UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE

GRANT PROGRAM

GRANT PROGRAM

AS THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR HOMELAND SECURITY IN THE ARCTIC, THE ARCTIC DOMAIN AWARENESS CENTER (ADAC) WILL ADDRESS CHALLENGES ACROSS THE HOMELAND SECURITY ENTERPRISE (HSE), ADDING ARCTIC TO ITS NAME TO REPRESENT ITS EXPANDED STRATEGIC VISION. ADACARCTIC WILL DRAW ON ITS EXPERIENCE OPERATING THE PREVIOUS DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS) ARCTIC REGIONAL CENTER TO CREATE AN INTERDISCIPLINARY NEXUS OF STRATEGIC LEADERS AND PARTNERS CAPABLE OF APPLYING EXPERTISE THROUGHOUT THE HSE. GUIDED BY ITS TEAM OF EXPERT RESEARCHERS, EDUCATORS, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS, TRANSFER AND TRANSITION EXPERTS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, ADACARCTIC IS READY TO RESPOND TO THE CHALLENGES CONFRONTING DHS IN THE RAPIDLY CHANGING ARCTIC DOMAIN. VISION: ADDRESSING RAPID CHANGES THROUGH TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION, AND COLLABORATION (ARCTIC).MISSION: CREATE TOOLS, TECHNOLOGIES, KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTS, AND HIGHLY QUALIFIED PERSONS THAT WILL SERVE THE HOMELAND SECURITY ENTERPRISE TO IMPROVE ARCTIC HOMELAND SECURITY.TO FULFILL ITS MISSION, THE CENTER WILL USE CUTTING-EDGE APPROACHES TO CONDUCT CRITICAL RESEARCH NEEDED TO PREPARE FOR AND IMPLEMENT AN EFFECTIVE RESPONSE TO THE CHALLENGES DHS FACES IN THE ARCTIC DOMAIN. IT WILL DO SO BY BRINGING TOGETHER AN ARRAY OF GEOGRAPHICALLY DISPERSED, STRATEGICALLY SELECTED PARTNERS FROM ACADEMIA, FEDERALLY-FUNDED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTERS, INDUSTRY, NON-PROFITS, TRIBAL, AND OTHER FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WITH ARCTIC EXPERTISE. THROUGH THESE PARTNERSHIPS, ADACARCTIC WILL STIMULATE INNOVATIVE RESEARCH IDEAS AND PROJECTS, EXPAND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, AND PROMOTE CENTER ENGAGEMENTS THAT PRODUCE TOOLS, TECHNOLOGIES, KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTS, AND TRAINED PERSONNEL. EACH PROJECT AND ACTIVITY WILL INVOLVE STUDENTS OR TRAINEES WHILE YIELDING A PRODUCT FOR TRANSFER AND TRANSITION, ALL TO EMPOWER HSE PERSONNEL AND SERVE THE DHS MISSION. ADACARCTICS SELECTED RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROJECTS WILL CREATE STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGIES TO FILL KNOWLEDGE GAPS AND SOLVE THE TOUGHEST CHALLENGES IN THE ARCTIC. THE SELECTED PROJECTS AIM TO TRANSITION TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS THAT INCLUDE BUOYS AND DRONES TO MONITOR ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE FROM CHRONIC OR ACUTE CHANGES DISASTERS, TOOLS SUCH AS RISK ASSESSMENT EVALUATION METHODS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND METHODOLOGIES TO IMPROVE DECISION MAKING FOR RISK EVALUATORS AND RESPONDERS, MODELS FOR FAILED OIL WELL MANAGEMENT AND THE INTEGRATION OF A DIVERSE ENERGY PORTFOLIO, AND KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTS SUCH AS REFEREED PUBLICATIONS, LITERATURE REVIEWS, FEASIBILITY STUDIES, AND RAPPORT REPORTS. EDUCATIONAL, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS INCLUDE AN INTEGRATED MULTI-INSTITUTION INTERDISCIPLINARY ARCTIC SECURITY GRADUATE DEGREE, A CENTER-LED ADACARCTIC STUDENT FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM INCORPORATING FELLOWS ON ACTIVE PROJECTS, TRIBAL ENGAGEMENT AND LIAISING, AND TRAINING PROGRAMS CREATED TO MEET SPECIFIC HSE NEEDS. THE KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTS WILL BE DISSEMINATED INTO THE SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE AND HSE THROUGH PAPERS, PRESENTATIONS, VIDEOS, AND WORKSHOPS COORDINATED AND PROMOTED BY THE CENTER. THE TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS WILL BE TRANSFERRED AND TRANSITIONED TO DHS COMPONENTS AND INDUSTRIAL PARTNERS IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH THE UAA TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OFFICE (TTO). MOREOVER, ADACARCTIC WILL CREATE AN ARCTIC TESTBED TO SUPPORT PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND FACILITATE UPTAKE AND TRANSITION TO PRACTICE BY CONDUCTING RIGOROUS, TRANSPARENT, AND REPLICABLE TESTING OF SCIENTIFIC THEORIES, COMPUTING TOOLS, AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES WHILE EMBRACING HARSH ARCTIC CONDITIONS AND CHALLENGES. THE DIVERSITY, COORDINATION, AND COLLABORATION OF ADACARCTIC AND ITS COLLABORATORS, AND ITS CLOSE PARTNERSHIPS WITH DHS AND THE HSE AT-LARGE, WILL YIELD FRESH IDEAS, EXEMPLARY PROJECT APPLICABILITY, AND EFFECTIVE TRANSITIONS, ALL TO THE BENEFIT OF THE HSE IN THE ARCTIC.

DESCRIPTION: “PURPOSE: RECIPIENTS OF THE STATE SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT INITIATIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM (SSBCI TA GRANT PROGRAM), WHICH MAY INCLUDE STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, TERRITORIES, AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS, WILL RECEIVE GRANTS TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (I.E., LEGAL, ACCOUNTING, AND FINANCIAL ADVISORY SERVICES) TO SMALL BUSINESSES APPLYING FOR SSBCI CAPITAL PROGRAMS OR OTHER FEDERAL OR OTHER JURISDICTION PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED/END GOAL/EXPECTED OUTCOMES: THE GOAL OF THESE GRANTS IS TO SUPPORT THE PROVISION OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SMALL BUSINESSES APPLYING FOR SSBCI CAPITAL PROGRAMS OR OTHER FEDERAL OR OTHER JURISDICTION PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: QUALIFYING VERY SMALL AND UNDERSERVED SMALL BUSINESSES AS DESCRIBED IN THE SSBCI TA GRANT PROGRAM GUIDELINES. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES ARE NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME.

AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTERS POINT OF SERVICE MAINTENANCE AND ENHANCEMENT

THIS EDA INVESTMENT FUNDS THE HEALTH WORKFORCE EXPANSION AND DIVERSITY PROJECT, TO SUPPORT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE WITH RENOVATING APPROXIMATELY 10,000 SQUARE FEET OF INSTRUCTION SPACE TO ALLOW FOR CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT LABS, A DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY LAB, AND AN ENHANCED SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY PROCEDURAL SPACE IN ANCHORAGE, ALASKA. THE ADDITIONAL SPACE WILL ALLOW FOR THE HEALTH PROGRAMS TO EXPAND FURTHER AND PROVIDE PROGRAMS FOR NURSING, CLINICAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS. THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE TELEWORK OPTIONS, TELEHEALTH TRAINING, AND IMPLEMENT NEEDED MEASURES TO ENSURE THE SPACE IS FLEXIBLE TO THE OVERALL NEEDS OF THE COLLEGE OF HEALTH. ONCE COMPLETED, THE PROJECT WILL HELP FUTURE GRADUATES FROM THIS PROGRAM ENTER HIGH-PAYING STABLE JOBS IN THE ALASKAN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND RESPOND TO THE NEEDS ILLUSTRATED BY THE COVID PANDEMIC, WHICH WILL HELP STRENGTHEN AND DIVERSIFY THE REGIONAL ECONOMY.

INCREASING PRESSURE AND DEMANDS ON PUBLIC LANDS AND RESOURCES IN ALASKA COUPLED WITH THE EXPANSIVE NATURE OF PUBLICLY OWNED RESOURCES (235 MILLION ACRES OF FEDERAL AND 100 MILLION ACRES OF STATE LAND) CREATED THE NEED FOR A CENTRAL LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICE. THE ALASKA RESOURCES LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES (ARLIS) HAS CONSOLIDATED A NUMBER OF EXISTING FEDERAL, STATE, AND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES TO FORM A VASTLY MORE COMPREHENSIVE SOURCE OF INFORMATION ON ALASKAS NATURAL RESOURCES IN A SINGLE LOCATION, SERVED BY A HIGHLY QUALIFIED STAFF.ARLIS IS NEEDED IN THE STATE OF ALASKA TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR A CENTRAL LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICE DEDICATED TO RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF UAA AND BLM ARE PART OF THE STATEMENT OF WORK TO BE COMPLETED OVER THE COURSE OF THE AGREEMENT. ARLIS IS A COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTION TO THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SERVICE ISSUE, AS IT IS A COOPERATIVE EFFORT OF FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES POOLING THEIR RESOURCES AND WORKING TOGETHER. ARLIS IS A CRUCIAL SOURCE OF ALASKA RESOURCE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND UNIVERSITY SECTORS.UAA AND BLM, BOTH ARLIS FOUNDING AGENCIES, SHARE THE OBJECTIVE OF PROVIDING RESOURCE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION RESOURCES AND SERVICES TO ARLIS-AFFILIATED AGENCIES AND THE PUBLIC IN A COST-EFFICIENT MANNER. UAA PROVIDES PUBLIC ACCESS TO ARLISS COLLECTIONS DURING MORE THAN 100 OPEN HOURS EACH WEEK, AS WELL AS FACILITATING THE ARLIS UAA CONSORTIUM LIBRARY JOINT ELECTRONIC CATALOG THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF ELECTRONIC RESOURCES 24 HOURS A DAY.ARLIS REMAINS LOCATED IN 20,000 SQ. FT. OF UAAS CONSORTIUM LIBRARY BUILDING AND SERVES AS A REPOSITORY FOR INFORMATION AND RESEARCH ON THE CULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES OF ALASKA. UAA PROVIDED THE SPACE, HIRES STAFFING AS SUPPORTED BY THE ARLIS BUDGET AND PERFORMS MANAGEMENT AND PROCUREMENT AS NECESSARY FOR ARLIS OPERATIONS.THIS PROJECT IS A CONTINUATION OF HOUSING AND PROVIDING ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR ARLIS, TO ADDRESS PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND UNIVERSITY SECTOR NEEDS FOR INFORMATION RESOURCES AND SERVICES PERTAINING TO ALASKAS NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES. ARLIS DIRECTOR BRANDY WATTS IS PI FOR THE PROJECT. UAA STAFF MEMBERS WORK INCLUDES PROCESSING AND CATALOGING LIBRARY MATERIALS, PROVIDING REFERENCE SERVICES, CIRCULATION OF MATERIALS, PROCESSING AND FULFILLING INTERLIBRARY LOANS, AND MANAGING THE ARLIS NETWORK.

LEADERSHIP EDUCATION IN NEURODEVELOPMENTAL AND RELATED DISORDERS TRAINING PROGRAM

DISCRETIONARY

ALASKA ALLIANCE LSAMP

PROJECT LEAF (LITERACY EQUITY FOR ALASKA FAMILIES)

PURPOSE: ATICA: AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY IN A CHANGING ALASKA UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA, ANCHORAGE (UAA) ABSTRACT THIS EARMARK REQUEST WILL ESTABLISH A CENTER FOR CHARACTERIZING THE IMPACTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANT STRESSORS ON FRESHWATER AND MARINE AQUATIC LIFE THAT INHABIT ALASKA. THE PRIMARY FOCI WILL BE DIRECTED TOWARDS 1) UNDERSTANDING THE MECHANISTIC WAYS IN WHICH ENVIRONMENTAL DRIVERS CAN CREATE STRESS, 2) THE SUBLETHAL RESPONSES OF ORGANISMS SUBJECTED TO EXPOSURE, AND 3) INTEGRATIVE FRAMEWORKS THAT CAN FOSTER CROSS-POLLINATION OF IDEAS, SKILLS, AND SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE. UNDER THIS PROJECT, A SUBSET OF PRIORITY AQUATIC TOXINS AND MODEL ORGANISMS WITH A HIGH LIKELIHOOD OF PROJECT SUCCESSES WILL BE SELECTED FOR FOCUSED COLLABORATIONS. THIS WORK SITS AT THE INTERSECTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, BIOMEDICINE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, ALL OF WHICH ARE STRONG SUITS OF UAAS FACULTY, PROGRAMS, AND RESEARCH INSTITUTES. COLLABORATIONS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND CONNECTIONS ARE ALREADY IN PLACE WITH KNIK TRIBAL COUNCIL, ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, USGS, CHUGACH REGIONAL RESOURCES COMMISSION, AND KACHEMAK BAY NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE, AMONG OTHERS.

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION - ANCHORAGE (UAA) TO EXPAND THE CAPACITY OF EXISTING PROGRAMS BY IMPROVING AND ENHANCING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGH-FIDELITY SIMULATIONS IN THE PROVISION OF HEALTHCARE EDUCATION. THESE OBJECTIVES WILL BE MET BY RENOVATING EXISTING SPACE TO CREATE A STATE-OF-THE-ART SIMULATION AND SKILLS-BASED TRAINING FACILITY TO SUSTAIN AND EXPAND STUDENT EDUCATION IN HEALTH PROGRAMS, WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON NURSING STUDENTS. THE CURRENT FUNDING PROPOSAL IS FOR PHASE III OF A LARGER PROJECT AND WOULD APPROXIMATELY DOUBLE THE SPACE AVAILABLE FOR CLINICAL SIMULATION AND HANDS-ON LEARNING WITH A TARGETED FOCUS ON NURSING STUDENTS. WELL-DESIGNED SIMULATION PROVIDES A POTENTIAL MECHANISM TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF TIME STUDENTS MUST SPEND IN A CLINICAL FACILITY TO ACHIEVE COMPETENCY, THUS ALLOWING PROGRAMS TO EXPAND CAPACITY MORE READILY. THE UAA SALLY MONSERUD HALL (SMH) RENOVATION PROJECT WILL ADVANCE MULTIPLE HEALTH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES FOR ONE OF ALASKA’S MOST CRITICAL ECONOMIC SECTORS. THIS BENEFITS THE COMMUNITIES AND RESIDENTS OF ALASKA BY: (1) MEETING HIGH DEMAND AND/OR REGIONAL HEALTH WORKFORCE NEEDS; (2) INCREASING INNOVATIVE WORK-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AT THE UAA; AND (3) IMPROVING ACCESS TO AND FLEXIBILITY OF EDUCATION DELIVERY. THE CURRENT PROPOSAL IS FOR PHASE III OF THE OVERALL SMH RENOVATION PROJECT AND WILL ENCOMPASS THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF THE RENOVATION: ? SIMULATION SUPPORT ROOM: THE SIMULATION SUPPORT ROOM WILL BE USED TO STORE THE MANY PIECES OF EQUIPMENT AND MISCELLANEOUS APPURTENANCES REQUIRED TO SUPPORT THE FOUR SIMULATION ROOMS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE CONTROL ROOMS. IT PROVIDES A WORKSPACE FOR THE CASE CREATION AND PREPARATION TO ENSURE MORE REALISTIC SIMULATIONS AND SCENARIOS. THE SIMULATION SUPPORT ROOM ALSO PROVIDES A SAFE STORAGE ENVIRONMENT TO SECURELY AND PROPERLY STORE EQUIPMENT TO PREVENT DAMAGE AND MISUSE. ? VIRTUAL REALITY (VR) ROOM: THE VR ROOM WILL BE USED TO SUPPLEMENT THE SIMULATION TRAINING PROVIDE D BY THE SIMULATION ROOMS AND WILL HAVE PROJECTION CAPABILITY TO PRESENT SIMULATIONS. THE PROJECTION WILL BE ABLE TO PORTRAY ANY ENVIRONMENT TO MAXIMIZE FLEXIBILITY AND USABILITY. DUE TO THE BLANK CANVAS SPACE, IT CAN BE USED TO SET UP FOR ANY ENVIRONMENT NEEDED TO FURTHER DEVELOP THE CASE AND ENHANCE THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE. ? SIMULATION SUITE CIRCULATION: THIS SPACE IS NEEDED TO ALLOW FOR THE NATURAL CIRCULATION AND FLOW OF FOOT TRAFFIC BETWEEN SIMULATION SPACES, DEBRIEF ROOMS, CORRIDORS, AND OTHER TRAINING SPACES. IT PROVIDES COMPLETE CONTROL OF TESTING ENVIRONMENTS AND STUDENT ACCESS. IT CAN BE USED AS PART OF THE SIMULATION SCENARIO TO PRACTICE TRANSFERRING PATIENTS IN A MULTI CASE SITUATION. ? OBJECTIVE STRUCTURED CLINICAL EXAMINATION (OSCE) ROOMS: THESE WILL ALLOW STUDENTS TO PRACTICE AND DEMONSTRATE CLINICAL SKILLS UNDER STANDARDIZED MEDICAL SCENARIOS. THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRACTICING OF SKILLS RELATED TO PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS, CLINICAL REASONING, MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE, AND THE INTEGRATION OF THESE SKILLS WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN THE OSCES. IT IS A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT FOR TESTING SCENARIOS THAT MIMIC BOARD CERTIFICATION AND EXAMS. ? STANDARDIZED PATIENT (SP) SPACE/HOME CARE SIMULATION: THIS ROOM IS DUAL PURPOSE AND WILL BE USED AS AN AREA FOR “TRAINED PATIENTS” (ALSO REFERRED TO AS STANDARDIZED PATIENTS) TO PREPARE FOR TRAINING EXERCISES USED IN CLINICAL INSTRUCTION. IT IS CRITICAL THAT SPS HAVE A DEDICATED SPACE TO PREPARE IN PRIVATE FOR MEDICAL TRAINING SCENARIOS IN ORDER TO PRESENT THE MOST REALISTIC SCENARIOS TO STUDENTS. THE SPS MUST BE KEPT OUT OF THE SPACE STUDENTS TRAVERSE TO ENSURE THE SCENARIO IS REALISTIC AND SAFE. THE SPACE WILL FURTHER BE USED TO SIMULATE SCENARIOS WHERE HEALTH CARE IS BEING PROVIDED IN A PATIENT’S HOME. STUDENTS CAN ENTER THE HOME ENVIRONMENT TO PRACTICE SKILLS NEEDED IN A SETTING OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL.

ALASKA UNIVERSITY CENTER CORE GRANT FY24-28

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: NNA RESEARCH: ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN THE ARCTIC (EVITA) - INTERACTIONS WITH COLD WEATHER, MICROGRIDS, PEOPLE, AND POLICY -THE ARCTIC IS SEEING INCREASED INTEREST IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES (EV) ADOPTION. THIS PROJECT WILL EVALUATE WHERE, HOW, AND FOR WHOM EVS CAN PROVIDE WIDESPREAD BENEFITS, AND IDENTIFY WHAT MIGHT NEED TO CHANGE TO REALIZE THESE BENEFITS FOR ARCTIC COMMUNITIES. THE PERFORMANCE OF EVS IN COLD ARCTIC TEMPERATURES WILL BE STUDIED AS WELL AS HOW EVS WILL AFFECT ISOLATED RURAL POWER SYSTEMS. THE INTERDISCIPLINARY PROJECT WILL ALSO ADDRESS HOW ELECTRIC RATES AND PUBLIC POLICIES WILL AFFECT EV ADOPTION AND USE. THE PROJECT?S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOCUS WILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITIES AND ADDRESS A COMMON BARRIER TO EV ADOPTION: LOCAL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR. THIS PROJECT WILL BRING TOGETHER RESEARCHERS, TRIBAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS, ELECTRIC UTILITIES, AND VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY IN KOTZEBUE AND GALENA, ALASKA, TO ANSWER THE QUESTION OF HOW EVS CAN BE INTEGRATED IN REMOTE ARCTIC COMMUNITIES TO IMPROVE RESILIENCE, PROVIDE CLEANER, AFFORDABLE MOBILITY, AND PROMOTE ENERGY JUSTICE. THIS PROJECT WILL CONDUCT CONVERGENT ENGINEERING AND SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH TO ADDRESS THE UNKNOWN IMPACTS OF EXTREME COLD WEATHER ON EVS, THE IMPACT OF EVS ON REMOTE ARCTIC DIESEL MICROGRIDS, AND THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND POLICIES NEEDED TO FACILITATE WIDESPREAD, EQUITABLE USE OF EVS IN RURAL ALASKA TO SUPPORT THE SELF-DETERMINATION OF UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. KNOWLEDGE OF THE EFFICIENCY AND PERFORMANCE OF COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE EVS IN EXTREMELY COLD CLIMATES WILL BE ADVANCED BY COLLECTING DATA, PERFORMING MODELING AND ANALYSIS, AND PUBLISHING RESULTS FOR EVS OPERATING IN TEMPERATURES BELOW -30 DEGREES CELSIUS, INCLUDING OFF-ROAD EVS. TO LEARN HOW RECEPTIVE RURAL ALASKANS ARE TO EVS, HOW EVS WOULD INTEGRATE WITH USE PATTERNS AND NEEDS, AND POTENTIAL BARRIERS TO ADOPTION, THIS PROJECT WILL APPLY THE TRANSPORTATION ACCEPTANCE MODEL (TAM) TO EV USE IN THE TWO STUDY COMMUNITIES. NOVEL RESEARCH WILL BE CONDUCTED ON THE IMPACTS OF EV CHARGING ON ARCTIC DIESEL MICROGRIDS AND THE IMPACTS OF POLICY CHOICES ON EV UPTAKE AND CHARGING BEHAVIOR IN DIESEL MICROGRID COMMUNITIES. THIS PROJECT ALSO BRINGS TOGETHER THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE?S (UAA) COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE AUTO/DIESEL PROGRAM, THE ALASKA TECHNICAL CENTER IN KOTZEBUE, AND THE GALENA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT?S GALENA INTERIOR LEARNING ACADEMY TO DEVELOP AND DELIVER CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE AND COMMUNITY RESPONSIVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CURRICULA TAILORED TO EVS IN RURAL ALASKA. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

OBSERVER TRAINING CENTER AT UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA. TO TRAIN OBSERVERS.

STUDENT ACADEMIC GROWTH, ENGAGEMENT, AND SUCCESS (SAGE SUCCESS)

UAA TRIO TALENT SEARCH

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM

NOAA IS AWARDING FEDERAL FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,272,383 TO UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE UNDER THE FY2022 BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE HABITAT RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION COMPETITION. THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE KACHEMAK BAY NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE, THE CITY OF HOMER WILL ACQUIRE 55 ACRES OF PEATLAND, AN AREA THAT PROVIDES HABITAT FOR MOOSE, BEAR, AND OTHER FISH AND COASTAL WILDLIFE, AND IMPROVES WATER QUALITY FOR SALMON AND OTHER FISH. THE PEATLAND WILL ALSO SERVE AS A NATURE-BASED SOLUTION FOR STORMWATER COLLECTION. THIS WORK WILL SIMULTANEOUSLY RECHARGE WATER LEVELS IN THE PEAT, PROTECT THE WATER QUALITY OF KACHEMAK BAY, AND MITIGATE COASTAL EROSION.

TRIO UPWARD BOUND WEST

TRIO UPWARD BOUND BARTLETT

COMPONENT A: WOMEN'S HEALTH NURSES AND MIDWIVES PARTNER TO PREVENT FASDS - AS MEMBERS OF THE LARGEST, MOST TRUSTED GROUP OF LICENSED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN THE U.S., WOMEN’S HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONERS (WHNPS), CERTIFIED NURSE-MIDWIVES (CNMS) AND PERINATAL NURSES CAN PLAY A KEY ROLE IN ADDRESSING ALCOHOL AND POLYSUBSTANCE USE AND PREVENTING FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS (FASDS). DESPITE MORE THAN THIRTY YEARS OF RESEARCH LINKING ALCOHOL-EXPOSED PREGNANCIES WITH BIRTH DEFECTS, ALCOHOL USE DURING PREGNANCY CONTINUES AS A MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM AND CAUSE OF FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS (FASDS). THE U.S. PREVENTIVE SERVICES TASK FORCE RECOMMENDS THAT CLINICIANS SCREEN ALL ADULTS AND PROVIDE BEHAVIORAL COUNSELING TO THOSE WHO DRINK BEYOND RECOMMENDED LIMITS. ADDITIONALLY, THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC) RECOMMEND PREGNANT WOMEN ABSTAIN FROM ANY ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION THROUGHOUT PREGNANCY. CDC FUNDS BEGINNING IN 2014 SUPPORTED THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE CENTER FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESEARCH AND SERVICES (CBHRS) TO ESTABLISH AN FASD PRACTICE AND IMPLEMENTATION CENTER, WHICH, WITH CONTINUED FUNDING IN 2018, EVOLVED TO BECOME THE WOMEN’S HEALTH NURSES AND MIDWIVES COLLABORATE FOR ALCOHOL-FREE PREGNANCIES (WHNMCAP), A COLLABORATIVE WORKGROUP THAT INCLUDES CBHRS, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS IN WOMEN’S HEALTH (NPWH), THE ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN’S HEALTH, OBSTETRIC AND NEONATAL NURSES (AWHONN), AND THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF NURSE-MIDWIVES (ACNM). WHNMCAP LEVERAGES THE CREDIBILITY OF THESE ESTEEMED NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO REACH THEIR COMBINED MEMBERSHIP OF OVER 30,000 WOMEN’S HEALTH NURSING PROFESSIONALS WITH FASD PREVENTION RESOURCES. OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, OUR NURSING WORKGROUP HAS INFLUENCED POSITION STATEMENTS, PUBLISHED ARTICLES, DELIVERED CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS AND WEBINARS, AND USED A VARIETY OF COMMUNICATION METHODS (E.G., BLOG POSTS; SOCIAL MEDIA; DEDICATED WEBSITE) TO INCREASE THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF WHNPS, CNMS, AND NURSES, AND ENGAGE THEM AS CH AMPIONS FOR PREVENTING FASDS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROPOSAL IS TO EXPAND COLLABORATION AND CONNECTIONS AMONG WHNPS, CNMS AND NURSES WITH OTHER HEALTHCARE, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND FASD SERVICE PROVIDERS; SUPPORT INNOVATION AND USE OF INTERACTIVE MEDIA TO DISSEMINATE MESSAGES, EDUCATION, AND RESOURCES; AND EXPAND CONTENT TO INCLUDE CONCURRENT USE OF ALCOHOL WITH OTHER SUBSTANCES. WE WILL ACCOMPLISH THE FOLLOWING PROJECT GOALS: 1) INVITE NURSES TO PARTICIPATE IN A MULTIDISCIPLINARY FASD CHAMPIONS NETWORK, EXPANDING ON WHNMCAP’S CURRENT CHAMPION ACTIVITIES AND FORUMS, AND COLLABORATE WITH OTHER GRANTEES ON NEW TOPIC AREAS OF INTEREST; 2) DEVELOP CLEAR, CONSISTENT EVIDENCE-BASED MESSAGING FOR WHNPS, CNMS AND NURSES TO DELIVER TO PATIENTS AND DISSEMINATE THROUGH NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND STATE SYSTEMS AND NETWORKS; 3) LEVERAGE NETWORKS AND EXPERTISE OF OUR WORKGROUP, CHAMPIONS AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH GRANTEES, TO BUILD LINKAGES TO LOCAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING INFORMATION ON TREATMENT SERVICES FOR ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE USE; 4) EVALUATE EFFECTIVENESS OF PROGRAM STRATEGIES USING THE REACH EFFECTIVENESS ADOPTION IMPLEMENTATION MAINTENANCE (RE-AIM) PLANNING AND EVALUATION FRAMEWORK TO DEVELOP PROCESS AND OUTCOME MEASURES THAT INCLUDE COLLECTING PRACTICAL PROCESS DATA, USED ITERATIVELY TO TAILOR AND REFINE ACTIVITIES (E.G., ACTIVITY COMPLETION, MEMBER REACH, CHAMPION PARTICIPATION, MEDIA HITS, MULTIDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATIONS); AND OUTCOME DATA, TO ASSESS TARGETED NURSES’ KNOWLEDGE, PRACTICES AND TRAINING NEEDS (E.G., SURVEYS, CHAMPION REPORTS, KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEWS AND FOCUS GROUPS); AND CONTRIBUTE OUR FINDINGS TO CROSS-SITE EVALUATION EFFORTS; 5) WORK WITH NATIONAL PARTNERS’ MEDIA EXPERTS TO DEVELOP NEW METHODS FOR EDUCATING THEIR MEMBERS INCLUDING INNOVATIVE DIGITAL APPROACHES THAT ALIGN WITH MEMBERS’ PREFERENCES FOR ACCESSING INFORMATION; UPDATED CONTENT INTEGRATED WITHIN CONTINUING EDUCATION AND RECERTIFICATION MODULES; AND NEW C

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM

PROJECT BLENDS: BUILDING CAPACITY FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION AMONG ALASKA-BASED EARLY CHILDHOOD RELATED SERVICE PROVIDERS

NNA TRACK 1: COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: ARCTIC URBAN RISKS AND ADAPTATIONS (AURA): A CO-PRODUCTION FRAMEWORK FOR ADDRESSING MULTIPLE CHANGING ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS

SCHOOL-BASED SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION AND NETWORK DEVELOPMENT (SSWEND): ANCHORAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE PROFESSIONAL DEMONSTRATION GRANT

CCONTROL NUMBER: 2625-1542 NEW AWARD TO UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA, ANCHORAGE (PROJECT LEAD: THE NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY (NREL); IAA WITH USDA) PROJECT TITLED ''CUTTING THE CARBON FROM INSULATION CELLULOSE-MYCELIUM COMPOSITE MATERIAL.'' FOA NUMBER: DE-FOA-0002625 HARNESSING EMISSIONS INTO STRUCTURES TAKING INPUTS FROM THE ATMOSPHERE (HESTIA) THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO DEVELOP AND DE-RISK COST-EFFECTIVE, BIO-BASED INSULATION BY FABRICATING NET CO2-NEGATIVE CELLULOSE-MYCELIUM COMPOSITES WITH HIGH-PERFORMANCE THERMAL, ACOUSTIC AND ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES.

ALASKA TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY STATE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

SEE NOTICE OF AWARD, ATTACHMENT 1 - TERMS AND CONDITIONS, ATTACHMENT D - STATEMENT OF WORK, ABSTRACT

RAISE: URBAN SNOW MODELING TO ADVANCE RESILIENCE FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW -THIS PROJECT WILL EXAMINE THE MANY IMPACTS OF HEAVY SNOW LOADS IN ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, EXPLORE HOW PEOPLE PERCEIVE AND MITIGATE RISK, IMPROVE PREDICTION MODELS, AND PROVIDE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY PLANNING AND TO PREVENT BUILDING COLLAPSE. NEW APPROACHES IN URBAN MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY PLANNING ARE NEEDED TO PROTECT LIFE AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN AREAS BURDENED BY INCREASED AMOUNTS OF HEAVY SNOW AND RAIN ON SNOW. IN ANCHORAGE, RAPIDLY CHANGING SNOW CHARACTERISTICS IN RECENT YEARS HAS LED TO SEVERE PROPERTY AND INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGE. IN 2023 AND 2024, 24 BUILDINGS COLLAPSED UNDER THE WEIGHT OF SNOW, RESULTING IN ONE FATALITY. MOST SNOW MONITORING STATIONS ARE LOCATED IN NEARBY MOUNTAINS AND NOT IN URBAN-POPULATION CENTERS. WARNINGS TO CLEAR SNOW FROM URBAN HOMES AND BUSINESSES ARE BASED ON DATA FROM THESE STATIONS DESPITE THEM BEING LOCATED OUTSIDE THE CITY. THIS CAN LEAD TO DIFFICULTIES ISSUING PUBLIC SAFETY WARNINGS AS DATA MAY NOT ALIGN WITH LOCAL CONDITIONS. EVIDENCE-BASED INFORMATION WILL INFORM BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS ON WHEN AND HOW TO SAFELY REMOVE SNOW. EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS WILL ADVANCE STEM KNOWLEDGE, ENSURING AWARENESS OF SNOW SCIENCE AND LOAD-HAZARD MANAGEMENT. PROJECT OUTCOMES WILL PROVIDE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY PLANNING AND PREVENT BUILDING COLLAPSE. THE FINDINGS CAN BE APPLIED TO OTHER ALASKAN URBAN AREAS, SUCH AS FAIRBANKS AND JUNEAU, AS WELL AS TO OTHER GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS FACING SIMILAR CHALLENGES. THE RESEARCHERS WILL WORK WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, TO IMPROVE SNOW- MODELING CAPABILITIES USING AN ENHANCED VERSION OF THE ATMOSPHERE-URBAN-LAND-SURFACE MODEL WRF-URBAN. THE TEAM WILL BETTER QUANTIFY THE LINK BETWEEN GROUND-BASED OBSERVATIONS OF SNOWPACK PROPERTIES AND SNOW LOADS ON MUNICIPAL ANCHORAGE ROOFTOPS. THIS WILL HELP CREATE A MORE SOPHISTICATED SNOW-CHARACTERISTIC MODEL THAT WILL IMPROVE MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES BY IMPROVING URBAN HAZARD WARNINGS. THIS PROJECT WILL HELP BUILD THE STEM WORKFORCE BY ENGAGING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO MEASURE THE PROPERTIES OF SNOWPACKS RELATED TO ROOFTOP SNOW LOADS. DURING THE COURSE OF THIS PROJECT THE RESEARCH TEAM WILL DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS TO BRING THIS APPROACH TO OTHER AREAS AFFECTED BY SIMILAR EVENTS AND RISKS TO IMPROVE HEAVY SNOW HAZARD MITIGATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

ANSEP SUPPORT FOR STEM EDUCATION

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** ACCESS TO HEALTHY, SAFE FOOD RESOURCES IS A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE FOR RURAL COASTAL ALASKAN COMMUNITIES, WHICH ARE PREDOMINANTLY INDIGENOUS ALASKA NATIVE. TRADITIONAL FOODS, INCLUDING BERRIES, FISH, MARINE MAMMALS, REINDEER, AND BIRDS ARE CRITICAL FOR HEALTHY DIETS, AND ARE FOUNDATIONAL FOR CULTURAL CONNECTEDNESS AND SELF-GOVERNANCE. AS CLIMATE CHANGE AND POLLUTION INCREASE, MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ALASKA NATIVE ELDERS HAVE VOICED FOOD SAFETY AND SECURITY CONCERNS RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICANTS PRESENT IN SPECIES HARVESTED FOR TRADITIONAL FOODS. EVEN IF CONTAMINANTS ARE NOT A PRESENT THREAT, APPREHENSION SURROUNDING CONSUMPTION OF TRADITIONAL FOODS CAN LEAD TO STRESS, LOSS OF CONNECTION TO PLACE AND TRADITIONS, AND CURTAIL THE ABILITY TO THRIVE. FOOD SAFETY MONITORING PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN UTILIZED IN GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY RELY ON CONTRIBUTORY MODELS THAT MAGNIFY INEQUITIES BETWEEN COMMUNITIES AND EXTERNAL ENTITIES AND WORSEN OR MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO REGARDING TECHNOLOGICAL GAPS AND DISTRUST. THIS DYNAMIC ULTIMATELY LIMITS COMMUNITIES' ABILITY TO TAKE PROACTIVE RESPONSES TO RAPID CHANGES IN THEIR LOCAL AND TRADITIONAL FOOD SPECIES. OUR VISION IS OF AN EQUITABLE COMMUNITY-UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP THAT EMPOWERS INFORMED DECISION-MAKING RELATED TO FOOD SAFETY, WHILE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF TRADITIONAL FOODS AND THEIR IMPORTANCE FOR CULTURAL CONTINUITY AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING, AND IN DOING SO, ENHANCES ALASKA NATIVE RESILIENCE TO THE RAPIDLY CHANGING ENVIRONMENT. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS VISION, OUR PROPOSED PROJECT DIRECTLY RESPONDS TO SELF-IDENTIFIED COMMUNITY NEEDS AND GOES BEYOND THE STATE-OF-PRACTICE BY CREATING A TRIBALLY-LED COMMUNITY-CENTERED, ON-SITE RESEARCH LABORATORY ON ST. PAUL ISLAND, ALASKA WHERE TISSUE SAMPLES FROM TRADITIONALLY HARVESTED ANIMALS CAN BE ANALYZED IN REAL-TIME FOR CONTAMINANT CONCENTRATIONS BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS THEMSELVES, AND BE USED TO INFORM TRIBAL DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES. THE GENERATED DATA WILL BE INPUT INTO A COMMUNITY-OWNED, USER-FRIENDLY DIGITAL DASHBOARD TO FACILITATE INFORMATION UTILIZATION AND RESILIENCE. THIS WILL RESULT IN REDUCED DELAYS, INCREASED COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP OF AND ENGAGEMENT WITH DATA ON FOOD SAFETY, IMPROVED SELF-EFFICACY OF RESIDENTS AS EQUITABLE, LEADING PARTNERS IN THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE, AND IMPROVED TRUST IN TRIBAL-UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS.BY BRAIDING INDIGENOUS AND WESTERN WAYS OF KNOWING, AS IT RELATES TO FOOD SAFETY AND ULTIMATE FOOD SECURITY, THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE ENTRY POINTS INTO WESTERN SCIENTIFIC ENDEAVORS REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUNDS AND PRIOR EXPERIENCE IN WESTERN SCIENCE, AND PROMOTE DIVERSE VOICES, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SKILL TRANSFER, AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING WITHOUT HISTORIC GATEKEEPING. IT INVESTS IN PHYSICAL, PERSONNEL, AND DATA INFRASTRUCTURES TO ENHANCE TRIBALLY-LED ECOSYSTEM MONITORING, CREATE A FOUNDATION FOR COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM DEFINITION PROCESSES, AND FOR TRIBAL AND RES,IDENT FOOD PRACTICES AND POLICIES TO BE EXPEDITIOUSLY INFORMED BY FOOD SAFETY MONITORING DATA. THIS MODEL WILL BE HIGHLY APPLICABLE TO RURAL AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE CIRCUMPOLAR ARCTIC AND BEYOND, PARTICULARLY IN CASES WHERE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD IS SIGNIFICANTLY CONSTRAINED BY LIVING IN STORE-BOUGHT FOOD DESERTS, AND WE WILL IDENTIFY THE COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM WHICH CAN BE SCALABLE TO ENHANCE RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF RAPIDLY CHANGING OCEAN ECOSYSTEMS AND THREATS TO FOOD SECURITY.

NNA RESEARCH: COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: FOUNDATIONS FOR IMPROVING RESILIENCE IN THE ENERGY SECTOR AGAINST WILDFIRES ON ALASKAN LANDS (FIREWALL) -NAVIGATING THE NEW ARCTIC (NNA) IS ONE OF NSF'S 10 BIG IDEAS. NNA PROJECTS ADDRESS CONVERGENCE SCIENTIFIC CHALLENGES IN THE RAPIDLY CHANGING ARCTIC. THIS ARCTIC RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO INFORM THE ECONOMY, SECURITY AND RESILIENCE OF THE NATION, THE LARGER REGION AND THE GLOBE. NNA EMPOWERS NEW RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS FROM LOCAL TO INTERNATIONAL SCALES, DIVERSIFIES THE NEXT GENERATION OF ARCTIC RESEARCHERS, ENHANCES EFFORTS IN FORMAL AND INFORMAL EDUCATION, AND INTEGRATES THE CO-PRODUCTION OF KNOWLEDGE WHERE APPROPRIATE. THIS AWARD FULFILLS PART OF THAT AIM BY ADDRESSING INTERACTIONS AMONG SOCIAL SYSTEMS, NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT IN THE FOLLOWING NNA FOCUS AREAS: ARCTIC RESIDENTS, DATA AND OBSERVATION, FORECASTING, AND RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE. IN RECENT YEARS, ALASKA HAS WITNESSED HIGH-INTENSITY WILDFIRES THAT OFTEN GROW TO TENS OR HUNDREDS OF THOUSAND ACRES WITHIN DAYS, BOTH IN REMOTE, SPARSELY POPULATED RURAL AREAS AND CLOSE TO POPULATION CENTERS. WILDFIRES ARE PROJECTED TO INCREASE DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND PRESENT NEW AND EMERGING RISKS TO ALASKAN ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITIES NEEDING ELECTRICITY FOR DAILY LIFE AND HEALTH SERVICES. ALASKA IS ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO WILDFIRES DUE TO ITS ISOLATED ELECTRICITY GRID, FIRE-PRONE BOREAL FORESTS, AND EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR, AS WELL AS THE CRITICAL DEPENDENCE OF ITS RURAL COMMUNITIES ON ELECTRICITY FOR HEALTH AND YEAR-ROUND FOOD SUPPLY. THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO EMPOWER ARCTIC COMMUNITIES, ELECTRIC UTILITIES, EMERGENCY RESPONDERS, AND HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS TO COLLABORATIVELY SHARE RESOURCES AND EXCHANGE INFORMATION FOR IMPROVED SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND RESILIENCE AGAINST WILDFIRES. THE FIREWALL RESEARCH PROJECT WILL ADVANCE THE KNOWLEDGE ON (1) HOW ELEMENTS OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE, AND SOCIAL SYSTEMS INTERACT WITH ONE ANOTHER BEFORE, DURING, AND FOLLOWING WILDFIRES, AND (2) HOW TO ENABLE A COLLABORATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR DECISION-MAKING AND COMMUNICATION AMONG MULTI-SECTORAL STAKEHOLDERS TO REDUCE WILDFIRE RISKS FACED BY COMMUNITIES AND ELECTRIC UTILITIES. THE FIREWALL PROJECT WILL DEVELOP A RISK-INFORMED DECISION-MAKING PLATFORM THAT INTEGRATES (1) FORMATION, SHORT-TERM PREDICTION, AND SPATIOTEMPORAL PROPAGATION ANALYSIS OF WILDFIRES ON ALASKAN LANDS, (2) ALASKA?S ELECTRICITY NETWORK PLANNING, PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE, AND MITIGATION FACING WILDFIRES, AND (3) COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SOCIAL VULNERABILITY METRICS. THE PROJECT WILL ESTABLISH A SHARED UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROBLEM BY ENGAGING IN FOCUS GROUPS, LISTENING SESSIONS, AND SURVEYS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THE DECISION-MAKING PLATFORM WILL BE EVALUATED IN A RANGE OF SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM USE CASES FOR THE ELECTRIC UTILITIES, FORESTRY MANAGERS, AND EMERGENCY RESPONDERS UNDER DIFFERENT FIRE REGIMES, AND WILL BE TESTED IN A NUMBER OF WILDFIRE-PRONE GEOGRAPHICAL ZONES IN ALASKA. THE PROJECT OUTCOMES WILL BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES WITH COMMUNITY-IN-THE-LOOP ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS FOR WILDFIRE RESILIENCE, AND PROVIDE ARCTIC RESIDENTS WITH NUMEROUS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. THE EDUCATION ACTIVITIES INCLUDE OUTREACH TO K-12 TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, AND TRAINING THE MULTI-SECTORAL STAKEHOLDERS USING THE FIREWALL PLATFORM PRODUCTS TO FACILITATE A SMOOTH TRANSITION FOR DEPLOYMENT IN PRACTICE. THE PROJECT WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO FORM HOLISTIC INTEGRATED ROADMAPS THAT CAN ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY AND RESILIENCE OF THE MISSION-CRITICAL LIFELINE INFRASTRUCTURE IN ALASKA AND BEYOND WHEN FACING FUTURE WILDFIRE DISASTERS. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.

UAA COLLEGE ASSISTANCE MIGRANT PROGRAM (CAMP)

KOC CAMP: WORK WITH HEALTH/COUNSELING SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AND THE UA SYSTEM BY ENGAGING STUDENTS WITH PEER-TO-PEER EVENTS AND MENTORING; WORKSHOPS, AND TARGETED SUPPORT.

ENHANCING TUMOR ANTIGEN PRESENTATION WITH COMPLEMENT TARGETED NANOPARTICLES

KPC CAMP: WORK WITH HEALTH/COUNSELING SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AND THE UA SYSTEM BY ENGAGING STUDENTS WITH PEER-TO-PEER EVENTS AND MENTORING; WORKSHOPS, AND TARGETED SUPPORT.

PURPOSE: THE KACHEMAK BAY NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE (KBNERR) WAS DESIGNATED IN 1999 AND IS LOCATED IN HOMER, ALASKA. THE RESERVE IS ADMINISTERED BY THE ALASKA CENTER FOR CONSERVATION SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE (UAA), WHO IS SUBMITTING THIS APPLICATION FOR THE FY24 FEDERAL BUDGET FOR FUNDS TO SUPPORT ADMINISTRATION, OPERATIONS, RESEARCH AND MONITORING, EDUCATION, COASTAL TRAINING, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY COUNCIL ACTIVITIES FROM JULY 1, 2024 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2025. UAA IS REQUESTING $867,113, WHICH WILL BE MATCHED BY A TOTAL OF $371,620 FROM UAA. THE BREAKDOWN OF THAT MATCH IS AS FOLLOWS: $78,980 IN UAA GENERAL FUNDS WILL BE PAID TO UAA STAFF TO SUPPORT KBNERR'S ADMINISTRATIVE NEEDS, $41,938 IS PROVIDED BY INDIRECT COSTS ON M/CS SALARIED WAGES, LEAVE, AND BENEFITS AT 53.1%. $269,207 WILL BE CONTRIBUTED AS UNRECOVERED OVERHEAD. UAA'S NEGOTIATED OVERHEAD RATE IS 53.1% BUT BY ACCEPTING NOAA FUNDS THROUGH A CESU AGREEMENT, WE ARE CONTRIBUTING 35.6% IN UNRECOVERED OVERHEAD TO MEET THE NON-FEDERAL MATCH. DURING THE AWARD PERIOD, THE KBNERR WILL SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST COOPERATIVE ECOSYSTEM STUDIES UNIT (PNW CESU) BY FULLY ADDRESSING EACH OF THEIR OBJECTIVES, NAMELY TO: 1) PROVIDE RESEARCH, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND EDUCATION TO FEDERAL LAND MANAGEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL AND RESEARCH AGENCIES AND THEIR POTENTIAL PARTNERS; 2) DEVELOP A PROGRAM OF RESEARCH, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND EDUCATION THAT INVOLVES THE BIOLOGICAL, PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, AND CULTURAL SCIENCES NEEDED TO ADDRESS RESOURCE ISSUES AND INTERDISCIPLINARY PROBLEM-SOLVING AT MULTIPLE SCALES AND IN AN ECOSYSTEM CONTEXT AT THE LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL LEVEL; AND 3) PLACE SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON THE WORKING COLLABORATION AMONG FEDERAL AGENCIES AND UNIVERSITIES AND THEIR RELATED PARTNER INSTITUTIONS. WE WILL ACHIEVE THESE OBJECTIVES BY FOCUSING ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2022-2027 KBNERR MANAGEMENT PLAN. FOCUS WILL BE ON COORDINATION WITH AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN INTEGRATED PROJECTS BETWEEN KBNERR RESEARCH, EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND ADMINISTRATION SECTORS, AND WITH OUR LOCAL, REGIONAL AND STATEWIDE PARTNERS. THIS AWARD FUNDS SYSTEM-WIDE MONITORING PROGRAM TASKS AND REPORTING; COASTAL DECISION-MAKER TRAININGS, WORKSHOPS AND DECISION-MAKER TOOLS BASED ON KBNERR RESEARCH AND MONITORING; GRANT WRITING FOR MISSION-RELATED PRIORITY RESEARCH; LEADERSHIP IN A TEACHERS- ON THE-ESTUARY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP; AND PARTICIPATION IN SYSTEM-WIDE NERR WORKGROUPS, OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES, AND RELATED COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES. IT HAS BEEN THE POLICY OF THE KBNERR TO OFFER ALL PROGRAMS AND WORKSHOPS FREE OF CHARGE AND WE WILL CONTINUE THAT POLICY THROUGHOUT THIS FUNDING CYCLE.

KACHEMAK NERR NA25NOSX420C0020-T1-01 FY25 OPERATIONS PROJECT DESCRIPTION THE KACHEMAK BAY NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE (KBNERR) WAS DESIGNATED IN 1999 AND IS LOCATED IN HOMER, ALASKA. THE RESERVE IS ADMINISTERED BY THE ALASKA CENTER FOR CONSERVATION SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE (UAA), WHO IS SUBMITTING THIS APPLICATION FOR THE FY25 FEDERAL BUDGET FOR FUNDS TO SUPPORT ADMINISTRATION, OPERATIONS, RESEARCH AND MONITORING, EDUCATION, COASTAL TRAINING, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY COUNCIL ACTIVITIES FROM OCTOBER 1, 2025 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2027. UAA IS REQUESTING $880,967, WHICH WILL BE MATCHED BY A TOTAL OF $377,558 FROM UAA. THE BREAKDOWN OF THAT MATCH IS AS FOLLOWS: $75,873 IN UAA GENERAL FUNDS WILL BE PAID TO UAA STAFF TO SUPPORT KBNERR'S ADMINISTRATIVE NEEDS, $40,288 IS PROVIDED BY INDIRECT COSTS ON M/CS SALARIED WAGES, LEAVE, AND BENEFITS AT 53.1%. $246,015 WILL BE CONTRIBUTED AS UNRECOVERED OVERHEAD. UAA'S NEGOTIATED OVERHEAD RATE IS 53.1% BUT BY ACCEPTING NOAA FUNDS THROUGH A CESU AGREEMENT, WE ARE CONTRIBUTING 35.6% IN UNRECOVERED OVERHEAD TO MEET THE NON-FEDERAL MATCH.

NNA RESEARCH: COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE FUEL TREATMENTS TO REDUCE WILDFIRE RISK (SAFRR)

RETHINKING THE ZINC-COPPER RELATIONSHIP IN WILSON DISEASE

RONALD E. MCNAIR PROJECT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE (UAA MCNAIR)

CAREER: FOLLOW THE WATER: UNDERSTANDING RIVER DISCHARGE DYNAMICS IN RAPIDLY CHANGING HIGH NORTHERN LATITUDES -THE ARCTIC REGION IS RAPIDLY CHANGING AS AVERAGE AIR TEMPERATURES, RAINFALL, GLACIER AND ICE SHEET MELT RATES, AND PERMAFROST DEPTHS ALL INCREASE. HOWEVER, THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THESE PROCESSES AND HOW THEY INFLUENCE THE DISCHARGE, SOURCE, AND NUTRIENT CONCENTRATIONS OF WATER IN ARCTIC RIVERS ARE NOT WELL UNDERSTOOD. TO CHARACTERIZE SHIFTING RIVER SOURCE CONTRIBUTIONS AND BRIDGE THIS KNOWLEDGE GAP, THIS PROJECT WILL MEASURE MULTIPLE COMPONENTS OF THE WATER CYCLE IN PERMAFROST WATERSHEDS ACROSS A RANGE OF GLACIAL COVERAGES (INCLUDING GLACIER FREE) IN GREENLAND. MODELS WILL TEST THE HYPOTHESIS THAT IN THE WARMER AND WETTER FUTURE ARCTIC, CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FLOW THROUGH THE GROUND TO THE RIVER WILL BOTH INCREASE AND PERSIST LATER IN THE SEASON, WHICH WILL HELP OFFSET THE LOSS OF RIVER WATER FROM STEADILY DECREASING ICE MASSES. RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ARE INTEGRATED BY COLLABORATING WITH THE ALASKA NATIVE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PROGRAM, RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS IN GREENLAND, THE BELFER CENTER?S ARCTIC INITIATIVE AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY, LOCAL GREENLAND COMMUNITIES, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF THE ARCTIC L?RA INSTITUTE TO DEVELOP A POWERFUL PLATFORM THAT INCREASES INDIGENOUS ALASKAN AND GREENLAND STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN HYDROLOGY. THIS PLATFORM INCLUDES PROGRAMS LIKE GREENLAND FIELD RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIGENOUS ALASKAN AND GREENLAND STUDENTS AND DEVELOPMENT OF ARCTIC WATER CYCLE FOCUSED COURSES. THREE IMPORTANT HYDROLOGICAL SHIFTS ASSOCIATED WITH A WARMER AND WETTER HIGH ARCTIC GREENLAND OCCURRED WITHIN THE LAST MILLION YEARS: 1) INCREASED FRESHWATER FROM GLACIER MELT; 2) DEEPENING ACTIVE LAYER (PERMAFROST THAW); AND 3) INCREASED PRECIPITATION. CURRENT CLIMATE CHANGES ARE LEADING TO AN ARCTIC GREENLAND MORE LIKE THESE PAST ENVIRONMENTS. A WARMER ARCTIC WILL LIKELY INCREASE ACTIVE LAYER DEPTHS, WHICH WHEN COUPLED WITH GREATER RAIN EXPECTED IN THE ARCTIC, COULD RESULT IN MORE FLOW THROUGH THE ACTIVE LAYER CONTRIBUTING TO RIVER DISCHARGE, BUT THIS REMAINS UNKNOWN. THIS PROJECT WILL MEASURE MULTIPLE COMPONENTS OF THE WATER CYCLE IN PERMAFROST WATERSHEDS ACROSS A RANGE OF GLACIAL COVERAGES (INCLUDING GLACIER FREE) IN HIGH ARCTIC GREENLAND. THESE DATA WILL CHARACTERIZE SHIFTING RIVER SOURCE CONTRIBUTIONS AND PROVIDE CRITICAL FIELD DATA NEEDED TO CALIBRATE NOVEL NUMERICAL HYDROLOGICAL MODELS. THESE MODELS WILL THEN HELP TEST RIVER DISCHARGE HYPOTHESES GIVEN FUTURE ARCTIC CHANGE UNDER DIFFERENT CLIMATE SCENARIOS (E.G., MORE PRECIPITATION, DEEPER ACTIVE LAYER). THESE ANALYSES WILL HELP UNDERSTAND HOW INCREASED ACTIVE LAYER FLOW COULD MITIGATE THE HYDROLOGICAL IMPACT OF GLACIER RECESSION AND FUTURE TRANSITION TO ICE-FREE WATERSHEDS. THIS PROJECT WILL SUPPORT GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND DEVELOP A POWERFUL MULTIFACETED PLATFORM TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN STEM FIELDS OF INDIGENOUS ALASKAN AND GREENLAND STUDENTS. A NEW ARCTIC FOCUSED HYDROLOGY COURSE WILL BE TAUGHT VIA DISTANCE DELIVERY AND LEVERAGE RELATIONSHIPS TO BRING TOGETHER INDIGENOUS ALASKAN AND GREENLAND STUDENTS. THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO PROVIDE INDIGENOUS ALASKAN AND GREENLAND UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS WITH A TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE LEARNING TOGETHER IN THE FIELD WHILE WORKING WITH RESEARCHERS. LARGER SOCIETAL BENEFITS INCLUDE UNDERSTANDING HOW THE ARCTIC WATER CYCLE IS CHANGING, WHICH CAN IMPACT THE GLOBAL WATER CYCLE, FRESHWATER RESOURCES, AND CLIMATE PATTERNS ACROSS EARTH. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.

NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTERS ON OLDER INDIANS, ALASKA NATIVES AND NATIVE HAWAIIANS 2020-2025

THE ALASKA CENTER FOR CONSERVATION SCIENCE (ACCS) AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE (UAA) PROPOSES TO COLLECT ASSESSMENT, INVENTORY AND MONITORING (AIM) DATA IN SUPPORT OF LAND HEALTH MONITORING CONDUCTED BY THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT (BLM). IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BLM, WE WILL COLLECT BIOPHYSICAL DATA FROM LANDS ADMINISTERED BY THE ANCHORAGE FIELD OFFICE FOLLOWING STANDARD AIM PROTOCOLS SUPPLEMENTAL INDICATORS MAY BE ADDED TO ASSESS THE POTENTIAL FOR HABITAT TO SUPPORT WILDLIFE SPECIES OF INTEREST. WITH GUIDANCE FROM THE BLM, ACCS WILL PREPARE FOR THE FIELD CAMPAIGN, CONDUCT FIELD WORK, AND SUBMIT THE FINAL DATASET AND AN IMPLEMENTATION SUMMARY REPORT TO THE BLMS NATIONAL OPERATION CENTER (NOC).THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION IDENTIFIES TACKLING THE CLIMATE CHANGE CRISIS AT HOME AND ABROAD AS A FEDERAL PRIORITY (EXECUTIVE ORDER 14008). TO THIS END, THEY CALL ON AGENCIES TO INCREASE THE CONSERVATION AND RESILIENCE OF THE NATIONS LANDS, WATERS, AND BIODIVERSITY. THE BLM ALASKA STATE OFFICE - RANGELAND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM HAS IDENTIFIED MAINTAINING OR ACHIEVING LAND HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY, INCREASING CARBON SEQUESTRATION, AND CREATING RESILIENT LANDSCAPES TO BENEFIT CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS AS PRIORITIES. USING THE BEST AVAILABLE SCIENCE TO ADDRESS THESE PRIORITIES DEPENDS, IN PART, ON THE DETAIL AND ACCURACY OF THE FOUNDATIONAL DATA. THE AIM STRATEGY PROVIDES A STATISTICALLY ROBUST, SCIENCE-BASED METHOD THAT THE BLM, PARTNER AGENCIES, AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES CAN USE TO MANAGE LANDSCAPES AND COMMUNITIES TOWARDS ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCE.THE RANGELAND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM CONDUCTS INVENTORIES, ASSESSMENTS AND EVALUATIONS OF VEGETATION AND SOIL CONDITIONS TO MEASURE PROGRESS TOWARDS MEETING LAND HEALTH STANDARDS. IN ALASKA, THIS WORK INVOLVES DECISIONS REGARDING GRAZING AND OTHER RANGE MANAGEMENT TREATMENTS, SOIL MANAGEMENT, AND INVASIVE SPECIES. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AIM STRATEGY PROVIDES EXCELLENT SUPPORT FOR ALASKA-SPECIFIC RANGELAND MANAGEMENT GOALS AS IT COLLECTS DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE BIOPHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS (E.G., VEGETATION COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE, SOIL CHARACTER AND COMPETENCE) OF A SITE THAT CAN BE EXTRAPOLATED TO THE LANDSCAPE SCALE. AIM DATA CAN HELP INFORM SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT ACTIONS BY DESCRIBING AND MAPPING THE DISTRIBUTION OF PLANT SPECIES AND HABITATS IMPORTANT TO WILDLIFE TO INFORM, FOR EXAMPLE, REINTRODUCTION INITIATIVES.THE WORK PROPOSED HERE WILL PROVIDE DECISION SUPPORT FOR THE ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT OF BLM LANDS SO THAT NATURAL RESOURCES ARE MAINTAINED FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE USE. SPECIFIC TO RANGELAND MANAGEMENT, THE COLLECTION OF AIM DATA WILL HELP BUILD LANDSCAPES THAT ARE RESILIENT TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND IN THIS WAY, REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR MULTIPLE PUBLIC USES SUCH AS THE HARVEST OF SUBSISTENCE RESOURCES, REINDEER GAZING, HUNTING, TRAPPING, FISHING, AND RECREATION.

FY25 ALASKA INDIANS INTO MEDICINE (INMED)

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE WILL UTILIZE A CONSORTIUM OF RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS TO COORDINATE COLLABORATIVELY THROUGH THE KACHEMAK BAY NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE TO CONDUCT STUDIES ON WATERSHED ECOSYSTEM SUPPORT FOR SALMON. THIS PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF BASELINE RESEARCH ON ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS TO SALMON HEALTH AND PROVIDE FIELD-BASED ENGAGEMENT AND ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF CONVEYING SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT WATERSHED HABITATS AND SALMON. THIS PROJECT WILL BUILD ON EXISTING LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE KACHEMAK HERITAGE LAND TRUST AND THE NINILCHIK TRIBE AND EXPAND TO NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITH TRIBAL GROUPS IN THE COOK INLET REGION. THE PROJECT INCLUDES DEVELOPING STAKEHOLDER-INFORMED MONITORING OF ECOSYSTEM FEATURES KEY TO SALMON HEALTH, AND A FOCUS ON DEVELOPING DIFFERENT WAYS OF KNOWING WATERSHED STEWARDSHIP THAT INCLUDE TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE, ART, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND WESTERN ECOLOGICAL SCIENCE.