Ikayuqluta: Developing a Rural Alaska STEM Workforce through Collaborative Place-Based STEM

This NSF IUSE-funded project aims to serve the national interest by implementing experiential learning in authentic settings to prepare a STEM workforce suitable for work in rural Alaska. The project titled “Ikayuqluta: Developing a Rural Alaska STEM Workforce through Collaborative Place-Based STEM” and managed by faculty members at University of Alaska-Fairbanks Campus at Bristol Bay (UAF-BBC), will focus on developing STEM professionals trained to address STEM issues unique to the remote communities of Alaska. Building on an existing curricular foundation, the project plans to generate additional coursework and STEM research experiences as part of a new Occupational Endorsement in Science (OE). OE graduates will be well prepared to work in the surrounding communities, filling a vital role in assisting residents of rural Alaska in addressing STEM subsistence-related issues specific to their unique context. The Occupational Endorsement program of study developed through this project will be designed to provide UAF-BBC students opportunities to attain a well-rounded set of knowledge and skills through a combination of classroom-based coursework, work with STEM faculty members and industry-based STEM professionals in research settings, and community-based field experiences. The project will aim to advance students’ proficiency in applying their STEM knowledge and skills to address context-relevant issues, such as the development of reliable heat sources necessary for surviving Alaska’s harsh winters. The ultimate goal of this customized grow-your-own model of STEM workforce development is to graduate STEM professionals prepared to fill a niche critical to ensuring the well being of communities in remote areas of Alaska. The NSF IUSE: EDU Program supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.