Joanna Young
Dr.听Joanna听Young听is an interdisciplinary scientist and educator whose work lies at the intersection of Earth science, environmental education, and diversity, equity, and inclusion in science and the outdoors. Dr. Young听earned a PhD and Masters in Geophysics with a focus in Glaciology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and is currently a听听at the International Arctic Research Center. Dr.听Young鈥檚 research has focused broadly on how Alaska鈥檚 glaciers are losing mass in climate change and impacting downstream hydrology, changes that have repercussions for socio-ecological system elements as broad as terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem health, downstream infrastructure, and community freshwater availability.
In addition, Dr.听Young听also serves as the Director of听, a science education program of the International Arctic Research Center that offers unique, tuition-free, backcountry expeditions that combine science, art, and outdoor exploration. The expeditions welcome participants with gender identities marginalized in science and the outdoors, and build teams with a diversity of geographic, cultural, socioeconomic, and family backgrounds. Dr.听Young听co-founded the flagship UAF glacier-based expedition Girls* on Ice Alaska, and has to date published two peer-reviewed articles on successful aspects and outcomes of the expeditions.听听
Some of Dr.听Young鈥檚 recent projects include serving as an e Scientist-in-Residency Fellow at the听, content expert behind the Juneau Composers Consortium '' project, and participant in the inaugural听听leadership expedition for global women in science. Altogether,听Joanna's work has the unifying goal of using research and education as vehicles for social justice and inclusion towards environmental sustainability. Her work has earned her the 2022 Alaska Conservation Foundation鈥檚 Jerry S. Dixon award for Excellence in Environmental Education.听
Growing up, Dr.听Young听spent her childhood summers in an off-road cabin in Ontario, Canada, which sparked her fascination and deep love for the natural world. She now lives in Fairbanks, Alaska with her husband and two听young听children, and spends her free time with her family exploring the woods or mountains by foot, ski, or boat.