Environmental DNA: One sample, Limitless Questions

In late January George Anderson, Maggie Harings, Kristen Reece, Maris Goodwin and I hosted an event that occurred around the Alaska Marine Science Symposium January 27-31, 2025 in Anchorage, AK. 

This event was a workshop hosted through the Alaska Marine Science Symposium. The in-person event was for those individuals that were interested in meeting to learn more about sample collection, extraction, and amplification of eDNA. For this workshop we invited state agencies (Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) and US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)) and tribal agencies (Ivanof Bay Tribe, Aleut Community of Saint Paul, Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute, Chignik Intertribal Coalition members, Chickaloon Native Village) to come together and learn more about eDNA. 

The full-day workshop with hands-on learning modules was open to everyone.

From left to right: (back row) Zachary Gold, Cody Nuk'ulaełen Henrikson, Chuck McCallum, Mark McNeley, Axel Kopun, Daniel Rinella, George Anderson, Laura Timm, Peter Westley, Jonathan Gerkin, Scott Chandler, (middle row) Wei Cheng, Veronica Padula, (front row) Brandi Kamermans, Kristen Reece, Dustin Carl, Jesse Endert, Maggie Harings, and Linda McCann.

Dr. Jessica Glass presented on the use of PESCA device, developed by her and colleagues, that is a novel tool used for the sampling of environmental DNA (eDNA) from water bodies in a way that's efficient, portable, and less prone to contamination. It stands for "Passive eDNA and Sediment Collection Apparatus", and the device has been designed to improve the practicality and accuracy of collecting eDNA samples from aquatic environments, particularly in the field.

Dr. Jessica Glass presenting on her PESCA device.

Master's student Maggie Harings presented on how to use the Smith-Root eDNA citizen science sampler. Maggie recently published a protocol for the use of this device.

Maggie Harings explaining the components of the Smith-Root eDNA sampler.

Participants said that the workshop was helpful and we provided information to community about how environmental DNA can be used for actionable science.

2021-2022 NSF Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) at Tribal Colleges Working Group

The meeting I had this afternoon was funded by NSF, it is a working group with members of the IUSE and TCUs. The goal of our monthly meetings are to build relationships between TCUs.

We aim to gather information to distill and co-create recommendations for improving student success in environmental data science. Krystal Tsosie asked us to break down "Environmental Data Science", while also thinking about "Indigenous Science."

This conversation brought up many thoughts about how we can foster student success. We are each thinking about the ways that Environmental Science Data Science in tribal communities can improve the lives of tribal members.

Recent talks for both PICES and UW Banse Early Career Seminar

PICES_BanseEarlyCareer_10_12 pm.pdf

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Here is a copy of my Powerpoint presentations that I've used this year - to discuss the research I've been involved in.