Achievement

IGERT trainees have participated in the design of a new Community Partnership for Self-Reliance (CPS) in Alaska. Rural Alaskan communities face major challenges from rising fuel costs, climate warming, a globalized economy, and many social and cultural changes. Also, state and federal agencies face declining budgets to support the needs of rural communities. CPS is a collaboration between the Alaska Native Science Commission (ANSC) and the University of Alaska (UA) to partner with selected rural communities to refine and implement their visions of self-reliance. IGERT trainees have been key members of liaison teams that match the needs of communities with the research expertise at UA. Students have been part of the team that visited the four communities engaged in this partnership and have designed the web-based knowledge network for sharing critical information between UA and the communities and the lessons learned among communities.