HR: 15:10h
AN: ED42B-07    [PDF]
TI: Encouraging Involvement of Alaska Natives in Geoscience Careers
AU: * Hanks, C L
EM: chanks@gi.alaska.edu
AF: Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK 99775 United States
AU: Fowell, S J
EM: ffsjf@uaf.edu
AF: Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK 99775 United States
AU: Kowalsky, J
EM: fnjek@aurora.uaf.edu
AF: Rural Alaska Honors Institute, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK 99775 United States
AU: Solie, D
EM: ffdjs@uaf.edu
AF: Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK 99775 United States
AB: Geologically, Alaska is a dynamic state, rich in mineral and energy resources. The impact of natural geologic hazards and mineral resource development can be especially critical in rural areas. While Alaska Natives comprise a large percentage of Alaska's rural population, few have the training to be leaders in the decision-making processes regarding natural hazard mitigation or mineral resource evaluation and exploitation. UAF, with funding from the National Science Foundation, has embarked on a three year integrated program aimed at encouraging young Alaska Natives to pursue geosciences as a career. The program combines the geologic expertise at UAF with established Alaska Native educational outreach programs. The Rural Alaska Honors Institute (RAHI) is a bridging program specifically designed to prepare rural high school students for college. To attract college-bound Alaska Native students into the geosciences, geoscience faculty have developed a college-level, field-intensive, introductory RAHI geoscience course that will fulfill geoscience degree requirements at UAF. In years two and three, this class will be supplemented by a one week field course that will focus on geologic issues encountered in most Alaskan rural communities, such as natural hazards, ground water, mineral and energy resources. In order to retain Alaska Native undergraduate students as geoscience majors, the program is providing scholarships and internship opportunities in cooperation with the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP). Undergraduate geoscience majors participating in ANSEP can intern as teaching assistants for both the classroom and field courses. Besides being mentors for the RAHI students, the Alaska Native undergraduate geoscience majors have the opportunity to interact with faculty on an individual basis, examine the geologic issues facing Alaska Natives, and explore geology as a profession.
DE: 6605 Education
DE: 9315 Arctic region
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting