2025 Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference

April 15–17, 2025
Naknek Native Village Council
Naknek, Alaska

We are looking forward to meeting together in Naknek for some fun, some science, and to see all of your smiling faces.

New—sign up for field trips and activities during the conference—space is limited! See below for details.

Sustaining the Past While Advancing the Future

The 17th Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference (WAISC) brings together people invested in sharing local knowledge and science important to rural communities in Western Alaska.

The 2025 conference will highlight needs to maintain strength, health, and subsistence lifestyles while moving forward during rapid transitions within the environment, ecology, and industries of Western Alaska. A conference priority is the continued sharing of knowledge across cultural boundaries.

The conference will be held in Naknek April 15–17, 2025, with no videoconferencing aside from the keynote speaker’s presentation.

We are excited to announce that our keynote speaker will be Adelheid Herrmann, a co-investigator at the UAF Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy, who will be speaking about her lived experience in Bristol Bay and her academic research, both of which embody the conference theme, Sustaining the Past While Advancing the Future.

Registration

Secure your spot at the Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference (WAISC) by registering online today through the WAISC website. The cost is $200 which includes one ticket to the banquet. Registration for the conference is waived for residents of the Bristol Bay region, but residents will need to pay $50 for the banquet dinner by following the instructions online.

Local activities (sign-up required)

WAISC allows attendees to experience different Western Alaska locations and engage with communities. Planned activities include tours of the historical society, active processing facility tours, making local Native handicrafts, and more. Some have a separate fee and limited space is first-come first-served. If you’re interested in participating, fill out the field trip sign-up form now.

College credit for students

Earn college credit by attending or presenting at the Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference! To be eligible for credit, contact the Bristol Bay Campus at uaf-bbcinfo@alaska.edu or call 907-842-5109. You will also need to register for the conference here.

There are two travel scholarships available for students:

Steering Committee

  • Tav Ammu, chair, Alaska Sea Grant, University of Alaska Fairbanks
  • Ashley Dunker, Alaska Sea Grant
  • Emma Wetter, UAF BB Campus
  • Sue Flensburg, Retired BBNA Environmental Program Manager
  • Harmony Wayner, International Arctic Research Center
  • Laura Zimin, UAF BB Campus
  • Gay Sheffield, Alaska Sea Grant, University of Alaska Fairbanks

WAISC - Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference logo

Event home
Agenda
Registration
TRAVEL AWARDS
Lodging and logistics
Keynote Speaker
Call for abstracts
Previous conferences

More information

For questions, contact Tav Ammu, Alaska Sea Grant, UAF Bristol Bay Campus.

To join the WAISC mailing list, email Dawn Montano.

We look forward to seeing you in Naknek, a remote fishing community renowned for its vibrant salmon industry and scenic Bristol Bay views.

Don't miss this chance to learn, connect, and explore.

Thank you to our sponsors

A collection of logos representing various organizations: Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference, Alaska Sea Grant, University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA, Bristol Bay Campus – University of Alaska Fairbanks, Bristol Bay Heritage Land Trust, Southwest Alaska Salmon Habitat Partnership, International Arctic Research Center (IARC) – University of Alaska Fairbanks, Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation (BBEDC, The Nature Conservancy – Alaska, Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association, Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS), Alaska SeaLife Center – Seward- Alaska, Alaska Marine Conservation Council, Biomedical Learning and Student Training (BLaST)

Alaska Sea Grant accommodation and code of conduct

Alaska Sea Grant is committed to providing safe and welcoming environments for all who participate in activities, meetings, or events. Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made at least five business days in advance to sea.grant@alaska.edu. Participants and organizers of Alaska Sea Grant-sponsored activities are supported by the Alaska Sea Grant event code of conduct.