Randy Smith Middle School in Fairbanks receives an award at the Alaska Science and Engineering Fair in Anchorage in March 2026. Photo Credit: Sarah Clement | | 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. | | |
Classroom Resources
Curriculum, classroom activities, citizen science opportunities
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New place-based science resources for Alaska
UAF's Geophysical Institute is excited to announce the launch of a new website for their Cultural Connections to Alaska Science project! This site is a hub for co-produced science content designed specifically for Alaska communities. The Education Outreach department invites you to explore these supplemental resources and see how they connect to the homes and real-life experiences of your Alaska students. Each resource include a video, student guide, and teacher manual. You'll also find a companion language tool that provides pronunciation support for key terms translated into the Indigenous language of the community that guided development.
Cultural Connections to Alaska Science (CCAS) is an NSF DRK-12 funded project focused on developing and improving an effective co-production model of science education content between UAF Geophysical Institute's Education Outreach Department and rural Alaskan communities.
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Inspiring science books for your classroom: A note from Patty Brown, ASTA President
Susan E. Quinlan's book, The Case of the Mummified Pigs, first came to my attention over 25 years ago, toward the beginning of my teaching career. Last summer, I saw she had another similar collection, The Case of the Monkeys that Fell. As we work to "grow" scientists and not just expound on our areas of interest while insisting students memorize the basics, reading and sharing these books is a great way to engage students in wonder and use the experience to fan the flames of curiosity. Perhaps there is a way to enlist the support of your local library or a parent to purchase a classroom set of these titles. Or just use one of the stories as a read-aloud and encourage students to consider the Science and Engineering practices to discover the answer before you read the conclusion.
But wait, there's more. I had missed seeing this one published in 2020 - One Single Species: Why the Connections in Nature Matter. Centered on marine ecosystems and beautifully illustrated, this could deserve a place in your classroom library.
Do you have book suggestions you would like to share with others? ASTA would love to compile a list to send to every district. Share your ideas with us to catch the eye and energy of another teacher!
Patty Brown
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Science Stars
Awards received by teachers and students or nominations for teachers to receive awards
| Photo credit: Sarah Clement |
Congratulations to the Alaska Science & Engineering Fair winners!
The Alaska Science & Engineering Fair was a huge success this year, with many students recognized for their projects. Three students took home awards from the Alaska Science Teachers Association: Alex Hays (3D Printing Science), Gela Haiver (Speedrunning Sprouts), and Francisco Janua (Spinning Things Up). Kevin Zhang (Declining Sea Ice Increases Human-Polar Bear Encounter Risk) is this year's International Science & Engineering Fair Finalist! Kevin and the ISEF Rising Star awardee, Annamaria Pustina (Seams Like Seaweed), will travel to the International Science & Engineering Fair later this year! A full list of awardees can be found on the Alaska Science & Engineering Fair's website. Congratulations to all of the students who participated!
| Photo credit: Sarah Clement |
Bethel’s First LEGO League Dirt Busters team wins award at the Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference
Alaska Sea Grant and partners hosted the Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Conference (WAISC) in Bethel between April 7-9. WAISC attendees vote on two awards for conference presenters, including the Todd Rodenbaugh People’s Choice Award for work that embodies the vision of WAISC to promote science, innovation, and education in Western Alaska. The Bethel Dirt Busters, Team 522 in Alaska’s First LEGO League, presented their work building an archaeology-themed robot as well as researching and creating an Alaska-based archaeology activity book for students. In addition to being awarded the Todd Rodenbaugh People’s Choice Award at WAISC, the Dirt Busters took the second place Innovation Project Award in the statewide FLL Challenge and are advancing to the national competition later this year!
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Anchored in Data: Bring Alaska Mariculture into Your Classroom
Interested in place-based content to teach data literacy and core science content? Join Data Nuggets at Prince William Sound College for a virtual webinar on July 23 (3-4:30PM) to learn about a new series of activities that shares stories from the growing mariculture industry. These short activities are in the form of Data Nuggets, an evidence-based resource that brings authentic data to students while also addressing science standards.
Register here for the July 23rd webinar.
Photo credit: Melissa Kjelvik
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Applications now open for the Alaka Knowledge, Science, and Education Alliance!
AKSEA brings together experts and school educators to co-create lessons focused on marine-related anchoring phenomena in the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill region (EVOS). Teams of two experts and two teachers work together over the course of six months (mostly online) with support to create units and pilot lessons that will be made available online for other educators. Participants will learn or improve and refine skills related to: communicating and understanding place-based knowledge and natural events; teaching and outreach strategies and best practices; regional understanding; and collaboration. Teams will meet in person October 10-11, 2026 in Anchorage, and virtually throughout the school year. Travel costs are included, and participants will be compensated for their time. Applications are currently open until filled. Learn more and apply here.
Photo Credit: Leigh Lubin
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Summer Wildfire and Wildlife Course for Educators in Denali National Park
The Wildfire and Wildlife for Educators course will be facilitated by Alaska Project Learning Tree and Alaska Department of Fish and Game to explore Denali's boreal forest and tundra, including the recent 2024 fire site, and the role that wildfire plays in these ecosystems. This course costs $300 and is open to formal and non-formal K-12 educators. It will take place June 1-3, 2026. Register here.
Photo credit: Molly Gillespie
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Summer professional development opportunities with
AK DEED
If you teach math, science, or ELA, participating in the state assessment data and item review can provide you with valuable insights. The experience can deepen your understanding of how to align materials to state standards, analyze question structure, explore how phenomena are incorporated into testing scenarios, and refine your understanding of grade-level expectations. This is a wonderful opportunity to explore the scope and sequence of the Alaska state standards. Please fill out the Educator Interest Survey if you are interested in upcoming July 2026 opportunities!
- Math and ELA item and data reviews, July 21-23
- Science item and data reviews, July 28-30
Both reviews will be held virtually, include a stipend, and may include an opportunity to earn 1 CEU. Contact Ryia Waldern, DEED math and science content specialist, at ryia.waldern@alaska.gov with questions.
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Plan ahead for 2027!
There are several exciting opportunities coming up during the 2026-2027 school year you might be interested in exploring:
The Alaska SeaLife Center offers year-round Day Programs and Nocturne Sleepovers for school groups. For schools in Anchorage, Mat-Su, and Kenai Peninsula areas, they can bring their outreach programs directly to your school! If your class has access to high speed internet connections, their Distance Learning programs are a great way to visit the SeaLife Center without leaving your classroom. Learn more and contact the SeaLife Center to plan your visit.
The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies offers day and overnight programs for student groups in grades 4-12 at the Peterson Bay Field Station or the UAF-NOAA Kasitsna Bay Lab in Kachemak Bay. Imagine spending the day exploring the intertidal zone with your class, returning to the field station to look at plankton in a microscope lab, and then rounding out the evening with invertebrate themed skits and s'mores before getting a night's rest in heated yurts! Reservations for spring trips begin in September. Learn more about program fees and capacities.
Be the first to know when 2027 registration opens for Steve Spangler's Educational Cruise to Alaska! Science at Sea is a week-long educational journey through Alaska's Inside Passage for educators and their families, science enthusiasts from around the world, and more. Space is limited to 100 participants. You can sign up to be notified when registration opens for the 2027 cruise.
| | | Opportunities for Students | |
Open enrollment for UAA's Summer Engineering Academies
UAA’s Summer Engineering Academies is excited to offer 28 summer camp sessions for students this summer! Camps and age ranges vary; please see the Session Schedule for details. Camp topics include Arduino Robotics, Engineering in Motion, AI Explorations, and many more! Advanced registration is closed but remaining spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis until 2 weeks before the camp start date. Learn more and apply.
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Sign up for the summer 2026 Bonanza Creek Science Adventure Camp!
Join us for an incredible week of fun in the outdoors, July 6-10! This camp is for youth in foster care in the Fairbanks area. We will spend a week doing science, art, and exploring the boreal forest. There will be an orientation prior to camp and a sharing day on the last day of camp for family and friends to learn about what we did. Camp is free and no experience is necessary to participate! Register here.
Photo credit: Bonanza Creek LTER
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Application open for the Arctic STEM Summer Camp
Apply to the Arctic STEM Summer Camp at Ilisaġvik College in Utqiagvik, Fairbanks, and Denver! For students going into 8th and 9th grade. No cost, and travel funding is available. Renewable Energy Alaska Project and National Lab of the Rockies are offering this camp to explore clean energy engineering in Alaska and beyond.
Learn more and apply.
Photo credit: Colleen Fisk
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"Between the Lines" summer camps available at Sitka Sound Science Center
The Sitka Sound Science Center is excited to offer a unique selection of camps for students, families, and adults! Campers will participate in STEAM challenges, team-building, and outdoor excursions. Science Center programs are high energy, science-centered, and tons of fun! Learn more and register.
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A note from the
Alaska Science Teachers Association
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ASTA is 50!! This year marks the fiftieth year that ASTA has been an organization as a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to encouraging science educators in and out of public school settings. The earliest venture was the first ASTA/ACTM Conference held in Anchorage. And several of the people who helped kick off this organization are still involved with each other, with the organization, and science education generally. A few have passed on now, including Emma Walton and Pam Randles, but their legacy lives on in their students and with their colleagues like us.
One of our challenges is figuring out how to shift with the changing times and some of us think the best way to do that is to have more younger, active, current and creative teachers join us. Sure, there is the general work of any organization like meeting together, keeping track of the money and figuring out how to get more, having committees and task forces, turning in IRS reports and staying in touch with each other. But those of us who have been officers and reps are happy to support newcomers who would like to join the group and help steer the organization in an effective direction.
If you would be interested in being part of a science teacher retreat this summer, maybe 2-3 days, to create a new map and plan new activities, please reach out to me at pattyb@aptalaska.net. I have a few ideas of where we might hook up (driving distance from Anchorage and Fairbanks and maybe even northern southeast) and since summer is a time for teacher rejuvenation, it will be somewhere fun! So many of us are retired or are about to—we need you!
Patty Brown
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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.
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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.
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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.
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