UAA Institute of Social and Economic Research

10/07/2026

How can research interviews encourage real reflection, instead of surface-level answers?

ISER's Dayna DeFeo and Kathryn Davis of the UAA: University of Alaska Anchorage gave a talk at National Institutes of Health (NIH) SciEd Conference last week that centered on this question. During the presentation, they shared the approaches they refined with co-author Douglas Cost of the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Education to help interview participants reflect more deeply in a single research interview.

The conference brought together representatives from federal STEM agencies, principal investigators, project staff, evaluators, teachers, and program officers to share best practices and evaluation methods, and to foster collaboration that improves STEM education. Our Alaska-based team was glad to share their methods with the national research community at NIH SciEd!

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10/06/2026

Ever wonder what's happening inside a glacier? 🧊

Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 8 for a talk on glacier caves, some of the most dynamic and least documented features of glacier systems. Research shows they can form, evolve, and even disappear within short periods of time!

Hosted by the UAA: University of Alaska Anchorage's Department of Geological Sciences and ISER, Prof. Dr. Andreas Pflitsch from Ruhr-Universität Bochum will introduce his ongoing research in Alaska, and Ms. Lorena Paff will share findings from a multi-year investigation tracking changes inside a glacier cave at Root Glacier in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve.

When: Thursday, October 8 at 4 p.m.
Where: ConocoPhillips Integrated Science Building, room 120 OR join us on Zoom: https://alaska.zoom.us/j/84074742093
Refreshments provided!

Photo by Andreas Pflitsch

10/02/2026

The cost of groceries is changing, and households are facing challenges when it comes to putting dinner on the table. Which policy responses might make a meaningful difference?

On Friday, October 9, we're welcoming three food economists to the UAA: University of Alaska Anchorage to talk about food affordability. Join us for a free and interactive public forum with professors Craig Gundersen (Baylor University), David Ortega (Michigan State University), and Nicholas Li (Toronto Metropolitan University). They’ll share perspectives on food insecurity, grocery prices, and what food costs in remote northern communities. Bring your questions!

Registration is free and all are welcome: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeiwPKfW5__tBgZFMCHOVXLZYqyp-jDNC1mKzgbmbDLx7JPLg/viewform
📅 Friday, October 9
📍 Rasmuson Hall, Room 101 (3416 Seawolf Drive)
🍽️ Light food and refreshments at 4:30 p.m.
🕔 Public forum at 5 p.m.

10/01/2026

37% of Alaska households can't afford the state's cost of living, according to a new report from United Way of Anchorage, which is more than federal poverty data suggests.

UAA: University of Alaska Anchorage's Mike Jones, research assistant professor of applied economics, and Jared Reynolds, state director of the Alaska Small Business Development Center, provided advisory support for the report. Earlier this week, Jones joined United Way of Anchorage's President and CEO Eric Billingsley at an Anchorage Chamber of Commerce forum to talk about what it costs to afford life in Alaska.

Read more from Anchorage Daily News:

Under the ALICE metric, 37% of households in Alaska are not able to afford the state’s cost of living.

09/30/2026

With conflicts overseas restricting global diesel and oil supplies, many Alaskans are already feeling the pressure of high fuel costs. Factor in tight Cook Inlet natural gas supplies, and Railbelt residents may need to conserve energy if a long cold snap hits this winter. ❄️

UAA: University of Alaska Anchorage's Dr. Spencer Perry spoke with Alaska's News Source about the double-edged nature of high energy prices for Alaska: While consumers pay more at the pump and on heating bills, elevated crude oil prices bring in revenue for the state. See the full story:

With winter fast approaching, state energy officials and economists are warning Alaskans along the Railbelt to prepare for potential power and heating conservation if severe, sustained cold settles over the region.

09/29/2026

Happening this week 📅 The 2026 CBPP Showcase: Democracy in Action takes place on Thursday, October 1. Now in its fifth year, the showcase gathers alumni, students, faculty, staff, business leaders, and community members for sessions and panels that explore issues shaping Alaska's future. Get your tickets for an evening of learning and networking!

When: October 1, 2026 at 4 p.m.
Where: Rasmuson Hall, University of Alaska Anchorage
Tickets: https://www.givecampus.com/schools/UniversityofAlaska/events/uaa-cbpp-showcase-2026

WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED?

It’s been eight years since Alaska elected a new governor—and there’s plenty to talk about as we head toward November.

The 2026 CBPP Showcase: Democracy in Action will bring together a political journalist, a public pollster, and a former state elected official for a conversation about Alaska’s governor’s race.

What’s happened so far? What are Alaskans watching? And what should we be paying attention to as the race moves toward November?

Join us for a conversation designed to provide context, perspective, and a closer look at one of the most closely watched political races in Alaska.

📅 October 1, 2026
📍 Rasmuson Hall | University of Alaska Anchorage
🎟️ Tickets are still available.

09/26/2026

Bycatch has become a defining issue in Alaska's Senate race. 🐟 Brett Watson, associate professor of applied and natural resource economics at UAA: University of Alaska Anchorage, told the Alaska Beacon that he doesn't recall fisheries playing such a central role in a statewide or federal campaign in the past decade. He thinks the issue may reflect trends that extend beyond fish:

Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola are fighting bitterly over fisheries, especially the hot-button issue of bycatch.

09/16/2026

⛽ Average gas prices in Alaska are now more than $5 per gallon, much higher than last month and well above the national average.

ISER's research helps policymakers and community members alike navigate the double-edged nature of high oil prices in Alaska. ISER Director and Professor of History Ian Hartman weighed in on what rising prices at the pump could mean for Alaskans in the short and long term:

Average gas prices in the state of Alaska reached $5.06 Tuesday, nearly twenty cents higher than last month and seventy cents above the national average.

09/14/2026

Even though the price of oil has gone up over the last several months, Alaskans still face ongoing budget challenges and must make big decisions that will shape the state's future. Last fall, a team of ISER researchers evaluated 11 primary fiscal options for Alaska, including implementing changes to state spending, broad-based taxes, and business taxes.

Brett Watson, Assistant Professor of Applied and Natural Resource Economics, recently presented ISER's analysis to the Anchorage Rotary at the Petroleum Club of Anchorage. We always appreciate the opportunity to share our research with the community. Thank you to Rotary for hosting this discussion!

Read an overview of Alaska's fiscal options and download the detailed report here: https://iseralaska.org/iser/economy-fiscal-policy/alaskas-fiscal-options

📸 Courtesy of Treece Hanley, Anchorage Rotary Club

09/04/2026

🥕🥦🍎 Since Anchorage School District (ASD) began rolling out its new school lunch model four years ago, elementary students have been eating 31% more of their entrées and 29% more vegetables, according to data collected by a team based at UAA: University of Alaska Anchorage's ISER and the Center for Behavioral Health Research and Services.

And the benefits extend beyond lunchtime: national research indicates school lunch participation improves academic outcomes equal to about two months of additional learning within a school year.

The ASD Wellness Evaluation project was a multi-year effort led by Dr. Juliana Cohen of Merrimack College, with ISER Collaborator Dr. Katie Cueva as the Alaska lead. Get the full scoop on the district's new nutrition model:

The Anchorage School District is continuing its new student nutrition service model across all 57 elementary schools this year, marking the completion of a four-year transition away from a pre-packaged lunch system.