News and Announcements

2022

• Talk of Alaska: Critical Minerals In Alaska, Alaska Public Media, October 3, 2022
• New US climate law could lead to a mining ‘renaissance’ in Alaska, drawing excitement and concern, Anchorage Daily News, September 6, 2022

List of news articles from 2021 that reference ISER studies or researchers.

The rank of Staff Emerita was conferred upon Linda Grant during ceremonies earlier this month. This high honor is in recognition of her distinguished career at UAA’s Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER), and was recommended by her colleagues with the concurrence of the Chancellor’s Cabinet. 

New research from ISER’s Trang Tran and Dayna DeFeo examined how relationships influence rural Alaska students’ transitions from home communities to postsecondary institutions. Their analysis identified characteristics of the transition processes that seem particular to rural students—in navigating urban places and cultural norms, seeking institutional supports, advocating for self, and forming new social relationships. In all of these experiences, rural identities and community-oriented values emerged as a guiding force for students’ goal-setting, decision-making, interactions, and adjustment.

Understanding Alaska and Alaskans is fundamental to shaping the state’s future. In 1961, Alaska’s Second State Legislature acknowledged the importance of this research mission and understood how it would inform policy and critical decisions facing the new state. This led to the creation of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER). Since then, ISER research has contributed to just about every public policy topic in the state, including the Arctic, natural resources, education, telecommunications, the Permanent Fund, fisheries, health care and – of course – Alaska’s economy.

ISER presents a webinar event, "Permanent Fund Dividend: Past, Present and Future," on Wednesday, December 1 from 5:30-7 pm. Please join us for a look at the origins of the PFD program, how it has evolved over time, how it affects Alaskans today and how it may evolve in the future—and how ISER has studied these questions over the past 40 years. Panelists include former ISER directors Scott Goldsmith, Gunnar Knapp and Fran Ulmer, and current ISER researchers Matt Berman, Brett Watson and Mary Kopriva. UA President Pat Pitney will moderate.

Panelists for ISER's webinar on the Permanent Fund: Past, Present and Future

Celebrate the second annual UA Giving Day starting on November 9, 2021, when the 49 hours for Alaska campaign begins. Marcia Trudgen, former ISER Associate Director and UAA staff alumna, is challenging friends, alumni, and colleagues to make a gift on Giving Day 2021. When 10 people give to ISER Excellence, her $5,000 gift will unlock to support the ISER Excellence Fund.

The Institute of Social and Economic Research is hosting virtual presentations by three candidates for its Director position. Each will address “The ISER Director’s Role in Addressing Alaska’s Key Policy Issues Over the Next Decade.” Members of the UAA community and the public are welcome to attend, and should register in advance.

A July 2021 report by Dr. Mouhcine Guettabi found that research activities throughout the University of Alaska system create an enterprise that added $242 million in economic benefit to the state in 2020, measured by jobs supported, total payroll produced and business sales generated. The infusion of these research dollars into Alaska leads to economic expansion.