Alaska may be the largest state, but it has a relative tiny population – only 700,000
people. Put another way, in the rest of the US there are on average 87 people per square
mile. In Alaska there is one. For someone like Dr. Michael Castellini, this means both
a need to collaborate and opportunities to collaborate.
"It can be a small world up here, and that means there's lots of cross fertilization." |
Necessity being the parent of invention, the huge cost of travel within Alaska has given
rise to advances in distance learning. The University of Alaska Fairbanks has 70 video
conferencing hubs around the state, and most coastal villages have internet connectivity,
meaning successful dissemination of several of Michael's collaborative projects.
Being a relatively small world, Mike's collaborative projects seems to all be connected,
either officially or simply by proximity. COSEE Alaska provides many of the avenues and
outlets, and whether it's exhibits at the SeaLife Center or high-octane performances in
Polar-Palooza, Native knowledge informs and enriches over all.
Mike's Collaborations
- COSEE Alaska, connecting coastal communities and climate change
- SeaLife Center, connecting research, education, and rehabilitation
- Native Knowledge, making science relevant
- Polar-Palooza, stories of a changing planet
- Science for Alaska,
a state-wide effort to bring researchers to the public that has continued for the past
20 years, sponsored by University of Alaska Fairbanks
- Sitka Whale Fest, a
celebration of marine life that has continued for over 15 years and attracts scientists
from all over the US to talk about North Pacific issues, focusing on marine biology,
humpback whales and change in the North. Hundreds of people listen to the talks, for which
high school and college credit is given.
- Tsunami Ocean Science Bowl,
the Alaskan chapter of the National Ocean Science Bowl, began in 1998, and Mike was involved
from the start. It is hosted in Seward – where the National competition took place in 2008.
The Tsunami Bowl participants are required to write an essay on a topic that is relevant
to Alaska, or to their local community.
- Science for Alaska, a 20-year state-wide effort to
bring researchers to the public, sponsored by University of Alaska Fairbanks
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Sitka Whale Fest
A celebration of marine life that attracts scientists from all over the US to talk about North Pacific issues |
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