News and Announcements
First Alaskans Institute 2020 summer intern
Gina Bodnar is joining ISER this summer as a First Alaskans Institute intern, and we are excited to welcome her! At ISER she’ll be working with Dr. Cueva to develop cancer education for youth in Northwest Arctic, and will be learning about the research process from IRB submission to data analysis. She is also curious to learn about ISER, and will be having informational interviews with staff and faculty during her internship. Read more about > First Alaskans Institute 2020 summer intern
Reporting impacts and recommendations for COVID-19 in Anchorage and Alaska
ISER faculty are working to inform the Municipality of Anchorage's COVID-19 efforts through a partnership between ISER, the UAA Division of Population Health Sciences, and the UAA College of Arts and Sciences. The group is involved in three distinct projects. First, Dr. Cueva, Dr. DeFeo, and Dr. Berry contributed to a series of publications focusing on specific areas in which the pandemic has impacted Anchorage and its residents, with recommendations for monitoring further impacts and potential responses/interventions. Of the published papers, Dr. Cueva and Dr. DeFeo took the lead on Education; considering the pandemic’s effect on early childhood, K12, and postsecondary systems, they noted the impacts of school and facility closures on students and communities, and provided recommendations to limit negative outcomes and plan for the future. Dr. Berry authored a paper on the economic impact of the hunker down order. Read more about > Reporting impacts and recommendations for COVID-19 in Anchorage and Alaska
Impacts of ‘Hunker Down’ in Anchorage
Economists, both nationally and in Alaska, are frequently asked to assess the economic costs of the steps taken to limit the spread of COVID-19. The economic impacts are huge; the US is experiencing rates of unemployment not seen since the 1930s in the Great Depression. But the benefits of saving lives by reducing deaths due to COVID-10 area also very large. In a recent a working paper, “The Impacts of the ‘Hunker Down’ order in Anchorage,” Assistant Professor Kevin Berry used the concept of the economic value of a statistical life to undertake an approximate comparison of the economic costs (in lost income) and economic benefits (in saved lives) of the Municipal response to the coronavirus outbreak. His work combines epidemiological modeling of how COVID-19 could have spread without the Hunker Down order with the value of a “statistical life”. The results suggest that the economic benefits of saving human lives to date has far exceeded the economic costs in lost income. Read more about > Impacts of ‘Hunker Down’ in Anchorage
Alaska State Fair 2018 Exit Survey
Ever wondered if you are the only one who goes to the Alaska State Fair for some amazing Fair food? According to findings from the 2018 Alaska State Fair Exit survey, 67% of fairgoers surveyed said their main reason for attending the Fair was for the food! Volunteers and staff of the Alaska State Fair surveyed 398 fairgoers during the 2018 Alaska State Fair; the survey instrument was based on one administered at the 2013 Fair by McDowell Group. Alaska State Fair, Inc. management asked ISER to assist in using the data they collected to prepare a 2018 Exit Survey report and to compare findings to past years (2005, 2010, and 2013). Read more about > Alaska State Fair 2018 Exit Survey
Dr. Mouhcine Guettabi joined Mayor Ethan Berkowitz for the COVID-19 community update
Dr. Mouhcine Guettabi joined Mayor Ethan Berkowitz at the Anchorage daily COVID-19 community update on Wednesday, May 6. He discussed the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the Anchorage economy and the prospects for economic recovery. A video of the briefing is available from the Anchorage Daily News website. Dr. Guettabi’s presentation begins at about 16:42 and lasts about 12 minutes. His presentation can be found in ISER's publications database. Read more about > Dr. Mouhcine Guettabi joined Mayor Ethan Berkowitz for the COVID-19 community update
Air and Water Violations in Alaska: 2011-2019
Alaskans care about their environment. Whenever we discuss development and conservation proposals, there is always a discussion about whether our water and air are being protected and whether some industries have a good record protecting our air and water. Or not. Read more about > Air and Water Violations in Alaska: 2011-2019