January 19, 2011
The microscope will be used to produce a digital image database and taxonomic reference collection of diatoms and other microalgae collected from the aquatic ecosystems of southeast Alaska. This activity directly supports students in both Introduction to Microbiology and Natural History of Alaska by training students to collect, process and examine microorganisms and to become familiar with the procedures involved in identifying microorganisms in the Alaska marine environments. Assistant Professor Donar will conduct a “Rainbird Trail Bio-Blitz” with both UAS and Ketchikan High School students to demonstrate the astonishing biodiversity of microorganisms easily obtained in the immediate vicinity of UAS. The UAS Ketchikan Science Department will also conduct an ongoing research effort to collect and analyze algal floras taken from marine and freshwater habitats in the vicinity of the UAS Ketchikan campus. It is anticipated that the microscope will be delivered in February of 2011. UAS Ketchikan student, Forest Haven, was awarded the Alaska EPSCoR 2011 Undergraduate Student Research Award. Ms. Haven received a $6,000 research award to study traditional Southeast Alaska Native foods and their contemporary uses. Her research will be based on interviews with Southeast Alaska Native Peoples from Ketchikan, Metlakatla and Hydaburg. Alaska EPSCoR has also awarded a related travel grant to Forest Haven and Priscilla Schulte, UAS Ketchikan Professor of Anthropology / Sociology, who is the research project faculty advisor, to present the research findings to the 71st Annual Meeting of the Society for Applied Anthropology in Seattle, Washington. The meeting will be held March 29 through April 2, 2011. Alaska EPSCoR is a university-state partnership which builds Alaska-based research and addresses national scientific priorities and training students for the 21st century technologically based workforce. EPSCoR programs aim to strengthen science and technology infrastructure for enhanced research competitiveness in universities, for broader participation of students in science, mathematics, and engineering, and for increased linkages among higher education, government agencies, and the private sector. Source of News:
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