Indige-FEWSS Features

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Local independent radio station KXCI hosts a regular podcast “Thesis Thursdays” to highlight the “young brilliant students at the University of Arizona.” Indige-FEWSS Trainees are now sharing their research into food-energy-water (FEW) security, environmental justice, and Indigenous food, energy, and water sovereignty. 

Jaclyn Rybin, March 1, 2022

William Borkan, January 31, 2022

Arisbeth Ibarra-Nieblas, December 21, 2021

Marquel Begay, November 11, 2021

Dr. Karletta Chief attended the Nation AISES Conference in Phoenix, Arizona with several Trainees and Undergraduate AISES members. Trainees share the positive impact of participating. 

Nikki Tulley, Indige-FEWSS Trainee, and Ph.D. candidate met Deb Haaland, Secretary of the Interior, at the NASA Landsat 9 launch on September 27, 2021. The Landsat imaging project is a joint effort between NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey to improve Earth observation capabilities and make scientific data freely available to the public.

Congratulations to Manuelito Chief (Diné) on graduating with a Master of Science in Electrical & Computer Engineering. Professor Kelly Simmons-Potter advised Manuelito in her lab at the Tucson Electric Power Test Yard.  Both Manuelito and Professor Simmons-Potter conducted outreach with Navajo students and technicians to deploy the IndigeFEWSS solar nanofiltration (SNF) unit. 

Manuelito participated in graduate celebrations and an interview with Dr. Karletta Chief in May 2021. Watch the interview and learn about Manuelito's research in our Feature article. 

William Borkan is currently an Indige-FEWSS trainee and is a second year Master’s student in the Department of Environmental Science. William is currently serving at the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during his Summer 2021 Internship – this is his story.  

Alexandra “Alex” Trahan is currently an Indige-FEWSS trainee and is a second year Master’s student in the Department of Environmental Science. Alex is currently interning with Sixth World Solutions and immersed on the Navajo Nation this summer living without access to running water or easy access to food – this is her story. 

Sarah Abney is currently an Indige-FEWSStrainee and is a second year Doctoral student in the Department of Environmental Sciences. Sarah had the opportunity to intern with The Peoples Water Board Coalition and the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization in Detroit, Michigan this summer –this is her story.

We are excited to announce our video won TWO awards at the NSF 2021 STEM for All Video Showcase: Facilitator's Choice and Public Choice!

Indige-FEWSS extends our best wishes and congratulations to our 2021 graduates, Manuelito Chief (MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering), Adrianna Nicolay (MS in Water, Society, and Policy) and Rebekah Waller (PhD in Biosystems Engineering). 

Indige-FEWSS wants to extend our best wishes and congratulations to our 2021 graduates, Manuelito Chief (MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering), Adrianna Nicolay (MS in Water, Society, and Policy) and Rebekah Waller (PhD in Biosystems Engineering). 

Mark Clytus is a first-generation Ph.D. student in American Indian Studies with an emphasis in Natural Resource Management and Policy/ Indigenous STEM Education at the University of Arizona. He has been a Trainee with IndigeFEWSS since the start of the program in 2018 and contributes to education and community engagement initiatives.

William Borkan competed in the 2021 Virtual Earth Week EnVision contest and placed 2nd among all graduate student participants for his presentation on Comparing Uranium Transport Through Two Different Porous Media. Borkan is an Indige-FEWSS trainee and Master's student in the School of Environmental Sciences.

The Communicating for Societal Impact Workshop series was held virtually from March 22nd to March 25th. The eight training sessions provided additional resources for Sloan Scholars,  Indige-FEWSS Trainees, and Diné College Bridge to STEAM Scholars to build skills in effective communication and community-engaged research. 

March 1, 2021

A partnership between IndigeFEWSS and Sixth-World Solutions (SWS) has received a $100,000 grant from the Arizona Institutes for Resilience (AIR) entitled “Indigenous resilience: Co-designing and deploying off-grid household solar nanofiltration water systems for remote Navajo communities.”

Jan. 11, 2021

Dr. Karletta Chief is an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Environmental Science at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. Her work focuses on how Indigenous communities will be affected by climate change and how to improve hydrological models to identify and mitigate risks.

Jan. 8, 2021

It is with profound sadness that we share the news of Bill Edward’s passing on January 3, 2021. Bill was an Indige-FEWSS board member and longtime supporter. Bill inspired us with his enthusiasm and dedication, and we will hold his laughter in our hearts.

Dec. 3, 2020

The relationships developed through the Indige-FEWSS partnership with Diné College and Navajo communities has allowed UArizona faculty and students to provide expert advice, technology and donations to support Navajo resiliece during the pandemic.

Dec. 7, 2020

Karletta Chief, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist in the University of Arizona Department of Environmental Science and Principal Investigator for the NSF-NRT “Indige-FEWSS” program, is one of 36 American Geophysical Union honorees this year, receiving the AGU Ambassador Award and a conferred fellowship.

May 21, 2020

Dr. Vasiliki "Vicky" Karanikola, IES Faculty Partner and Assistant Professor of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, was named Early Career Scholar Awardee by the UArizona Office of the Provost. 

Feb. 3, 2020

The NSF "Indigenous Food, Energy & Water Security and Sovereignty" National Research Traineeship partners with the University of Arizona Sloan Indigenous Graduate Partnership to present the Native Voices in STEM seminar series.

March 25, 2019

The NSF-funded Indigenous Food, Energy, and Water Security and Sovereignty (Indige-FEWSS) project, supported by IES, undertook a cultural immersion trip to Navajo Nation from March 4th-8th. The trip was an opportunity to learn from government agencies, tribal colleges and community members about the food, energy and water issues facing Navajo Nation.

Dec. 21, 2018

Titled Indigenous Food, Energy, and Water Security and Sovereignty (Indigi-FEWSS), the goal of this project is to educate and engage students, with an emphasis on recruitment of first-generation and minority students seeking opportunities, to make a difference in developing communities.