Education
Interface of Change incorporates research themes into educational programs and activities including art-science collaborations: an artist-in-residency program and traveling art exhibition, summer field courses for high-schoolers in Kachemak Bay, and the Alaska Science Olympiad competition.
These place-based activities are grounded in informal science learning, which includes “inspiring emotional responses, reframing ideas, introducing new concepts, communicating the social and personal value of science, promoting deep experiences of natural phenomena, and showcasing cutting-edge scientific developments.
Alaska Science Olympiad
Alaska EPSCoR organizes the Alaska Science Olympiad Division B, an annual tournament for middle school students that challenges their skills in science, technology, engineering, and math.
Summer Field Classes
The and the provide summer field classes for high school students in the Kenai peninsula region that focus on Interface of Change research in the area. Over the course of three years (2025-2027), up to 54 students will participate in field classes where they will develop leadership skills, build a positive team dynamic, learn science communication approaches, and bolster their confidence, competencies identified as key for sustainability science.
Rural Alaska Honors Institute Scholarships
Interface of Change and the developed a new scholarship program consisting of one-year awards to high-achieving RAHI students who enroll at UA and major in STEM disciplines. Over the five years of the Interface of Change project, 25 scholarships will be awarded to RAHI students.
Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program Internships
Interface of Change partners with the by providing internships to two ANSEP students each year. Interface of Change researchers present at ANSEP student meetings each year, giving students an opportunity to learn about Interface of Change research and potential internship positions.
Students to Startups
We partner with Alaska Center ICE to pair students with mariculture startup companies as summer interns under their program.
Professional Development
The Interface of Change of project organizes professional development opportunities and events for project participants, UA affiliates, and the broader research community across the state.
Education Funding Opportunities
Interface of Change incorporates two rounds of seed funding for education projects in 2025 and 2027.
Art-Science Collaborations
Interface of Change includes collaborations with artists who will interpret the project's place-based research in traveling art exhibitions. Through art, we will host creative and informative public venues to spark dialogs around how climate change affects people in the Gulf of Alaska.
Collaborations include partnering with the program, directed by Mary Beth Leigh, to develop a touring, multi-artist exhibit, and coordinating a special exhibit with the centered around the art of .