DAY 1 | 2:45-3:45pm | BALLROOM E
| WAI ALLEN (Navajo/Diné), Indigenous Geography Postdoctoral Researcher at Haskell Foundation/Haskell Indian Nations University
Convergence research are critical areas for Indigenous communities to address pressing societal needs by engaging with an intellectually diverse cohort of researchers. In convergence research spaces, Indigenous knowledges and western knowledge systems can intermingle to develop new approaches to problem solving. The recently funded Rising Voices, Changing Coasts Hub, a large-scale, 5-year project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) engages in convergence research between earth scientists (social, ecosystem, and physical) and coastal Indigenous communities from four regions (Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Puerto Rico) with a focus on climate change research. This interdisciplinary approach includes data science, governance, and climate science that can influence the self-determination of coastal Indigenous communities. In these spaces, topics of Indigenous data sovereignty and governance in the earth sciences are critical in developing and maintaining respectful relations with Indigenous communities, uplifting Indigenous voices, and fostering an encouraging environment for the co-creation of projects to meet societal needs. Emerging questions in this project include how do federally funded projects from entities like the NSF uphold Indigenous data sovereignty principles and how does relevant research develop between western scientists and Indigenous communities? This presentation explores aspects of using geospatial data visualization as a tool to connect ideas in a cross-cultural and multidisciplinary environment.