Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER)

The school year is over, and ISER researchers are studying which Alaska educators choose to come back to their jobs next year – and why. They’ll present updated teacher and principal turnover numbers, as well as preliminary findings from their statewide educator survey this Wednesday (June 3) at the Alaska State Board of Education.

🗓️Join the virtual meeting on Wednesday afternoon to hear initial results on turnover patterns and teacher feedback. The agenda and video link will be available at: https://education.alaska.gov/State_Board

Thanks to our supporters, partners, neighbors, and friends for celebrating 65 years of public policy research at ISER! 🎉

That’s a wrap! Thanks to everyone who participated in the 2026 CUPSO conference this week. It was a treat to share Anchorage and the UAA: University of Alaska Anchorage campus (and its wandering moose) with our community of university public service organizations.

Safe travels and see you all next year!

The PPMC is excited to share that Misty, James, and Christian have landed safely in Anchorage, Alaska for CUPSO 2026!

Huge thank you to UAA Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) for being such wonderful hosts already. We are looking forward to a great week of learning, collaboration, and connecting with colleagues from across the country.

Stay tuned for more updates from Alaska throughout the week!

Thank you to the Anchorage Assembly for recognizing ISER's 65th Anniversary this week. Assembly members passed and approved a resolution commemorating our 65 years of public service to the State of Alaska. We're honored for the recognition from the Municipality of Anchorage Clerk's Office and proud of the work we continue to provide for the Municipality of Anchorage and to all of Alaska.

CUPSO 2026, we’re ready for you! 🙌

Yesterday afternoon, PPMC Financial Specialist Christian Holley and Strategic Initiatives Manager James Roberts previewed what they will be presenting at the Consortium of University Public Service Organizations next week in Anchorage, Alaska: a deep dive on how the PPMC has adapted to leaps of growth over the past 7 years, as well as the management systems keeping us on track. The result? Less burnout, stronger retention, and a more efficient team all around.

We are so excited to share photos from their trip to CUPSO next week! Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER)

Today’s "Talk of Alaska" was all about ISER. Hear how economics research affects everyone in Alaska on the hour-long episode from Alaska Public Media.

Get to know our history, impact, and importance as we gear up for our 65th Anniversary Celebration at ISER. Listen to a rebroadcast tonight at 8 p.m. on KSKA 91.1 or anytime on the Alaska Public Media website: https://alaskapublic.org/programs/talk-of-alaska/2026-05-12/65-years-of-icer-talk-of-alaska

While New Zealand and Antarctica have strict biosecurity measures, Alaska doesn’t. Tourists can unknowingly introduce invasive species on their boots and bags and more. 🌱🦀

Invasives create nearly $6 million in economic damage for Alaska each year. A new ISER study checked in with Alaska tourists in Nome, Seward, and Anchorage to gauge their existing knowledge of invasive species. The recently published results can inform future policies on tourism.

Read the full report, and the nuances of invasive species mitigation in a warming state, in an open-access article from the journal “Biological Invasions:” https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10530-026-03801-x

The countdown has begun: We're excited to welcome our community to Anchorage for the 2026 Consortium of University Public Service Organizations (CUPSO) Conference! 🐏 This annual event gathers public service researchers from across the country to share successes and shape future research.

See you in AK this May at UAA: University of Alaska Anchorage!

One in four structures in Fairbanks is at high or very high risk of burning in a wildfire, according to new ISER research.

The study, led by ISER co-author Jennifer Schmidt, categorized the number of structures at risk of wildfires in , , and . The project team developed their modeling tool after several years of public engagement, funded in part by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

The research incorporates city-specific data like vegetation, building footprints, and zoning policies to give and residents straightforward and understandable risk analysis. By mapping the overlap of people and forests, the new study can help communities obtain mitigation funding and allow residents to plan for disasters.

The new research is published open-access and available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13753-026-00716-y