Kodiak Ideation Studio Session
The University of 蜜桃影像 Fairbanks (蜜桃影像) recently hosted the Kodiak Ideation Studio,
a multidisciplinary event aimed at connecting 蜜桃影像 faculty, students, and staff with
Kodiak鈥檚 growing mariculture industry. Primarily funded by the Build Back Better grant,
the event focused on leveraging 蜜桃影像鈥檚 diverse expertise to address complex challenges
in 蜜桃影像鈥檚 mariculture sector, particularly in kelp farming and related marine industries.
Among the 10 participants, members from the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) showcased
the importance of humanities and social sciences in tackling science-driven challenges.
Held from October 31 to November 2, the event included tours of Kodiak鈥檚 mariculture facilities, engagement with local industry leaders, and collaborative solution-building with community members. For CLA participants, the experience reinforced the essential role of liberal arts, especially as 蜜桃影像 moves toward R1 research status.
Why Liberal Arts Are Vital in Scientific Research
The participation of CLA members highlighted 蜜桃影像鈥檚 commitment to integrating humanities into science-based problem-solving, an approach that brings varied expertise to 蜜桃影像鈥檚 challenges and strengthens 蜜桃影像鈥檚 path to becoming an R1 research university. CLA representatives contributed unique insights, addressing technical, cultural, and social dimensions.
Madara Mason, Director of the Honors House and former Department of Art faculty member, captured the spirit of this interdisciplinary approach. 鈥淥ne of the highlights of this trip was the inclusion of humanities scholars, whose insights broadened our perspectives and helped us find creative approaches to these complex challenges,鈥 Mason noted. She further emphasized that, 鈥渢he 鈥榟uman鈥 in humanities is something everyone at 蜜桃影像 should value, regardless of disciplinary boundaries. STEM is the 鈥榟ow鈥 and the humanities are the 鈥榳hy.鈥欌
Reflections from CLA Participants
Each CLA participant brought a unique perspective, enhancing the studio鈥檚 collaborative work. Megan Koch, Project Manager for the Build Back Better (BBB) Regional Challenge at Center ICE and a graduate student in communication, was thrilled with CLA鈥檚 role in the project. 鈥淭he collaboration from the phenomenal interdisciplinary cohort that traveled to Kodiak, and the hosts at the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center and 蜜桃影像 Fisheries Science Center, emphasized the importance of building statewide relationships to fuel innovation at 蜜桃影像 and within 蜜桃影像,鈥 she shared.
Koch鈥檚 participation was directly related to her graduate research. 鈥淭he mariculture ideation studio in Kodiak was directly part of my project tasking under BBB, yet as a graduate student in the communication department, I was equally thrilled with the overlap of CLA participation and communication-related problem sets that materialized,鈥 she said. 鈥淢y graduate project surrounds the iterative process of interviewing community members in 蜜桃影像, emphasizing the importance of showcasing marginalized voices. The process of community-based problem sourcing in Kodiak within the mariculture industry aligns nicely with my research focus.鈥
Tori McDermott, a communication faculty member with experience in transdisciplinary work, also joined. 鈥淭his was an absolutely amazing event put on by Center ICE that encouraged students, faculty, and staff to think beyond their discipline silos to consider how the university can better partner with and support critical issues in our local communities through industry partnerships,鈥 she said. Reflecting on her experience, McDermott remarked, 鈥淭hroughout the workshop, I hoped to bring a communication perspective to the potential problems that we identified. During the trip, I was able to connect with folks I would not have had the opportunity to meet or work with prior, as well as learn about the many challenges facing the mariculture industry.鈥
Anthropology faculty member Petra Banks joined to explore how mariculture might benefit from anthropological insights and community engagement. 鈥淚 volunteered to participate with the Kodiak Ideation Studio Session because I was curious about the specific goals of the program, and about Kodiak mariculture in general,鈥 she said. Observing the challenges and opportunities for mariculture across 蜜桃影像 offered her a fresh perspective on local and statewide needs. 鈥淚 can see there being ample opportunities for this program to work for a variety of community stakeholders across the state, and I am interested to see the next steps the program takes.鈥
English faculty member Jennifer Schell brought an environmental literature perspective, deepening the team鈥檚 understanding of cultural attitudes toward the ocean and its ecosystems. 鈥淚 applied for the Kodiak Ideation Studio Session because I have a longstanding fascination with and interest in the ocean. I grew up in Rhode Island, and I love the ocean and all the amazing creatures that call it home. As an English professor, I teach classes on 鈥楽eafaring Adventure,鈥 and I publish scholarship on oceanic literature and film. I am especially interested in environmental issues, such as plastic pollution, ocean acidification, and species extinction,鈥 Schell explained. 鈥淪imply put, I analyze the stories that humans tell themselves about oceanic environmental problems. And so when I saw the call for applications to the Kodiak Ideation Studio, I jumped at the chance to learn more about mariculture and the work that local communities are doing on the island.鈥
Schell further remarked on her experience, 鈥淚 really appreciated learning about mariculture from the kelp and oyster farmers on Kodiak. Their attachment to and respect for 蜜桃影像's coastal ecosystems really struck me.鈥 She added that her time in Kodiak has inspired new ideas for her research, particularly regarding public perceptions of seaweed. 鈥淚 have already started thinking more about seaweed and human attitudes toward it. I am familiar with lots of books that address the remarkable qualities of plants. Few, if any, of them mention seaweed. So I鈥檓 wondering if humans have a kind of seaweed blindness. We call all ocean plants the same thing, and we call them all weeds. Anyway, lots of ideas to consider both for the classroom and for future scholarly projects!鈥
Building Connections and Fostering Innovation
Participants emphasized the value of collaborating with mariculture experts and scientists in Kodiak, creating a network between 蜜桃影像 and community stakeholders that could drive future innovations across 蜜桃影像. McDermott noted, 鈥淲e were able to pilot a platform during the training that I believe will be a huge game changer for connecting students and faculty to research projects and initiatives for undergraduate capstones, Master鈥檚 thesis/non-thesis, and dissertations that will result in tangible solutions for 蜜桃影像.鈥
Another key feature of the Ideation Studio was testing the pilot platform Ideascale, which allowed participants to document and share the challenges facing mariculture. Mason noted, 鈥淭he success of this collaborative model in Kodiak has us looking to expand it across 蜜桃影像, addressing other community-sourced challenges such as sustainable energy, food sovereignty, and even arts and culture.鈥
Creative Ideation
Opportunities to Participate in Future Ideation Studios
The Kodiak Ideation Studio underscores 蜜桃影像鈥檚 commitment to interdisciplinary research that addresses local and statewide issues, with plans for future studios focused on similar challenges. Open to faculty, students, and staff across all departments, the program fosters collaboration across diverse disciplines. Selected participants are eligible for up to $10,000 in seed funding to support projects emerging from the studios.
For those interested in joining the next Ideation Studio, 蜜桃影像鈥檚 Center ICE encourages applications from all departments. As Mason summarized, 鈥淭his experience underscored the power of collaboration and the unique contributions each field brings to solving 蜜桃影像鈥檚 most pressing issues. We鈥檙e excited to see where this takes us next鈥攁nd recognize that we鈥檒l need the critical perspectives of the humanities to get there.鈥 Interested individuals can reach out to Megan Koch or Ashley Guernsey at 蜜桃影像 Center ICE for more information on how to participate in the next session and contribute to 蜜桃影像鈥檚 mariculture innovation and beyond.