1998-1999 Catalog
Research Institutes and Centers
Research
Cross-Cultural Studies, Center for
Established in 1971, the center is a research and development unit administered by the School of Education in the College of Liberal Arts. It promotes programs that concentrate on the needs of Alaska's multicultural society, with particular regard to the educational needs and the development of the state's human resources.
Objectives of the center are to design and conduct basic and applied research projects and programs; develop, conduct and evaluate alternative educational approaches for Alaska schools; and disseminate findings on current Alaska research in education, human services and behavioral sciences, and rural development. Resulting research might provide technical assistance to school districts, social and family service agencies, Native corporations, local governments, community colleges and university learning centers in rural Alaska; leadership for the improvement of the training and professional development of rural as well as urban Alaskans; and provide a forum for the development of cross-cultural education programs.
Fishery Industrial Technology Center
The Fishery Industrial Technology Center (FITC), located in Kodiak, is part of the School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. FITC is dedicated to contributing scientific and technical expertise to the harvesting, processing and marketing efforts of the fishing industry. The center's activities include the harvesting technology group, which studies fishing gear and methods with an attempt to make them more selective so as to avoid incidental catch. Its processing technology group develops new or modified seafood products that are safe, wholesome, nutritious, functional, attractive and stable. Its faculty have expertise in the areas of biochemistry, microbiology and seafood technology and engineering. In order to tap these resources for students within the university system, the School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences offers courses in seafood science and interdisciplinary graduate degrees. FITC research efforts are often coordinated with the Alaska Sea Grant College Program and the Marine Advisory Program.