Alaska Forum

AF26 Virtual Technical Session: Lead toxicity: Using Birds of Prey to Connect Community and Environmental Health
2026-02-25 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Anchorage) | Alaska Forum Virtual Attendee Hub
This session will provide an update on the statewide Alaska Copper Ammo Challenge. Team members will discuss public reception, ongoing efforts, and new collaborations. Additionally, information presented will include lead sources, including locally relevant sources such as ammunition and Alaska-specific household sources. Health effects, including from acute and chronic low-dose exposure will be covered. This is a collaborative presentation between AK Department of Fish and Game, AK Department of Health, and Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. Multiple viewpoints will be represented, including those of hunters alongside public health practitioners.

Alaska Forum Virtual Technical Session: Mariculture in Valdez: Integrating Community-Led Research into the NNA REU Experience
2026-04-08 11:00 - 12:00 | Alaska Forum Virtual Attendee Hub
Mariculture in Alaska (marine culture of macroalgae and shellfish) has received significant attention and investment in recent years. The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council invested more than $30 million (USD) in Alaskan mariculture-related projects and infrastructure in October 2021. The US Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded $49 million to the “Alaska Mariculture Cluster” under its Build Back Better Regional Challenge (BBBRC) program in 2022. That same year, the Alaska Legislature allocated $7 million to the University of Alaska to support mariculture research and development throughout the state. On a more local scale, The City of Valdez has promoted mariculture development in its community and region (Prince William Sound) in a variety of ways since 2021, including supporting the integration of mariculture programming into the local (K–12) school district, and supporting post-secondary and university collaborations, including those at Prince William Sound College (PWSC) and Alaska Blue Economy Center (ABEC).
This presentation will feature a unique effort where students accepted into the Navigating the New Arctic Research Experience for Undergraduates (NNA REU) Program delved into previous work by PWSC and ABEC to support mariculture farm site development in the vicinity of Valdez. As part of their NNA REU experience, three University of Alaska undergraduate students conducted research into how, why and where such a farm site could be located, based on data collected by PWSC faculty, staff, and students from 2023 through 2024. The students further explored how such efforts could be developed with Indigenous interests and perspectives at the forefront of these considerations, drawing from best practices and local connections. And, the students explored how resulting production could be integrated into construction materials research taking place at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Automated and Construction and Advanced Materials Laboratory (ACAM). With the assistance of mentors from ABEC, PWSC, and ACAM these students presented on their work and findings at the 2026 Alaska Forum in Anchorage, and will share their experiences as part of the April 8 Alaska Forum Technical Virtual Session.
Lead presenter: Tommy Sheridan, Director, Alaska Blue Economy Center
Student presenters: Hannah Bogdan, Naomi Krause, and Sabrina Dunphrey

Alaska Forum Virtual Technical Session: Braiding Water Balance Models and Traditional Science to Predict Salmon Habitat Suitability in Southeast Alaska
2026-04-29 11:00 - 12:00
Climate models are powerful, but they often miss what people on the ground see every day. This presentation explores a new method for integrating local and Indigenous knowledge directly into climate models, allowing lived observations, such as shifting river patterns, changing ice conditions, and ecosystem signals, to inform and refine model outputs. By combining these knowledge systems, we can reduce blind spots in traditional datasets and produce results that better reflect real-world conditions. The goal is not just more accurate models, but more useful ones that directly support infrastructure planning, risk management, and decision-making in high-risk, rapidly changing regions.
Presenter:
Jaimlyn Sypniewski – Two Bears Environmental Consulting
Moderator: Jeanette Alas, Alaska Department of Fish &
Game

Alaska Forum Virtual Technical Session: The Request for Proposal (RFP) Lifecycle: Owner/Grantee and Consultant Perspectives for Successful Procurement
2026-05-06 11:00 - 12:00
This presentation explores the full lifecycle of the Request for Proposal (RFP) process, offering practical guidance from both the owner’s and consultant’s viewpoints. Attendees will learn how to define project needs, structure and write an effective RFP, and navigate the evaluation and selection process to achieve better project outcomes. Key topics include:
•What an RFP is and its role in professional services procurement •Typical RFP structure and content
•Best practices for drafting and evaluating RFPs
•Understanding how consultants interpret and respond to RFPs
The session will walk through the essential steps of the RFP process: identifying stakeholders, collecting requirements, drafting the RFP, evaluating responses, selecting a vendor, and finalizing the contract. Emphasis will be placed on creating clear, comprehensive documents and maintaining transparency throughout the selection process. This presentation is ideal for community leaders, utility managers, and public agency staff involved in procuring professional services for infrastructure and development projects.
Presenter: Greg Magee, Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC)
