Fellowship: Cultural Response of Community Response Preparation and Vulnerability to Future Oil Impacts of the Copper River Region
FY 2010 | 3 – Inform | 10/10/07
Fellowship: Cultural Response of Community Response Preparation and Vulnerability to Future Oil Impacts of the Copper River Region
E. Springer, University of Alaska Fairbanks Contract Term: 07/01/10 – 06/30/11
Award: $46,875
Award: $46,875
Scope of Work:
This fellowship will support Emilie Springer’s project studying cultural connections and oil impacts. The research objectives of this project are to investigate the cultural dimensions of community response preparation and vulnerability to oil impacts of the Copper River region in Prince William Sound. Basic demographic information will be considered but the intention is to focus on cultural connections between individuals and their communities, the knowledge systems people may refer to in the event of a disaster related to oil contamination and the way that information is communicated across community boundaries. Three case studies will be performed: 1) the physical community of Cordova, 2) the occupational community of S01A permit holders, and 3) the institutional community of the Prince William Sound Regional Citizen Advisory Commission.
Research methods for this project are grounded in qualitative social science. They will include: participant observation, focus group interviews, individual interviews, surveys, response mapping and preparation of a final chart to demonstrate knowledge variations within each case-study. Following preliminary fieldwork, a cultural consensus analysis may be applied to one or more of the three cases.
Download Report: 10-10-07-Springer-GRF12.pdf