, the Northwestern Alaska Career and Technical Center supports a Field Biology course for high school students in the Bering Strait and Nome City School Districts. Under the guidance of Heidi Herter, UAF Marine Advisory Program agent in Nome, students learn some of the techniques that are employed by wildlife biologists to study plants, fish, and animals in the field. As students successfully complete their own research project (with a partner), they will receive credit through both the University of Alaska Fairbanks and BSSD (dual credit is unfortunately not available for Nome students). Complete immersion for five days at beautiful Salmon Lake camp (on the Seward Peninsula) is something you will never forget! Click here for pictures from previous years and specifically read more on last year's experience.

Future Alaskans in Fisheries & Marine Science is created by the Alaska Marine Science & Fisheries Career Coalition which is a network of schools, management agencies, tribal, non-profit, and fishing associations. This Coalition works together to support Alaskans -- particularly rural Alaskans and Alaska Natives -- who seek careers in fisheries and marine science.

This blog will be a cornucopia of content: snapshots of events going on throughout Alaska, interviews of experts in their respective fields, virtual job shadowing, and more. Ultimately, we hope to further the Coalition's mission of seeing more Alaska Native and rural Alaskans in these fields. There are many paid internships, job opportunities, and educational outlets available, and we hope to effectively bring them to your attention for your advantage! We will incorporate a variety of media -- texts, pictures, and video. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, please e-mail coordinator.amsfcc@gmail.com without hesitation!