Director of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) and Professor of Economics, Dr. Ralph Townsend, recently presented three invited talks on fisheries management in the United Kingdom. The first, “Lessons from International Experiences in Fisheries Self-governance” at the Future of Inshore Fisheries Conference in London, attracted 150 people from the fishing industry, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations involved in the U.K. inshore fisheries and was motivated, in part, by opportunities for the U.K.
News at ISER
Welcome to the ISER News and Announcements page, your hub for timely updates, industry insights, and the latest organizational highlights. Here, you can stay informed about upcoming events, important deadlines, and exciting achievements, all aimed at keeping the ISER community connected and engaged.
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The Institute of Social and Economic Research’s (ISER) Assistant Professor of Natural Resources Management, Dr. Jennifer Schmidt, was recently published in Bloomberg Law News discussing the rising wildfire risk in Alaska. In the article, Dr. Schmidt explains the impact of climate and society on risk in the wildland urban interface (WUI) and suggests actions that can be taken to lower that threat. While climate change is certainly a major factor in the increased danger, development in high-risk areas without taking the proper precautionary measures is another facet of the growing threat.
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The Institute of Social and Economic Research’s Dr. Tobias Schwoerer, was featured by KTUU to discuss elodea and its potential impact on Alaska's salmon industry, should the state be unsuccessful in eradicating the invasive aquatic plant. Elodea has previously been used as an aquarium plant and for lab kits in biology classes. The State no longer allows the plant to be sold in Alaska.
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The Alaska Association for Career & Technical Education (ACTE) held their annual professional development conference, Growing Stronger Together 2019, this week at the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage.
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Director of the Center for Alaska Education Policy Research (CAEPR) and Research Assistant Professor of Education Policy, Dr. Dayna DeFeo, was recently featured by KTUU to discuss the growing concern around the number of teachers in Alaska. Dr. DeFeo explained that lower enrollment in education programs has resulted in less teachers being produced locally. On top of that, issues with the budget make it difficult to hold on to the ones that are currently working here.
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October 25, 2019 Update: Presentation is now available for download, link below. Ocean acidification is expected to impact Alaska’s marine species and the $5.8 billion seafood industry. Higher acidity water affects the ability of shell-building organisms, like crabs, to develop and maintain their shells and may also affect the behavior of some fish species. Alaska is predisposed to ocean acidification due to its colder water temperature, making it likely that we will feel the effects sooner and more intensely than other regions.
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The Improving Childcare Outcomes Research (ICOR) project, with Diane Hirshberg as part of the team, is expanding the definition of culturally responsive teaching from its current K-12 focus to include early childhood education. This involves creating and assessing the effectiveness of new professional development aimed at strengthening culturally responsive practices among early childhood educators. The work is intended to be informed by research. As part of that, researchers surveyed parents and educators about how they define culturally responsive practice.
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ISER researchers Dayna DeFeo, director of the Center for Alaska Education Policy Research and Diane Hirshberg, professor of education policy, were featured prominently in Education Week for a recent article on teacher turnover in Alaska.
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The Institute of Social and Economic Research’s (ISER) Dr. Mouhcine Guettabi, Associate Professor of Economics, was recently published in Scientific American where he discussed his recent research and results on the impact of universal basic income (UBI) on childhood obesity. The article drew from a longer report which Dr. Guettabi co-authored with Drs. Brett Watson and Matthew Reimer.
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ISER’s former director, Gunnar Knapp, Professor Emeritus of Economics, gave a presentation on “Long-Term Trends in the Pacific Salmon Industry” at the Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society in Reno, Nevada on October 1st, 2019. Knapp was an invited speaker at a symposium on “The Science of Pacific Salmon Conservation: Foundations, Myths, and Emerging Insights.”