IGNITE 2025 Agenda
Individual Growth & New Ideas Through EPSCoR/INBRE
January 8, 2025
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
University of Alaska Fairbanks Wood Center Ballroom
Session Descriptions
Landscape of Tribal Communities: Context for Working in Rural Alaska
with Adelheid Herrmann
Adelheid Herrmann, a co-investigator at ACCAP, will share information about her work building capacity in rural communities to respond and adapt to climate change. Herrmann, of Dena’ina and German descent, is from the community of Naknek, Alaska.
More research and funding are being directed toward the Arctic and climate change. To help people understand the complexities of Tribal and rural communities in Alaska, Herrmann and the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP) released of a set of resources titled Landscape of Tribal Communities: context for working in rural communities in 2024. Herrmann’s materials, which include a background article and two graphics, help people visualize the overwhelming number of external and internal forces that Tribes and Tribal members deal with daily.
For this plenary session, Herrmann will speak on her work and share resources she has gathered on working in rural Alaska communities.
Adelheid Herrmann was born and raised in the Bristol Bay area in Southwest Alaska and participated in the subsistence and commercial salmon fishery since the age of six and retired from commercial fishing in 2012. She has been an advocate for Alaska Native Peoples for decades and continues that work today by serving on the Alaska Pacific University’s Elders Council and the Polar Research Board. She received her bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Fisheries, and Native Studies from Antioch University in Seattle and her doctorate in Education from the University of La Verne in La Verne, California. She was elected to the Alaska House of Representatives in 1982 serving three consecutive terms — her district included the Bristol Bay area, and the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands. She has mentored many young people including informing them of various resources available. As co-investigator for the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy she continues to provide tools and resources to Alaskans.
Science for All: Intentional Strategies for Inclusive Science Communication
with Kristin Timm
Effective science communication goes beyond sharing facts—it requires intentional strategies to engage diverse audiences. This talk explores the principles of strategic science communication and how they can be leveraged to foster inclusivity and make science more useful and actionable. Participants will learn how to identify their communication goals, tailor messages to intended audiences, and use accessible communication formats. By prioritizing inclusivity and intentionality, scientists can build trust, expand the reach of their work, and ensure their messages resonate with people in today's complex communication environment. This session will provide practical tools and inspirational stories to help you connect more meaningfully in your science communication efforts.
Kristin Timm is Research Assistant Professor and Chief Science Communication Strategist at the International Arctic Research Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Timm studies how science is communicated and the people and processes at the interface between science and society. With over a decade of expertise in science communication and engaged research methods, she facilitates innovative science communication strategies, fosters transdisciplinary research networks, and prepares the next generation of science communicators. She is passionate about moving the scientific enterprise towards more meaningful communication and equitable engagement with society to respond to our changing climate.
Implicit Bias
with Kaydee Van Flein
Kaydee Van Flein is the Executive Director, Title IX Coordinator, and ADA/ Section 504 Coordinator for the UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability.
Van Flein helped establish the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities in 2018 and was appointed in 2021 as the first permanent director. She has in-depth experience in Student Conduct, Student CARE, and the Clery Act, and has worked closely with the Department of Equity and Compliance over the past six years. She previously served as the director of the Center for Students Rights and Responsibilities and the interim director and Title IX coordinator for the Department of Equity and Compliance.
Learning and practicing Athabascan Traditional beading
with Deanna Fitzgerald
Learning traditional techniques, practicing good skills to become a beader, and engaging
in a traditional beading hands-on activity.
Deanna Fitzgerald is Iñupiaq and Yup'ik. She grew up in the Upper Tanana Athabascan culture in the
village of Dot Lake. Her late grandma was Doris Charles. Her late parents were Ivan
and Cindy Charles. Today she resides in Fairbanks with her husband Eric and two sons
Chíí and Mason.
An alumna of the Rural Alaska Honors Institute and Dot Lake High School, Deanna earned
her Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences at UAF and most recently graduated
from the Doyon Leadership Training program.
Deanna currently works as an undergraduate advisor for both Rural Student Services
and the Department of Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development. Deanna has worked
the last 18 years as staff. She has worked in the Office of Human Resources, Biology
and Wildlife Department, College of Natural Science and Mathematics Division of Research,
and most recently in the Signers' Business Office. Before UAF, she worked for Tanana
Chiefs Conference for seven years. She enjoys outdoor activities such as: hiking,
skiing, floating and boating. She also enjoys traditional activities: picking berries
and wild rhubarb, fishing, hunting, beading, singing Athabascan songs and attending
potlatches.
From Frustration to Flow: Practical Strategies for Process Improvement
with Amber Leytem and Samara Taber
Looking to streamline operations, enhance collaboration, or make day-to-day processes
less stressful? Join Amber Leytem and Samara Taber from UAF’s Continuous Improvement
Program for a hands-on introduction to process improvement. This one-hour interactive
session will help you understand elements of successful processes, improve teamwork,
and an overview of how to design practical solutions to real-world challenges. Through
a brief introduction, a short group activity, and a takeaway exercise, you’ll gain
tools and insights to turn frustration into flow, whether you’re managing a team or
refining your individual workflows.
Presenter Bios
Amber Leytem serves as Continuous Improvement Program Manager for the University of Alaska Fairbanks and leads the UAF Process Improvement & Training (PIT) Crew. With a focus on empowering teams to optimize their workflows, Amber brings a dynamic mix of analytical thinking and hands-on facilitation. Known for her engaging approach and commitment to fostering continuous improvement, Amber helps organizations create meaningful, lasting change.
Samara Taber is the Continuous Improvement Project Manager at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and a key member of the UAF Process Improvement & Training (PIT) Crew. With over a decade of experience in change management, Samara is known for her collaborative approach, innovative problem-solving, and ability to translate complex challenges into actionable strategies.
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence Technologies for UA
with Bill Anker
An introduction to generative artificial intelligence technologies and tools. The discussion will provide an overview of the underlying technology, current industry trends, a review of tools available to the UA community, and UA’s GenAI Security Standard and associated software review process. As part of our discussion, we will attempt to distinguish between media hype and reality – opportunities, limitations, and risks for potential adopters to be aware of.
Bill Anker currently serves as Executive Director of Strategic Programs with the UA System Office of Information Technology. Bill has previously worked as an IT consultant, held Chief Information Officer positions with the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities and the Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation, and was Director of Technology Services for Metropolitan Community College of Kansas City. He has worked in software development, database administration, and system administration roles, as well as teaching data modeling. Before entering the IT field, Bill owned and operated a commercial air charter and maintenance service operating throughout the interior and north slope of Alaska. Prior to this he worked as a research assistant with the UAF Institute of Arctic Biology where he developed software to model the population dynamics of Pacific Black Brant. He earned his MS in Project Management at the University of Alaska Anchorage and BS in Zoology with a Mathematics minor from the University of Florida.
Research Posters with Impact: The Do's, Don'ts, and What's New!
with Kristen Gorman
Poster presentations at scientific conferences offer undergraduate and graduate students important, early-career experiences in communicating with peers, receiving feedback on research progress, and networking with a larger scientific community and perhaps future employers! This presentation will focus on strategies for crafting an effective scientific poster presentation, including both classic approaches and new ideas for impact. Some of the topics covered include preparation timeline, content, and design for both in-person and online presentations, as well as ideas to maximize interactions during the presentation.
Kristen Gorman is an Assistant Professor of Marine Biology at UAF (2022-). Research in the Gorman Lab lies at the intersection of evolution, ecology, and physiology, taking integrative approaches to understanding factors that shape animal behavior, fitness, and population dynamics to advance basic knowledge and inform management and conservation actions for marine fishes and birds. At UAF, Gorman teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in Marine Bird Ecology and Conservation, Fisheries and Marine Predator Oceanography, Current Topics in Marine Science, Fact or Fishin': Case Studies in Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Proposal Writing, and Professional Development - a course designed to improve students’ professional communication skills in conference presentations, elevator talks, and their Curriculum Vitae.
What is intellectual property and how to protect it
with David Park and OIPC
This session will cover consultations, federal compliance reporting, and transferring knowledge from the university to industry. By the end, you’ll know the essentials for disclosing your innovation and adding value to your research. In the seminar’s second half, we’ll celebrate recent success stories from this year’s disclosures. Come ready with questions and curiosity!
The Office of Intellectual Property and Commercialization (OIPC) at UAF supports the intellectual property needs of faculty, staff, and students across UAF and UAS. Interim Director David Park will present an informative session on what constitutes intellectual property and the steps involved in protecting it. From copyrights and patents to trademarks, you’ll gain insights on how OIPC can be a valuable resource for your work.
David Park currently serves as the Interim Director of UAF's Office of Intellectual Property and Commercialization (OIPC) and has been with OIPC for the past four years. Prior to working at UAF, David worked as an intellectual property attorney for over 15 years with a particular focus on high technology clients, patent procurement, and patent portfolio management. He counseled engineers and scientists, university technology transfer offices, in-house counsel, and corporate executives alike. Before going to law school, David worked for three years as an engineer/consultant for an environmental engineering company. David's professional education includes a JD from the UCLA School of Law and a BS in chemical engineering from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
Before moving to Fairbanks, David and his family lived overseas for over seven years in East Timor, Myanmar, Turkey, and the Republic of Georgia, working with an NGO focused on local education and medical services. While overseas, David also taught at the primary, secondary, and university levels, in subjects ranging from multiplication to middle school science to a survey of intellectual property and internet law. David grew up in Southern California, worked in Los Angeles and Washington DC, and loves all sports.
Mentoring: What, Why, How
with Anupma Prakash
This session will workshop faculty mentoring skills through robust discussions, interactive elements, and rich resources for both mentors and mentees.
Anupma Prakash started as the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
in July 2018. She joined UAF as a faculty member in 2002 and has served UAF in different
capacities: as Interim/Associate Dean for UAFs College of Natural Science and Mathematics
(CNSM); Director for CNSM Division of Research (CDR); Project Director for the National
Science Foundation funded Alaska EPSCoR Program, a large initiative to increase research
capacity in the State of Alaska; and as a passionate educator and researcher at the
Department of Geosciences and the Geophysical Institute (GI).
Prakash conducted her post-doctoral research at ITC, Netherlands, has a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from the Indian Institute of Technology – Roorkee (IIT-R), and Masters and Bachelors degrees in Geology from Lucknow University, India. She is a Professor of Geophysics and has contributed extensively to remote sensing based mapping of Alaska’s natural resources and changing landscape. Prakash is also internationally recognized for her research on underground coal mine fires.