Photo Credit: Inspiring Girls* Expeditions Alaska | |
Sharing STEAM opportunities and resources through statewide collaboration | Welcome to the AK STEAM Collaboration newsletter. On a quarterly basis we share Alaska and Arctic-focused opportunities and resources for educators in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM). This is a service of the NNA-Community Office and University of Alaska Fairbanks International Arctic Research Center in partnership with the Alaska Science Teachers Association. This collaboration will continue through 2026. | | |
|
Updated Clean Energy Careers in Alaska
The Clean Energy Careers in Alaska booklet describes different jobs in Alaska related to clean energy, from plumbers to wind technicians, with information on Alaska-specific trainings and certifications. Download it for free and request physical copies for your classroom or program by emailing Colleen Fisk (education(at)realaska.org). Print copies to be available starting the beginning of February.
| |
Science Resources from Alaska Department of Education & Early Development
The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development website includes resources for science teachers such as webinars on the Introductory Science Standards of Alaska, but also an Educators' Toolbox, and resources for SIPS assessment projects.
| CLEAN and ISKME are partnering to bring together climate researchers, K-12 educators, and climate literacy resources to build a community of iterative leaders. This series of interactive webinars in March and April is designed to increase knowledge of climate literacy and support the open sharing of resources and the adaptations that educators make for their local students. | |  |
Celebrating Science
Celebrating Science by Students and Educators
| |
Elizabeth Djajalie, Graduate of Juneau's Thunder Mountain High School, wins 2024 Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes
Elizabeth Djajalie, Juneau resident and current Harvard University student, was awarded the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes for her research on salmon species and her efforts to create the Student Spokespersons Board for the Alaska Science and Engineering Fair. Congratulations, Elizabeth!
You can hear Elizabeth explain what environmental DNA metabarcoding is and how it can help preserve salmon both on YouTube and the Power of Young People Podcast.
| |
Credit: Mikaela Trowbridge
Congratulations to the 2024 Power Pledge Challenge Winners!
Mikaela Trowbridge’s 5th period science class at Bethel Regional High School is the 2024 statewide winner of the REAP Power Pledge. The class received a pizza party and a tour of the local power plant, and will receive energy related classroom materials worth $1,500. Five regional winners each also earned a pizza party and/or a tour of a local power plant.
| | |
Opportunities for Educators | |
Image Credit: Prince William Sound College | |
One-week 'For Teachers' Field-based Courses at Prince William Sound College | "For Teachers" courses are content-rich week-long experiences that help deepen teaching pedgaogy. Teachers will walk away with lesson plans, resources, tools to fit curriculum into their classrooms, and authentic Alaskan field experiences. Summer 2025 courses include marine ecology, mariculture, ecology of Glacier Bay, coastal ecology, and small engine maintenance certification. These courses are open to any teacher but primarily aimed at certified K-12 teachers in rural or remote Alaska who are not content experts in the course subject matter. Each ‘for teachers’ course is based on a one-week summer experience that includes developing a place-based lesson plan. An additional one-credit fall course includes implementation and reflection of the lesson created during the summer class. | | | |
|
Exploring Energy in your Environment: Free Training for K-8 Educators! | |
Take this free, online, self-paced course to practice AK EnergySmart and Project Learning Tree curriculum that you can use in your classroom, club, or other extracurricular organization. Receive a kit of materials to use and a $100 stipend.
When: Register by February 24, 2025 for this self-paced course to run March 3-May 13, 2025
| | | |
|
Join Alaska Geographic Teacher Trainings this Summer | Alaska Geographic offers exciting summer field courses for teachers! All courses are accredited through the University of Alaska Anchorage for Professional Development Credit. Field courses are very popular with teachers willing to self-direct their study and application of the subject matter, and they fill up fast! Scholarships are available for some courses. | | | |
|
America’s Arctic University is offering a new self-paced, online course about climate change in the Arctic | Climate Change in Arctic Environments is a self-paced massive open online course (MOOC) that covers modern climate science and the impacts of climate change across atmospheric, marine, terrestrial, and human systems. Developed by researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ International Arctic Research Center, this course is a great introduction to a huge range of topics impacted by climate change. | | | |
|
Ambitious Science Teaching Book Study | |
Join the Alaska Science Teachers Association for one or all sessions as we read and discuss the book, Ambitious Science Teaching on Thursdays from February 6th - May 1st.
Register for the sessions or register for an optional continuing education credit available from UAS.
| | | |
|
Registration open for the 6th International Workshop for Polar Educators | |
This workshop is a unique opportunity to engage with our rapidly changing planet, Indigenous knowledges, polar sciences, and innovative pedagogies in the form of labs, hands-on workshops, art exhibits, social activities, poster displays, speed-meets, short talks, and field trips! Educators from around the globe and particularly the US are encouraged to attend. If you teach in or about the Arctic and Antarctic you ARE a polar educator!
When: March 21-24, 2025
Where: Boulder, CO
| | |
Opportunities for Students | |
|
Photo Credit: Inspiring Girls* Expeditions Alaska
Applications due March 2, 2025
| |
Applications open for Inspiring Girls* Expeditions Alaska! | Inspiring Girls* is thrilled to host two tuition-free summer backcountry science and art expeditions: Girls* on Ice Alaska, where participants learn about alpine ecosystems through mountaineering, and Girls* on Water where they learn about coastal ecosystems through sea kayaking. Inspiring Girls* Expeditions are open to 16-18 year-old high school youth. Alaskans are highly encouraged to apply, and we especially welcome those who may have experienced barriers to engaging in science and the outdoors. The application process asks applicants to reflect on their sense of self, abilities, interests, and curiosities, rather than their academic grades or past achievements. | | | |
|
|
Clean Energy Olympics Competition
In the Alaska Clean Energy Olympics (CEO), students design model wind and solar projects then present their designs to a team of judges, either in person in Anchorage on March 29th or virtually until March 27th. This makes a great science and engineering fair project.
Kidwind, also hosts a nationwide green-energy art contest for students in K-8 and a simulation challenge for middle and high school students.
| | | |
|
|
Registration Now Open for Summer STEM Academies at Challenger Learning Center of Alaska
The Challenger Learning Center ofAlaska in Kenai has Summer STEM camps for students entering 4th-8th grade. Themes range from Lego robotics, space science through Minecraft, to wilderness survival skills.
| | | |
|
|
iResearch Summer Research Institute Applications for High School Students
Apply to participate in a 5-week virtual research camp open to all high school and early college-aged students. The entire program is virtual for 2025, and focuses on empowering students to complete a research project that they will present at the end of the program.
| | |
|
The Navigating the New Arctic Community Office builds awareness, partnerships, opportunities and resources for research funded by the National Science Foundation.
Our education team helps NNA researchers engage with Arctic-inspired educators in culturally responsive ways.
| |
|
The International Arctic Research Center is a part of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Our purpose is to understand the Arctic to make a difference.
Our education-related programs provide opportunities for K-12, college students and citizen scientists to engage in meaningful climate research.
| |
|
The Alaska Science Teachers Association works to inspire, promote and support excellence in science education.
Join colleagues across the state and share ideas, values and priorities in teaching science in the public schools or other sites.
| | | | |
