User Forum Summary for 2023

Toolik hosted three User Forums in the 2023 field season – in late June, July and August. At least 50 people attended at least one forum, including 19 staff and 31 users, more than last year. More were in attendance but not recorded by notetakers.

First Forum held on June 26, 2023

Attendees (36 total): (21 users) Jason Dobkowski, Jansen Nipko, Ali Malik, Riley Peterson, Luca Keon, Jonathan Hatala, Kyla Morris, Nathan LaFramboise, Kyoko Okano, Megan Alberding, Amelia Grose, Abby Rec, Bjorn Larson, Lorenzo Tonin, Marcel Vaz, Vasudha Chaturvedi, Ruby An, Lexy Salinas, Michael Piatt, Ilaria Bonfanti, Francesco Grifoni

(15 staff & management) Haley Dunleavy, Justin Johnson, Sallie Anderson, Scout Wise, Mary Stack, Abby Jackson, Steven Hickey, Paul Baker, Faye Ethridge, Marin Kuizenga, Scott Fillipone, Joe Franich, Syndonia Bret-Harte, Marvin Jazrawi, Mike Reynolds

Second Forum held on July 28, 2023

Attendees (17 total): (12 users) Jansen Nipko, Tori Hebert, Vanessa Lau, Jessie Motes, Ali Malik, Lexy Salinas, Sunniva Sheffield, Kyla Morris, Riley Peterson, Luca Keon, Vasudha Chaturvedi, Jonathan Hatala

(5 staff & management) Mike Reynolds, Amanda Young, Randy Fulweber, Marvin Jazrawi, Abby Jackson,

Third Forum held on August 25, 2023

Attendees (22 total): (15 users) Jason Dobkowski, Brandon Yokeley, Jesse Palmer, Marcel Vaz, Vasudha Chaturvedi, Derek Jolley, Kyoko Okano, Ben Jones, Ben Toth, Lorenzo Tonin, Amelia Grose, Tori Hebert, Abby Rec, Cameron Jones, Ali Malik

(7 staff & management) Amanda Young, Justin Johnson, Mayra Melendez Gonzalez, Alex Radion, Joe Franich, Gina Carani, Haley Dunleavy (online)

Summary

The forums provided space for TFS to communicate updates on past requests and reminders of policies, like quiet hours, or upcoming efforts, like the demographics & cultural climate survey and fall construction work. Last year, reliable internet was a pressing issue to users. This spring, TFS staff coordinated with UAF OIT on necessary updates and modifications, and users reported being pleased with the improvements.

Three topics arose as high priority for users: mental health resources, washateria shortcomings, and changes to the community liaison. We highlighted the new mental health resources list on our website and brainstormed user suggestions for a pre-departure training or guide. The new washateria was discussed in each user forum, with the station population requesting faster water warming times to stop wasting water, new sink faucets with a manual on-off rather than automatic, towel hooks, shower heads with a shut-off valve and hose. Station managers and maintenance leads provided updates and brainstormed temporary solutions at the July and August forums.

The TFS community was concerned about recent changes making the community liaison a mandatory reporter to UAF Office of Rights, Compliance, and Accountability. Users felt this change left a gap in the reporting system for a confidential resource advocate that is present at the station for some period of time each field season. Our communication and DEI manager will work on this issue this winter with steering committee members and the rest of the TFS management team to explore potential solutions for summer 2024.

Users also requested a winter capable lab with water, updated storage for life vests at dock, boat training during non-work hours, a wider path or boardwalk to the boat dock, a four-point balance, shelf for muffle furnace, extension for SIPRE corer, drill batteries for science workshop, and a laminar flow lab bench with UV light to sterilize.

The kitchen also received a few minor suggestions, calls for more vegetarian meals, and praise.