Welcome to the ISER News and Announcements page, your hub for timely updates, industry insights, and the latest organizational highlights. Here, you can stay informed about upcoming events, important deadlines, and exciting achievements, all aimed at keeping the ISER community connected and engaged.
Panel presentation at 7 PM, Q & A to follow. Join ISER for a seminar exploring how we finance education in Alaska, including the history of the school funding system, how our investments compare with those in other states, the impact of funding decisions on our schools and students, and how other states determine funding adequacy and mechanisms.
Dr. Diane Hirshberg was the keynote speaker for the Alaska Historical Society Conference held at the Kenai Peninsula College and nearby locations Oct 5-8, 2023. The conference was titled “Connections and Disconnections in Alaska History” and is connected to a larger set of discussions on enhancing Alaska Civil Discourse.
From Sheldon Jackson to the Fight for Tribal Schools: The Unfinished History of Colonization’s Impact on Alaska’s Schools and Students
As part of the Alaska Infrastructure Development Symposium, organized by the Alaska Municipal League (AML), ISER had the opportunity to lead a critical discussion on data management. At a time when an unprecedented amount of federal funding is available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), challenges surrounding data requirements remain a significant barrier for many applicants.
Proposal Numbers: UAF: 2318384/ UAA: 2318385
Project Title: Collaborative Research: NNA Research: Electric Vehicles in the Arctic (EVITA) - Interactions with Cold Weather, Microgrids, People, and Policy
In this paper we modified an existing landcover dataset to better identify vegetation associated with wildfire and permafrost in Fairbanks, Anchorage, and Whitehorse over the past 4 decades (1984-2014) and make predictions for the next 4 decades (2024-2054). We used an existing fire model called FlamMap and several statistical analyses to determine where future fires could be possible.
Early childhood educators are uniquely positioned to advance equity by providing culturally-responsive early learning environments and developing respectful and reciprocal relationships with families. Culturally-responsive teaching practices recognize the diverse cultures of children and families as strengths and empower children through cultural values of their family heritage (Gay, 2010).
Alaska Food Strategy Task Force member, Mike Jones, discusses food security with The Talk of the Kenai podcast.
ISER Diane Hirshberg was lead editor of a book published in January 2023 titled Education, Equity and Inclusion: Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable North. This book, a project of the UArctic Thematic Network on Teacher Education for Social Justice and Diversity, explores the provision of education in the Arctic, focusing on challenges and innovations in meeting the needs of diverse learners in remote and rapidly changing contexts. Hirshberg also was lead author for the chapter titled “Adaptation Isn’t Just for the Tundra: Rethinking Teaching and Schooling in Alaska’s Arctic.”