Kodiak Ideation Studio Session
The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) recently hosted the Kodiak Ideation Studio,
a multidisciplinary event aimed at connecting UAF faculty, students, and staff with
Kodiak’s growing mariculture industry. Primarily funded by the Build Back Better grant,
the event focused on leveraging UAF’s diverse expertise to address complex challenges
in Alaska’s mariculture sector, particularly in kelp farming and related marine industries.
Among the 10 participants, members from the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) showcased
the importance of humanities and social sciences in tackling science-driven challenges.
Held from October 31 to November 2, the event included tours of Kodiak’s mariculture facilities, engagement with local industry leaders, and collaborative solution-building with community members. For CLA participants, the experience reinforced the essential role of liberal arts, especially as UAF moves toward R1 research status.
Why Liberal Arts Are Vital in Scientific Research
The participation of CLA members highlighted UAF’s commitment to integrating humanities into science-based problem-solving, an approach that brings varied expertise to Alaska’s challenges and strengthens UAF’s path to becoming an R1 research university. CLA representatives contributed unique insights, addressing technical, cultural, and social dimensions.
Madara Mason, Director of the Honors House and former Department of Art faculty member, captured the spirit of this interdisciplinary approach. “One of the highlights of this trip was the inclusion of humanities scholars, whose insights broadened our perspectives and helped us find creative approaches to these complex challenges,” Mason noted. She further emphasized that, “the ‘human’ in humanities is something everyone at UAF should value, regardless of disciplinary boundaries. STEM is the ‘how’ and the humanities are the ‘why.’”
Reflections from CLA Participants
Each CLA participant brought a unique perspective, enhancing the studio’s collaborative work. Megan Koch, Project Manager for the Build Back Better (BBB) Regional Challenge at Center ICE and a graduate student in communication, was thrilled with CLA’s role in the project. “The collaboration from the phenomenal interdisciplinary cohort that traveled to Kodiak, and the hosts at the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center and Alaska Fisheries Science Center, emphasized the importance of building statewide relationships to fuel innovation at UAF and within Alaska,” she shared.
Koch’s participation was directly related to her graduate research. “The mariculture ideation studio in Kodiak was directly part of my project tasking under BBB, yet as a graduate student in the communication department, I was equally thrilled with the overlap of CLA participation and communication-related problem sets that materialized,” she said. “My graduate project surrounds the iterative process of interviewing community members in Alaska, emphasizing the importance of showcasing marginalized voices. The process of community-based problem sourcing in Kodiak within the mariculture industry aligns nicely with my research focus.”
Tori McDermott, a communication faculty member with experience in transdisciplinary work, also joined. “This was an absolutely amazing event put on by Center ICE that encouraged students, faculty, and staff to think beyond their discipline silos to consider how the university can better partner with and support critical issues in our local communities through industry partnerships,” she said. Reflecting on her experience, McDermott remarked, “Throughout the workshop, I hoped to bring a communication perspective to the potential problems that we identified. During the trip, I was able to connect with folks I would not have had the opportunity to meet or work with prior, as well as learn about the many challenges facing the mariculture industry.”
Anthropology faculty member Petra Banks joined to explore how mariculture might benefit from anthropological insights and community engagement. “I volunteered to participate with the Kodiak Ideation Studio Session because I was curious about the specific goals of the program, and about Kodiak mariculture in general,” she said. Observing the challenges and opportunities for mariculture across Alaska offered her a fresh perspective on local and statewide needs. “I can see there being ample opportunities for this program to work for a variety of community stakeholders across the state, and I am interested to see the next steps the program takes.”
English faculty member Jennifer Schell brought an environmental literature perspective, deepening the team’s understanding of cultural attitudes toward the ocean and its ecosystems. “I applied for the Kodiak Ideation Studio Session because I have a longstanding fascination with and interest in the ocean. I grew up in Rhode Island, and I love the ocean and all the amazing creatures that call it home. As an English professor, I teach classes on ‘Seafaring Adventure,’ and I publish scholarship on oceanic literature and film. I am especially interested in environmental issues, such as plastic pollution, ocean acidification, and species extinction,” Schell explained. “Simply put, I analyze the stories that humans tell themselves about oceanic environmental problems. And so when I saw the call for applications to the Kodiak Ideation Studio, I jumped at the chance to learn more about mariculture and the work that local communities are doing on the island.”
Schell further remarked on her experience, “I really appreciated learning about mariculture from the kelp and oyster farmers on Kodiak. Their attachment to and respect for Alaska's coastal ecosystems really struck me.” She added that her time in Kodiak has inspired new ideas for her research, particularly regarding public perceptions of seaweed. “I have already started thinking more about seaweed and human attitudes toward it. I am familiar with lots of books that address the remarkable qualities of plants. Few, if any, of them mention seaweed. So I’m wondering if humans have a kind of seaweed blindness. We call all ocean plants the same thing, and we call them all weeds. Anyway, lots of ideas to consider both for the classroom and for future scholarly projects!”
Building Connections and Fostering Innovation
Participants emphasized the value of collaborating with mariculture experts and scientists in Kodiak, creating a network between UAF and community stakeholders that could drive future innovations across Alaska. McDermott noted, “We were able to pilot a platform during the training that I believe will be a huge game changer for connecting students and faculty to research projects and initiatives for undergraduate capstones, Master’s thesis/non-thesis, and dissertations that will result in tangible solutions for Alaska.”
Another key feature of the Ideation Studio was testing the pilot platform Ideascale, which allowed participants to document and share the challenges facing mariculture. Mason noted, “The success of this collaborative model in Kodiak has us looking to expand it across Alaska, addressing other community-sourced challenges such as sustainable energy, food sovereignty, and even arts and culture.”
Creative Ideation
Opportunities to Participate in Future Ideation Studios
The Kodiak Ideation Studio underscores UAF’s commitment to interdisciplinary research that addresses local and statewide issues, with plans for future studios focused on similar challenges. Open to faculty, students, and staff across all departments, the program fosters collaboration across diverse disciplines. Selected participants are eligible for up to $10,000 in seed funding to support projects emerging from the studios.
For those interested in joining the next Ideation Studio, UAF’s Center ICE encourages applications from all departments. As Mason summarized, “This experience underscored the power of collaboration and the unique contributions each field brings to solving Alaska’s most pressing issues. We’re excited to see where this takes us next—and recognize that we’ll need the critical perspectives of the humanities to get there.” Interested individuals can reach out to Megan Koch or Ashley Guernsey at UAF Center ICE for more information on how to participate in the next session and contribute to Alaska’s mariculture innovation and beyond.