The Arctic is changing at an unprecedented rate, with consequences for Arctic residents—particularly Indigenous peoples. Along with these changes are new challenges and a growing need to engage and train Arctic residents in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Arctic STEM fields in Alaska are varied and involve many different organizations and can include many job opportunities for Alaska Native and rural people.

Undergraduate students Chris Sandoval and Paris Velasquez conduct an aquatic chemistry experiment outside of the Barrow Arctic Research Center (BARC). Utqiagvik, Alaska. Photo by Monica Nuñez (PolarTREC 2019), Courtesy of ARCUS.
Undergraduate students Chris Sandoval and Paris Velasquez conduct an aquatic chemistry experiment outside of the Barrow Arctic Research Center (BARC). Utqiagvik, Alaska. Photo by Monica Nuñez (PolarTREC 2019), Courtesy of ARCUS

We Need You

This project seeks to both understand why there is underrepresentation in Arctic STEM programming in Alaska Native and rural communities, and offer guidance to help increase student representation for the audience of federal officials, educators, principal investigators, and others working in Arctic STEM. To ensure this process of learning doesn't replicate the "top-down"; outside-in model that can be extractive, we are planning a workshop to be held in Spring 2021 that will include a continuous collaborative process with all participants and interested organizations. This effort will produce recommendations and strategies as suggestions for systemic change focused on increasing Alaska Native and rural undergraduate youth to consider entering STEM fields in Arctic Alaska.

We need to hear from you on what has worked to encourage or to deter you from education, training, or jobs in STEM. You can contribute to this discussion and help change STEM education and programs in Arctic Alaska.

How you can contribute:

  • Share your thoughts through the online web form (below).
  • Participate in the online Arctic STEM workshop this spring, 2021.

Who can contribute:
Rural Alaskans and Alaska Native undergraduates or those who work with those undergraduates are invited to contribute, and include:

  • Undergraduates
  • Graduate students
  • Members of educational institutions
  • Tribal organizations
  • STEM professionals - the private and public sectors
  • Health corporations

What happens next:
Your input will increase awareness, identify challenges and opportunities, and help formulate guidelines for future generations, especially for undergraduates entering in STEM fields in the Arctic.

Thank you for taking the time to share your ideas! Contact Janet Warburton at warburton [at] arcus.org for more information.