Photo courtesy of Cornell AISES chapter member Ho'ohila Kawelo
Cornell University hosted a two-day conference focused on ‘Sovereignty in Science’ that included presentations, speakers, and an ice cream social for students to meet each other and learn about AISES. About 80 participants attended from a number of universities. Some of the sessions included: "Muts’ispa - Geochemistry and Traditional Stewardship at Yellowstone National Park," "Indigenous Hawaiian Aquaculture —Heʻeia Fispond," "Operationalizing Tribal Sovereignty as a Tool for Understanding the Decisions of Students in STEM Education," and "The Unrecognized STEM of Native America." A community gathering followed the closing of the conference, featuring traditional foods by Angela Ferguson and a singing group led by Chris Thomas.
Region 6 attendees shared and learned at sessions during the conference.
PHOTO COURTESY OF HO'OHILA KAWELO
Traditional foods were served at a community gathering following the conference.
The highlights below were pulled from Cornell's AISES Chapter's Instagram: @aisescornell
On day one, attendees headed to the labs at the Teaching Barn, mechanical aerospace engineering, and in entomology across campus with our high school student population. Many thanks to Krissia Tuzroyluk for the conference design that mimics our theme, "Sovereignty in Science."
Dr. Evelyn Galban, a Washoe and Mono Lake Paiute woman, is a distinguished alumna of Cornell University (Class of '98, '02, '06). Her academic journey began with a degree in general biology, followed by a focused study of an emerging avian disease, culminating in a master's of wildlife science degree.
She pursued her passion for veterinary medicine, embarking on a journey that led her to a small animal internship at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital and eventually to a residency in Neurology and Neurosurgery at the University of Pennsylvania.
Returning to Penn Vet after private practice, Dr. Galban is now an associate professor and the section chief of Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery. She is the director of house officers and associate medical director at Penn Vet's Ryan Hospital. Her expertise and research interests span a broad spectrum, encompassing 3D medicine, cutting-edge minimally invasive brain and spinal cord surgical techniques, the exploration of biomarkers for central nervous system diseases, and the fascinating realm of comparative and clinical neurology within zoological settings.
Beyond her pioneering work in the field of veterinary medicine, Dr. Galban is also celebrated as the founder of the Native American Veterinary Association, demonstrating her commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within the profession.
Above: Cannon Cline ’25, center, of the Nanticoke tribe and co-president of the Cornell AISES chapter, accompanies prospective Indigenous high school students on a lab tour.
photo by Noël Heaney/Cornell University
The conference was covered in the Cornell Chronicle. An article titled "Through community, Indigenous students thrive in STEM" by Caitlin Hayes recapped the AISES regional conference and shared an Indigenous perspective on community care and the STEM space at Cornell. Read the article here.
Nanticoke tribe member and Cornell AISES chapter co-president, Cannon Cline ’25 was quoted in the piece, saying "A big thing that was instilled in me was a sense of responsibility and kinship with the environment and the community at-large, to treat our lands and waters and surroundings with the same respect and love and care you would treat your own family."
Taylor Heaton, Tlingit people of Southeast Alaska and AISES events chair, Cornell class of '24 attended an outreach event for prospective Indigenous high school students.
Photo by Noël Heaney/Cornell University
