Western Alaska science conference to be held in Bethel

March 25, 2015

University Relations

The 2015 Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference will explore issues relevant to rural Alaska during a three-day meeting in mid-April at the Kuskokwim Campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

The conference, titled "Networks: From Nature to Society," will be held April 15–17 in the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center in Bethel.

The conference is a platform for reporting on and discussing regional research efforts as well as traditional knowledge, providing an interdisciplinary approach to inquiry and discussion. Researchers, elders, educators, students, community leaders, and community members will share concerns and insights.


The conference will explore connections between humans and the environment to better understand the networks in rural Alaska. Anyone interested in life in rural Alaska can join the discussions.

In addition to regular and panel sessions, the conference will include a banquet on Wednesday, April 16, and workshops on traditional uses of plants, including natural dyes and soap making.

For more information, please see the conference website: http://seagrant.uaf.edu/conferences/waisc/2015/index.html.