G23AC00477

Project Title: Hosting Alaska's Climate Adaptation Science Center

Project Dates: 8/1/2023 through 7/31/2028

Award Purpose:
Alaska's temperatures are warming at four times the rate of the contiguous US, impacting its natural, social, and economic systems through the timing, frequency, and severity of wildfires, flooding, coastal erosion, permafrost degradation, glacier mass loss, and changing snowpack, among other impacts. This cooperative agreement establishes the University of Alaska as the academic host of the Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center. The center provides science expertise and technical assistance to support climate change adaptation by developing, facilitating, and translating actionable science. Actionable science helps societal partners and decision makers throughout Alaska make informed decisions about the region's land, plants, animals, and ultimately the well-being of its residents.

Activities to be performed:
The center will:
(1) Engage early-, mid-, and late-career scientists in research, science application, and communication activities to increase and expand research skills.
(2) Support researchers, resource managers, adaptation planners, and others generating actionable science to support climate change adaptation.
(3) Improve and expand regional dialogue via three new climate adaptation coordination positions covering Southeast, Western, and Interior Alaska.
(4) Support a community of learning, sharing, technical assistance, and outreach for Alaska tribes and indigenous communities as they respond and adapt to climate change impacts.
(5) Build capacity in climate adaptation services via partner engagement strategies, geospatial science, regional climate modeling, and interface with the State of Alaska on climate and cryosphere hazards.
(6) Engage in communication activities that support climate change adaptation activities in Alaska, including providing thought leadership, actionable science case studies, research internships, a podcast and radio show, and a center research story map.

Deliverables and Expected Outcomes:
The key outcomes will be:
(1) Alaska faculty, staff, and students engaged in actionable science.
(2) Human infrastructure to support and facilitate the creation of actionable science.
(3) Enhanced regional partnerships and dialogue.
(4) Coupling the lived experiences of Alaska Native peoples with relevant science to inform decision-making.
(5) Expanded science capacity.
(6) Engaging science communication that supports decision makers.

The primary deliverables will be staff (both administrative and technical) and scientists to carry out the activities performed and the office and meeting space required for center staff, scientists, and visitors.

Intended Beneficiary(ies):
228 Alaskan tribes, federal and state natural and cultural resource managers, and the communities and residents of Alaska.

Subrecipient Activities:
No subrecipients. University of Alaska system campuses only.

University Of Alaska Fairbanks

15.820 - National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers

USGS Office of Acquisitions and Grants [DOI - USGS]

Alaska United States

State-Wide

National Climate Adaptation Science Center Program (NCASC) (G23AS00651)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 224% from $2,312,492 to $7,493,129.