ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ

Courses:

Fall:  NRM 380 - Soils and the Environment
Spring: NRM 210 - Sustainable Agriculture

Courses:


NRM 101 - Natural Resources Conservation & Policy
NRM 290 - Resource Management at High Latitudes
NRM 365 - Principles of Outdoor Recreation Management
NRM 469/669 - Survery Research in Natural Resources Management

Research Interests:

• Human dimensions of natural resource management
• Quantitative survey research methods
• Outcomes-Focused Management
• Recreation planning
• Natural resource based tourism

Dr. Fix’s recent research has focused on advancing the methodology of applying Outcomes-Focused Management to land managed by the USDI Bureau of Land Management.

Current research programs:

• Outcomes-focused management studies for the USDI Bureau of Land Management in ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ.   This research program assesses the outcomes desired from recreation taking place on lands managed by the BLM Fairbanks District Office.   The information from the studies will be utilized when the BLM develops Resource Management Plans for those areas.
• Outcomes-Focused Management field guide.   This project will develop a BLM manual for their staff who need to apply Outcomes-Focused Management as part of the recreation planning process.   The manual will be adopted at the national level within the BLM.
• Connecting to communities.   This project will assist the BLM, Fairbanks District Office in implementing their new recreation strategy that requires increased attention to the health and economic needs of local communities.  
• Sport Hunting in Noatak National Preserve .  This project assists the National Park Service in addressing conflict between non-local hunters and local subsistence hunters in the Noatak National Preserve.  Non-local sport hunters were surveyed and asked their perceptions of the hunt, conflict, and potential management actions.

Examples of research support:

• "ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ Resident Statistics Program", AK Dept of Transportation, USDA Forest Service, USDI National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, $60,500, 2003 - present.
• "Visitor Preferences for Interpretation at Wrangell - St. Elias N.P.", USDI National Park Service, $10,000, 2004.

Recent peer-reviewed publications:

Fix, P. J., Carroll, J., & Harrington, A. M. (2013). Visitor Experiences across recreation settings: A management or measurement issue?   Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 3-4, 28-35

Fix, P. J. & Harrington, A. M. (2012). Measuring motivations as a method of mitigating social values conflict. Human Dimensions of Wildlife,17, 1-9.

Fix P. J.   & Taylor, S. C. (2011). Generalizability of a Cluster Solution Over Time: Results from a Visitor Study at the Kennecott National Historic Landmark. Journal of Leisure Research, 43(2), 246-267.

Fix, P. J., Teel. T. L., Manfredo, M. J., & Stewart, S. S.   (2010). Assessing acceptance of wildlife management tradeoffs: a case study of elk and vegetation management in Rocky Mountain National Park. Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 15(6), 405-417.

Recent project reports:

Fix, P. J. (2013). Recreation Use on the Fortymile Wild and Scenic River, Summer 2013. Fairbanks, ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ: Department of Humans and the Environment, School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences, University of ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ Fairbanks.

Wright, R.B & Fix, P. J. (2013). Steese Highway Corridor Summer 2011 Benefits Based Management Study, Executive Summary. Fairbanks, ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ: Department of Humans and the Environment, School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences, University of ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ Fairbanks.

Fix, P. J., A. Ackerman, & G. Fay. (2013). 2011 Denali National Park and Preserve visitor characteristics. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/AKR/NRTR—2013/669. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Fix, P. J., Ackerman, A. & Fay, G. (2012). Estimating visits to Denali National Park and Preserve: Spring/Summer 2011. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/AKR/NRTR—2012/641. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Fix, P. J., Padilla, E. S., Lingle, E. (2012). Steese Highway Corridor Benefits Based Management Study, Summer 2011. Fairbanks, ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ: Department of Humans and the Environment, School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences, University of ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ Fairbanks

Fix, P. J. (2011). Iditarod National Historic Trail Travel Analysis. Report for USDI Bureau of Land Management. Fairbanks, ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ: Department of Humans and the Environment, School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences, University of ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ Fairbanks.

Lingle, E.G & Fix, P.J. (2011). Bering Sea and Western Interior Land Use Study. Report for USDI Bureau of Land Management. Fairbanks, ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ: Department of Humans and the Environment, School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences, University of ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ Fairbanks.

Fix, P. J. &   Hatcher, H. (2011). Monitoring indicators of the visitor experience and resource conditions in the Denali backcountry: Summer 2010. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/DENA/NRTR—2011/480. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.

See Dr. Fix's full vitae here.

Courses:

NRM210 - Sustainable Agriculture

NRM106 - Orientation to Natural Resources Management

NRM211 - Applied Plant Science

NRM212 – Greenhouse Management

Research interests:

• Greenhouse-, high tunnel- and controlled environment crop production
• Plant growth in response to light intensity, quality, day length and the use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
• Energy efficient production techniques in greenhouse- and season extension environments
• Crop growth, development and productivity under large high latitude seasonal variations in temperatures, light levels and day lengths
• Development of guidelines to optimize vegetable, small fruit and floral crop production

• Environmental plant physiology as it applies to commercial horticulture at high latitudes

 Current research programs:

• ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ high tunnel, greenhouse and controlled environment production  (USDA-Hatch, 2013-2017) 
• Controlled environment horticulture for ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ  (USDA-Hatch, 2007-2013)
• Develop and integrate components for commercial greenhouses (NE-1035 multi-state project, 08-13)
• Controlled environment use and technology  (NCERA-101 multi-state project, 2011-2016)
• Resource management in commercial greenhouses  (NE-1335 multi-state project, 2013-2018)

Examples of publications:

• Karlsson, M. 2014. Grafted vegetable transplants for earliness and productivity during northern field seasons. HortScience 49(9):S287.
• Karlsson, M. 2014.  Controlling the greenhouse environment. University of ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ Fairbanks, School of Natural Resources and Extension, Cooperative Extension Service HGA-00336.
• Karlsson, M. and J. Dawe. 2014. What are the implications of your research? Starting the Broader Impacts conversation in ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ. Agroborealis 44:46-47.
• NRM 692. 2013. Broader Impacts. What potential does your work have to make our world better? AFES Miscellaneous Publication MP 2013-07.
• Karlsson, M. and C. Willingham. 2013. Field performance of transplants using light emitting diodes. HortScience 48(9):S41.
• Karlsson, M. 2012. Using light emitting diodes for early development of flowering plants. HortScience 47(9):S336.
• Karlsson, M. and J. Werner. 2011. High tunnel covering materials for northern field production. International Society of Horticultural Science. Acta Horticulturae 893:1333-1339.
• Werner, J., Y. Okada and M. Karlsson. 2011. Using light emitting diodes in high latitude greenhouse production Acta Horticulturae 907:287-290.
• Calhoun, K. and M. Karlsson. 2011. Growing apples in interior ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ, suitable varieties for cold climates. Cooperative Extension Service, Univ. of ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ Fairbanks, HGA-00043.
• Neely, H.L., R.T. Koenig, C.A. Miles, T.C. Koenig, and M.G. Karlsson. 2010. Diurnal fluctuation in nitrate concentration of field-grown leafy greens at two latitudes. HortScience 45:1815-1818.
• Karlsson, M. and J. Werner. 2009. Hydroponic greenhouse lettuce production in subarctic conditions using geothermal heat and power. Acta Horticulturae 843:275-281.
• Karlsson, M. and J. Werner. 2009. Snap bean yield and photosynthesis during twilight extended field conditions. HortScience 44:1127.
• Hanks, C., G. Holdmann, A. Byrd, D. Witmer, M. Karlsson, D. Pride, V. Fay, M. Stuefer, R. Ganguli and P. Metz. 2009. Assessment of CO2 sequestration options and other environmental impacts related to the proposed coal-to-liquids facility at Eielson Air Force Base. Prepared for the U.S. Air Force by the Geophysical Institute and the ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ Center for Energy and Power, University of ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ Fairbanks.
• Karlsson, M. and J. Werner. 2008. Early day length sensitivity in sunflower. HortScience 43:1261-1262.
• Karlsson, M. and J. Werner. 2008. Modified field environments for high latitude crop production, p. 64. International Meeting on Controlled Environment Agriculture. Cocoa Beach, Florida.
• Palestro, J., B. Nilsson, J. Frank, M. Karlsson, R. Moe, A. Pehkonen, C.J. Westman, D-L. Wulfsohn, A. Torgersen Daae, O. Frykman, I. Christiansen, J. Öhlund, V. Shahedi and M. Zanzi. 2007. Utvärdering av skogliga, trädgÃ¥rdsvetenskapliga och teknologiska utbildningar samt utbildning till djursjukvÃ¥rdare vid Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet Ã¥r 2006. Högskoleverkets rapportserie 2007:II R, Högskoleverket (Swedish National Agency for Higher Education), Stockholm, Sweden.
• Rader, H.B. and M.G. Karlsson. 2006. Northern field production of leaf and romaine lettuce using a high tunnel. HortTechnology 16:649-654.
• Karlsson, M. 2006. Greenhouse tomato production for ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ. Agroborealis 38(1):28-30.
• Leiner, R., H. Geier and M. Karlsson. 2006. Restaurant interviews to determine demand for baby greens in ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ. AFES Miscell. Public. 2006-02. Ag. and Forestry Expt Station, Univ. of ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ Fairbanks.
• Karlsson, M. and J. Werner. 2005. Lettuce transplants growth in response to media surface color. International Society of Horticultural Science. Acta Horticulturae 711:139-143.
• Karlsson, M. and J. Werner. 2005. Daylength effects on container crops. Greenhouse Product News 15:38-40.

I received my undergraduate academic training in India, and graduate academic training in India and the U.S.A. My current research is focused on improving the understanding of rapidly evolving permafrost dynamics in ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ with an ultimate goal of predicting the response of permafrost to climate change, and its effect on the Arctic systems. I use a variety of techniques to study the complex permafrost dynamics that range from detailed ground observations to modeling using information derived from remotely sensed images. My research is vital to address some of the urgent climate change issues affecting ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵn land, water and people through changes in permafrost such as dramatic changes in surface hydrology, vegetation, forest fires, and wildlife habitats. These changes are not only affecting Arctic environment but also the subsistence resources and subsistence lifestyle of ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵns.

Courses:

HONR/NRM 125: Our Changing Climate
NRM 111X: Introduction to Sustainability Science

Courses:

• NRM 647 Sustainability in the Changing North

Research Interests

Sarah Trainor is an expert in climate change assessment and adaptation in ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ with specific emphasis on climate and wildfire science communication, application, and stakeholder engagement. Her research interests include human dimensions of global change, especially in the Arctic and northern latitudes and building resilience and workforce development in rural ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ. She communicates scientific information to inform planning and decision making in climate change adaptation and natural resource management.

Current research programs

• Director, ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ Center for Climate Assessment & Preparedness
• Director, ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ Fire Science Consortium

 

Examples of research support

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2024. Building Capacity for ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ Native Engagement and Science Communication in ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ. PI: S.F. Trainor, Co-Is: A. Herrmann and N. Kettle. 5 years. $1,169,525.
• USDA Hatch Regular. 2023. Research, Capacity Building, and Training for Bridging Climate Adaptation, Workforce Development, and Food Security in Indigenous Communities in ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ. PI: S.F. Trainor. 5 years. $500,000.
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2022. Assessing Fiscal Pathways for Meeting the Climate Adaptation Needs of Rural ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵn Tribes. PI: Adelheid Herrmann, Co-I: S F Trainor. 2 years. $150,000.
• National Science Foundation. 2022. Planning Grant: Moving Forward Together - Transforming Arctic Geosciences for ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ Native Sovereignty and Science. PI: Sarah F Trainor, Co-Is: R. Collins, R. Grapenthin, D. Mekiana, J. Sam. 2.5 years. $300,000.
• United States Geological Survey. 2022. Co-producing climate research and adaptation through partnerships with ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ Native communities. PI: Sarah F Trainor, Co-I: E. Figus. 2 years. $200,000.
• Joint Fire Science Program. 2022. The ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ Fire Science Consortium: Bridging Science and Management In a Rapidly Changing North. 2 years. $524,000.
• Joint Fire Science Program. 2021. The ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ Fire Science Consortium: Meeting the Needs and Challenges of Wildfire Managers in ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ. PI: Sarah F Trainor. 1 year. $202,000.
• Joint Fire Science Program. 2019. The ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ Fire Science Consortium: Meeting the Needs and Challenges of Wildfire Managers in ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ. PI: Sarah F Trainor. 2 years. $404,000.
• National Science Foundation. 2021. Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH). PI: B. Kelly. Co-Is: V. Metcalf, J. Schaeffer, S. Trainor, E. Marino, G. Kling. 5 years. $7,289,195.
• National Science Foundation, 2021. Doctoral Dissertation Research: Understanding the Role of Boundary Spanners in Arctic Co-production of Knowledge Research. PI: S.F. Trainor. Co-I: Margaret Rudolf, Graduate Student. 1 year. $61,916.
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2021. The ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP): Building healthy and thriving ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵn communities, economies, and ecosystems in a changing climate. Co-PIs: S. Trainor and N. Kettle, Co-I J. Walsh. 5 years. $6,212,620.
• ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ Conservation Foundation. 2021. Innovation in Wildfire Management Under Changing Climate: Workshop for the Yukon-Flats National Wildlife Refuge. PI: S. Trainor. 1 year. $60,000.

 

Recent peer-reviewed publications

Figus, S. Friday, J. O’Connor, J. McDonald, C. James, S. F. Trainor, M. H. C. Rudolf, N. O’Connor. (2025) Sharing our story to build our future: a case study of evaluating a partnership for co-produced research in Southeast ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ. Community Science.

Rudolf, M. S. F. Trainor, J. O’Connor, E. Figus, R. Humm. (2025) Multi-faceted perspectives of success: factors to achieving co-production of knowledge across cultures. Community Science.

Abdel-Fattah, D., M. Danielson, L. Ekenberg, R. Hock, S. Trainor. (2023) Application of a structured decision-making process in cryospheric hazard planning: case study of Bering Glacier surges on local state planning in ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ. Journal of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis. .

Kettle N.P. Kettle, S. F. Trainor, R. Edwards, D. Antrobus, C. Baranowski, T. Buxbaum, K. Berry, M. Brubaker, K. L. DeLong, S. Fries, D. Holen, B. Keim, D. Meeker, H. Penn, C. Rosa, R. Thoman, J. Walsh, J. Zhang. (2023) Building resilience to extreme weather and climate events in the rural water and wastewater sectors. Journal of the American Water Resources Association.

Figus, E.C., B. K. Jackson, S.F. Trainor. (2022) The Kake Climate Partnership: Implementing a knowledge co-production framework to provide climate services in Southeast ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ. Frontiers in Climate. DOI 10.3389/fclim.2022.885494

Brown, C. L., S. F. Trainor, C. N. Knapp and N. P. Kettle. (2021) ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵn wild food harvester information needs and climate adaptation strategies. Ecology and Society 26 (2):44. [online] URL:

Abdel-Fattah D., S. Trainor, E. Hood, R. Hock, C. Kienholz. (2021) User Engagement in Developing Use-Inspired Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Decision Support Tools in Juneau and the Kenai Peninsula, ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ. Frontiers in Earth Science. Vol 9: 224. DOI:10.3389/feart.2021.635163.     

Colavito, M., S.F. Trainor, N. Kettle, A. York (2019) Making the Transition from Science Delivery to Knowledge Co-Production in Boundary Spanning: A Case Study of the ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ Fire Science Consortium. Weather, Climate, and Society. DOI: 10.1175/WCAS-D-19-0009.1