| NSF Org: |
OPP Office of Polar Programs (OPP) |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | August 14, 2014 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | September 19, 2018 |
| Award Number: | 1433190 |
| Award Instrument: | Continuing Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Colleen Strawhacker
colstraw@nsf.gov (703)292-7432 OPP Office of Polar Programs (OPP) GEO Directorate for Geosciences |
| Start Date: | August 15, 2014 |
| End Date: | July 31, 2020 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $500,963.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $500,963.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
FY 2015 = $100,072.00 FY 2016 = $100,193.00 FY 2017 = $100,318.00 FY 2018 = $100,444.00 |
| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
834 LINCOLN ST SITKA AK US 99835-7650 (907)747-8878 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
834 Lincoln Street Sitka AK US 99835-1373 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | ARCTIC RESEARCH PROJECTS |
| Primary Program Source: |
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| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.078 |
ABSTRACT
The proposal has several interconnected elements that revolve around extending to a wider population existing efforts to improve science literacy in Native Alaskan groups, while simultaneously developing a framework for assisting Polar researchers to improve their communications skills. The twin tracks have a common goal of generally improving science literacy.
Another goal is to increase interaction between researchers and the general public.
PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
The Sitka Sound Science Center?s project: ?Ataraq: Polar Research in Coastal Communities? provided carefully crafted community engagement outlets for Polar scientists to communicate the importance of their work to rural and Alaska Native students and the general public. This project brought 82 scientists to a rural Alaska Native community over 6 years to have meaningful engagement activities through two primary outlets: Sitka Whalefest, a 24 year old symposium celebrating the marine environment through scientific lectures, community festivities, music, art and classroom instruction, and an Alaska-developed, highly successful model called Scientist in Residency Fellowship (SIRF) which brings scientists to the community for one month to participate in a variety of community engagement activities that expose rural and Alaska Natives, underrepresented the sciences, to polar research and STEM disciplines, and trains scientists how to communicate in rural Alaska.
The SIRF model was extremely successful in connecting Polar researchers with students, teachers, policy makers, representatives of science agencies, Alaska Natives, community members, scientists through a partnership with rural, Southeast Alaskan coastal communities. . Surveys also showed that all of the 34 scientists who participated in SIRF improved their communication skills and understanding of how to work with Alaska rural communities. Sitka School District credited the SIRF program for contributing to raising state science standardized test scores among Alaska Natives and economically disadvantaged students. Student and teacher surveys of K-12 students demonstrated that SIRF was successful in exposing students to STEM disciplines and scientific thinking. The evaluations also demonstrated that SIRF has the potential to work as a model in other small rural places in Alaska. A paper about the results of SIRF is underway.
Annual surveys of Whalefest participants demonstrates that rural students were exposed and excited about polar research and felt encouraged to pursue STEM careers. WhaleFest created new opportunities for students from the region to participate in STEM learning. It also created new opportunities for first generation and Alaska Native undergraduates to participated in spinoff programs built around the idea that a science festival can be a positive way to influence undergraduates to major in STEM fields.
Evaluations also demonstrated the value of a field station with partnerships with universities, local schools and a variety of local entities is a excellent venue for connecting scientists to community members.
Last Modified: 11/03/2020
Modified by: Lisa J Busch
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