AGU discussion examines 'research fatigue'

December 13, 2016

University of Alaska Fairbanks scientists are presenting their work at the American Geophysical Union’s fall meeting in San Francisco this week. Here are some highlights of their research, as shared at the world’s largest Earth and space science meeting.

University of Alaska Fairbanks professor Todd Brinkman highlighted the challenges of “research fatigue” during an AGU panel discussion on Tuesday, focusing on the unusual situation faced by some Alaska Native populations.

In a session that stressed the importance of community collaboration, Brinkman, an assistant professor of wildlife ecology, used the North Slope village of Nuiqsut as a prime example. Since the 1970s researchers have inundated its 400 residents with inquiries about the effects of nearby oil and gas development, followed in the past decade by questions about climate change.

Brinkman, an assistant professor of wildlife ecology, first arrived in Nuiqsut to conduct a study in 2013 and encountered 15 researchers in the tiny community. Residents were exhausted by constant questions, since the benefits of constant engagement aren’t always clear.

Brinkman said a key to overcoming that fatigue is to design studies that benefit both local residents and scientists. He said finding that “sweet spot” is important to conducting respectful and relevant community research.

“It is elusive, but you can find it,” he said.

Brinkman and his research team accomplished that by giving hunters GPS equipment and asking them to take photos during their trips to identify growing environmental challenges. That feedback led UAF researchers to help measure local air traffic and degrading river conditions, which emerged as consistent concerns.

The success of the Nuiqsut approach — and a positive response from its residents — allowed the research team to expand their study to nine rural Interior Alaska communities.

“It begins with understanding their concerns,” Brinkman said. “It’s something that scientists need to pay attention to.”