Fresh Eyes on Ice

Fresh Eyes on Ice, based out of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, is a youth-centered river and lake ice monitoring program that uses interdisciplinary approaches to engage and train youth from rural villages to urban classrooms across Alaska. This presentation highlights the innovative cryosphere education practices, a bush teacher perspective.

My name is Terri Mynatt, I am Principal teacher of John Fredson School, which is a small rural school, commonly referred to as bush schools, and we are located above the Arctic Circle, in the interior of Alaska. I will introduce you to the most fascinating young researchers in the world and their data. My students and I have used placed based science with real data collection and procedures and protocols with the students. We have partnered with the science community that have come to our location to help train the students grades K-12 in all of the protocols and safety measures to gather data on the thawing of the ice and permafrost in our location. This is one of the most unique and exciting places on earth and our study is contributing to knowledge of climate science that is much needed in our present day and future population of the planet. Traditional Historical knowledge from the Athabascan Gwich'in Peoples in combination with data obtained from scientific research data are used side by side to contribute to the study.

The youth researchers follow standardized protocols to compare data across the state, but also conduct community-based investigations based on local ice information needs. The program follows an evidence-based model for culturally responsive citizen and community science that prioritizes knowledge of Elders and community values, and embeds STEAM experiences and skills within a cultural context. This is a science-teacher research team that is using the data gained for real life information that is of value to our indigenous population and the world.