Undergraduate UAF students may compete in essay, engineering
and media contests that address food security issues in northern communities.
Hollembaek Farms harvests bromegrass for hay near Delta Junction. Edwin Remberg photo |
The Food Security in the Arctic competition will award $1,000,
$500 and $250 prizes for first-, second- and third-place awards in three
contests sponsored by the School of Natural Resources and Extension,
Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Activity (URSA) and the National Science
Foundation. The deadline for the essay and engineering contests is Feb. 1 and
media entries are due Feb. 29.
Contest co-chair Professor Jenifer McBeath said students are
invited to address some of the issues involved with developing environmentally
responsible agricultural practices in the North. She notes that food security is
a special concern in Alaska because an estimated 95 percent of food consumed by
residents is produced elsewhere and it travels over a tenuous transportation
network.
For the essay contest, students may submit up to an
eight-page, double-spaced essay about the challenges involved in growing and
storing food in northern communities. Submissions should respond to the
following questions: Why should growing and storing food be considered
alongside traditional subsistence practices such as hunting, fishing and gathering?
How might Arctic communities integrate these practices and what are some of the
complexities involved?
Participants in the engineering contest are asked to submit
an engineering design that attempts to address energy-efficient and
environmentally friendly large-scale food storage in the North. Designers
should research and consider the ideal conditions that aid in cold climate food
storage. Currently perishable foods are shipped into many towns and villages
from distant locations. The alternatives for residents involve growing and storing
their own food or growing and transporting from a nearby location in the state.
Individuals or teams may compete. The designer of the winning entry will be awarded
$5,000 to build a prototype.
Students who participate in the media contest are asked to
submit a 30-second public service announcement that represents some of the
current challenges in growing food in northern communities. Films or videos
should be submitted as an uncompressed MOV or M4P file.
See more details about the contests and the entry form here. For more information, contact McBeath at jhmcbeath
at 907-474-7431 or jhmcbeath@alaska.edu.
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