16th Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference and Forum
Theme: “Western Alaska in transition”
April 2–4, 2024 • Nome, Alaska
Hosted by Alaska Sea Grant and the University of Alaska Fairbanks Northwest Campus, University of Alaska Fairbanks
- See the activities page to sign up for Thursday field trips and local activities (space is limited)
- The conference agenda/schedule is available
The 16th Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference (WAISC) brings together people invested in sharing information important to rural communities in Western Alaska. We do this through Western Alaska knowledge and science.
The 2024 conference will highlight needs to maintain strength, health, and subsistence lifestyles while moving forward during rapid transitions within the environment, ecology, and industries of Western Alaska. A conference priority is the continued sharing of knowledge across cultural boundaries.
WAISC topics include, but are not limited to:
- Climate and weather
- Oceans, lakes and rivers
- Ecology and wildlife
- Resource development
- Reindeer herding
- Human and community health
- Sharing knowledge and communications
Logistics
The Aurora Inn is adjacent to the meeting venue at the University of Alaska Northwest Campus. Contact the Aurora Inn for availability and prices.
Travel awards
Limted travel awards are available by application to support students and faculty attending the conference.
Earn college credit
Students will have the opportunity to earn one college credit by attending the conference. Registration for this class is through UAF NW Campus. Students taking the credit will be required to attend all conference days, attend presentations and workshops of their choice, and write short summaries and reflective thoughts on the sessions they attended. For more information, read the course syllabus, and contact Claudia Ihl at the UAF NW Campus with additional questions. To register, contact the UAF Northwest Campus.
Steering Committee
- Tav Ammu, Alaska Sea Grant, University of Alaska Fairbanks
- Barb Amarok, UAF NW Campus
- Ashley Dunker, Alaska Sea Grant
- Jackie Hrabok, UAF NW Campus
- Claudia Ihl, UAF NW Campus
- Emma Pate, Norton Sound Health Corporation
- Anahma Shannon, Kawerak, Inc
- Gay Sheffield, Alaska Sea Grant, University of Alaska Fairbanks
More information
For more information, please contact Claudia Ihl or Gay Sheffield.
To join the WAISC mailing list, email Dawn Montano.