A Science Based Educational and Cultural Exchange Workshop at Mystic Aquarium for Native American and Alaska Native Youth

神秘水族馆将为阿拉斯加原住民青年和康涅狄格当地原住民青年举办以科学为基础的教育和文化交流讲习班。包括部落和社区领袖陪同在内的14名个人将在水族馆和当地自然和历史景点参加为期8天的活动。研讨会的主要目标是激发对科学的热情，激励高中青年追求科学教育和职业生涯，并认识到他们可以成为社区管理和可持续发展海洋资源的资源。在整个研讨会期间，将为学员提供学习和分享文化和传统的机会。活动包括动手实验和动物体验，实地考察当地和历史遗迹，以及文化活动，在这些活动中，舞蹈、歌曲、艺术、故事和当地食物将被分享和交流。这些活动将促进在本土文化背景下学习科学。为参加研讨会的学生提供的研讨会和实地机会通过投资未来的科学家来促进科学的进步。对于阿拉斯加土著和美洲土著学生和社区来说，讲习班有助于增进他们的知识，并有望激励学生继续接受教育和从事职业，为国家健康、繁荣和福利作出贡献。北极是气候变化的“零点”，气候变化的迅速变化对北极动物和生态系统包括人类构成了威胁。位于康涅狄格州神秘镇的神秘水族馆，与北坡自治市野生动物管理部门，AK和阿拉斯加当地社区Point Lay合作，正在研究白鲸，白鲸是海洋健康的前哨物种，因为它们是顶级捕食者，分布在北极和亚北极生态系统中。重要的是，白鲸为阿拉斯加原住民提供了食物安全，了解白鲸的健康状况和自然历史对于确保它们未来的可持续性以及依赖它们的人们的文化和传统至关重要。几年来，阿拉斯加原住民和美国原住民青年协助进行了白鲸的现场捕获、标记、取样和释放研究，并从自给自足的白鲸身上收集数据和样本。这个工作坊将教育参加者关于研究白鲸的重要性。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Mystic Aquarium will hold a science based educational and cultural exchange workshop for Alaska Native youth and local Connecticut Native American youth. A total of 14 individuals including tribal and community leader chaperones will participate in activities for eight days at the Aquarium and local natural and historical sites. The main goals of the workshop are to stimulate excitement about science, inspire high school youth to pursue education and careers in science with the realization that they can be a resource to their communities for the management and sustainability of marine resources. Opportunities will be provided throughout the workshop for the cohort to learn and share culture and traditions. Activities include hands-on laboratory and animal experiences, field trips to local and historical sites and cultural activities in which dance, song, art, stories and native foods will be shared and exchanged. These activities will promote learning science in the context of Native culture. The workshop and field opportunities for students leading up to the workshop promotes the progress of science by investing in future scientists. For the Alaskan Native and Native American students and community, the workshop serves to advance their knowledge and hopefully inspire students to continue their education and careers, contributing to national health, prosperity and welfare.The Arctic is "ground zero" for climate change with rapid changes posing threats to arctic animals and ecosystems including humans. Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, CT, in collaboration with the North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management, AK, and the Alaska Native community of Point Lay, AK, are studying beluga whales which serve as sentinel species for ocean health given their top-level predator status and their distribution across arctic and subarctic ecosystems. Importantly, belugas offer food security for Alaska Natives and understanding the health status and natural history of belugas is critical to ensure their future sustainability as well as the cultures and traditions of the people that rely on them. For several years, Alaska Native and Native American youth have assisted with live capture, tagging, sampling and release studies of belugas and collection of data and samples from subsistence harvested belugas. This workshop will educate the participants in the importance of research on beluga whales.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.