Indigenous traditional knowledge of the lands, waters, sky, and long been dismissed by Western science as anecdote , mythology, or even superstition. But thanks to the efforts of Indigenous and non-Native scientists and educators, that perspective is changing.

It’s not much of an exaggeration to say that a single question changed the direction of Joshua John’s life. He was studying for his undergradu­ate physics degree at Northern Arizona University when he took a quantum mechanics class. “I asked the professor how this would be used and what the applica­tions were,” recalls John, who graduated in 2005. “My professor said those are questions an engineer asks, not a physicist. He encour­aged me to go into engineer­ing after graduating.”

Deanna Burgart’s decision to change careers came about suddenly and unexpectedly. She was attending a luncheon for women in the oil and gas industry when one of the speakers quoted author Steve Farber. “She said, ‘Do what you love in the service of people who love what you do,’” remembers Burgart. “I burst into tears. I realized I wasn’t doing either.”

You’ve heard it before: getting solid internship experiences on your resume is important. And with good reason — internships provide practical workplace exposure and marketable job skills, not to mention a chance to find a mentor, earn glowing letters of reference, and maybe even come away with a full-time job offer

Sam Low stands in awe of his ancestors — and he isn’t alone. “They possessed ships that were capable of traveling the world,” says Low, an anthropologist, filmmaker, photographer, and lifelong sailor.

The busy North Star AISES Alliance and Professional Chapter (NSAAP) has a big reach, representing professional members all over the Upper Midwest (Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Nebraska, and Illinois), as well as the province of Manitoba in Canada. The chapter is a leader in promoting the AISES mission and supporting STEM in Native communities throughout Region 5. In addition to having fun, members find a lot of satisfaction in what they achieve together.

Everyone wants a job that is personally satisfying and improves the world. Few career paths offer as many different ways to achieve both objectives as geoscience.

A map can speak many languages, reach many audiences — and significantly support the stewardship of natural resources. Where geospatial data is needed, geographic information systems (GIS) are an important tool for building maps that locate information related to flora and fauna, cultural preservation, and recreation, among other applications. 

One of the newest advisory councils at AISES, the Canadian Indigenous Advisory Council (CIAC, pronounced “kayak”) supports the Board, staff, councils, and committees with insights about issues important to AISES members, and the entire Indigenous STEM community, in Canada. The council promotes the mission of increasing representation of Indigenous people in STEM across Canada, while helping the organization better serve all Canadian members and maintain relationships with corporate and postsecondary stakeholders.

Whether you’re a pre-college student or a post-doc, you’re not traveling solo. There are many people ready to offer advice, academic help, even tips on finding money for school. In the case of some of these people — who actually work for your school — their job is to get you whatever help you need.