Outreach
Elena Sparrow and Katie Spellman teaching the next group of educators in the 2018 Climate Change and My Community course.
These groups conduct substantial public-outreach activities in addition to their research work.
Outreach activities include workshops, webinars, non-technical publications, public presentations, and much more.
Contacts
- Sarah Trainor, ACCAP Director
- Tina Buxbaum, ACCAP Program Manager
- ACCAP website
ACCAP's work encompasses the entire state of Alaska. We focus on coastal and living marine resources, applied climate downscaling, water availability, sea ice, wildfire, tribal impacts, and community adaptation plans. ACCAP partners with stakeholders to inform realistic community plans and climate adaptation strategies using the most scientifically accurate, reliable, and up-to-date information.
Stakeholder interaction and outreach is integrated into every aspect of our work, including climate modeling and addressing regional vulnerabilities. These interactions include:
- Needs and vulnerability assessments
- User collaboration in downscaling models, designing research studies, and developing, testing, and evaluating research information products and tools.
ACCAP aims to establish partnerships among:
- Scientists and engineers
- State and local planners, policy-makers and governments
- Transportation, natural resource and land management agencies
- Native non-profit organizations and Alaska Native tribes
- Industry
- Non-governmental organizations
- Anyone whose decision-making is influenced by climate-related events
Why is this work important?
Climate change is already impacting the seasons, landscapes, and life in the North. These changes affect the health, lives, and livelihoods of Alaskans as well as the companies who do business in Alaska.
History and background
Established in 2006 with funding from NOAA’s Climate Program Office, ACCAP is one of several Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) programs nationwide. RISA supports research teams that conduct interdisciplinary and regionally relevant research to inform resource management, planning and public policy.
Contacts
- Donna Hauser, AAOKH Science Co-Lead
- Olivia Lee, AAOKH Science Co-Lead
- AAOKH website
AAOKH supports information exchange and environmental observations of cryosphere change by Inupiat experts in coastal communities. Community involvement throughout the development of AAOKH is ensuring that observations support key community concerns related to snow, ice and permafrost change. Concerns include impacts to food security, safety, and access to subsistence resources.
AAOKH provides relevant information and a user-friendly interface for coastal communities and stakeholders interested in the intersection of cryosphere change and coastal Inupiat community concerns.
Why is this work important?
AAOKH contributes to IARC efforts to synthesize observational data and helps build capacity in coastal communities by allowing them to help direct community observations related to their concerns on cryosphere change.
Integration of traditional knowledge with current science will help fill a need highlighted in the National Strategy for the Arctic Region, the Alaska Arctic Policy Commission, and recommendations of the Arctic Council Sustainable Development Working Group, thus making AAOKH activities relevant at state, national and international levels.
Contact
- Amy Lauren Lovecraft, CAPS Director
- CAPS website
Policy makers need reliable and timely information about the Arctic, a region of rapid environmental, economic, and societal change.
University of Alaska (UA) scholars possess a wealth of Arctic knowledge and expertise spread across multiple disciplines. CAPS is bringing together that knowledge and expertise to more readily serve policy makers in the Arctic. CAPS facilitates sharing of UA expertise in Arctic issues—ranging from natural resources to engineering to political science—with policy- and decision- makers.
Contacts
- Krista Heeringa, Program Lead
- CPS website
CPS partners with rural communities as they work toward their vision for self-reliance. We support community driven responses to self-reliance and sustainability challenges by identifying and linking relevant information and research support.
CPS was formed through UAF in partnership with the Alaska Native Science Commission.
Contact
- Brendan Kelly, SEARCH Executive Director
- SEARCH website
SEARCH is a collaborative program of Arctic researchers, funding agencies, and others that facilitates synthesis of Arctic science and communicates our current understanding to help society respond to a rapidly changing Arctic. SEARCH currently focuses on how shrinking land ice, diminishing sea ice, and degrading permafrost impact Arctic and global systems.
Why is this work important?
The convening power of SEARCH enables SEARCH’s interdisciplinary action teams, as well as the wider Arctic research community, to listen to and inform agencies, policy- and decision‐makers, and Arctic residents.