Impacts and Responses: Cruise ships and Northern Communities

UAS Evening at Egan Fall Lecture Series Continues November 10.

Juneau, Alaska

Date of Press Release: November 6, 2023

NOTE: This event takes place in the Egan Lecture Hall (not the library), and because of the film’s copyright this event will not be live-streamed. Dr. Powell’s talk will be recorded and posted after the event.

In his presentation “Impacts and Responses: Cruise ships and Northern Communities” Dr. Jim Powell, UAS Assistant Research Professor, will briefly speak about how the burgeoning cruise ship tourism industry has impacted coastal communities. How do communities benefit and what are the impacts from cruise tourism? A multidisciplinary research team, funded by the National Science Foundation, will present their findings about Juneau’s cruise industry. A new documentary film “Cruise Boom”, set in Sitka (created by Ellen Frankenstein and Atman Mehta) will follow the talk and raise questions relevant to Southeast communities and beyond. How can communities shape tourism? How can mass tourism become regenerative?

Carin Silkaitis, Dean of Arts & Sciences, remarks, "Dr. Jim Powell's presentation delves into the impacts of cruise ship tourism on our coastal communities, providing indispensable perspectives on how we can cultivate sustainable growth and strike a harmonious equilibrium between economic gains and environmental conservation. Moreover, it encourages us to challenge the conventional notion of 'sustainability,' which has sometimes been distorted to uphold extractive economic growth that prioritizes wealth accumulation over the health of our natural surroundings.”

NOTE: This event is anticipated to last 90 minutes due to the screening of the documentary film.

All Evening at Egan lectures are scheduled for 7p.m. and are free and open to the public. View the full schedule. Recorded lectures can be found on the UAS Youtube Channel.

Upcoming Final Fall Lecture

Winter Fire Showcase featuring UAS Arts & Sciences Faculty

December 8

UAS Arts & Sciences faculty will come together to present a mesmerizing fusion of creativity and scholarly excellence and encourage a conversation about our community's rich and diverse artistry. Our Creative Showcase is a testament to the power of imagination and inquiry, and we do not doubt that our audience will leave the event with a renewed sense of wonder and a deep appreciation for the myriad ways in which creativity and scholarship intertwine. So please mark your calendars, spread the word, and join us for an evening that promises to be intellectually invigorating and artistically inspiring.

Featuring:

• Carin Silkaitis, MFA, Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences
• Emily Wall, MFA, Professor of English
• Ernestine Hayes, MFA, Professor of English, Emerita; Rasmuson Distinguished Artist 2021; and Marie Darlin Award Recipient 2021.
• Lily Hope, Tlingit Artist, Weaving and Textiles