Karletta Chief

Karletta Chief is a Diné hydrologist, best known for her work to address environmental pollution on the Navajo Nation and increase the participation of Native Americans in STEM.

Karletta Chief
CitizenshipNavajo Nation, American
Alma materStanford University (BS, MS}
University of Arizona (PhD)
Scientific career
FieldsHydrology
Pollution on the Navajo Nation
ThesisSoil Air Permeability and Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity: Development of Soil Corer Air Permeameter, Post-fire Soil Physical Changes, and 3D Air Flow Model in Anisotropic Soils (2007)

Education

Chief earned her B.S. and M.S. in civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University. She completed her PhD in hydrology and water resources at the University of Arizona in 2007, where she is now a faculty member.[1]

Career

One of Chief's research interests is addressing food, energy and water challenges in Indigenous communities with methods that include their traditional values.[2] In particular, she has researched the impacts of the 2015 Gold King Mine spill on residents of the Navajo Nation. Her research regarding the effects of the Gold King spill have aided several communities affected by the disaster.[3] As part of this work, Chief gives public presentations in the Navajo language, especially to farmers, ranchers, and families who are affected by pollution and mining waste.[4] She has said that her scientific research and her identity are closely linked, telling Science Friday, “my identity is water-based [from the Bitter Water Clan]. And so that motivates me to do the work that I do.”[5]

Chief was featured in a short film produced by Science Friday in 2018.[4][5]

Selected awards and honors

Selected publications
  • Chief, K., R. E. Emanuel, and O. Conroy-Ben (2019), Indigenous symposium on water research, education, and engagement, Eos, 100, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019EO114313. Published on 24 January 2019.[8]

References
  1. "Celebrating Women in STEM: Dr. Karletta Chief - University News |". info.umkc.edu. Retrieved 2019-10-29.
  2. Litvack, Emily (2019-09-25). "Students Tackle 21st Century Sustainability Challenges on the Navajo Nation". University of Arizona News. Retrieved 2019-10-29.
  3. Shinn, Mary (2016-08-05). "Navajo researcher leads search for answers about contamination". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  4. "Karletta Chief featured in Science Friday film (Environmental Factor, April 2018)". National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Retrieved 2019-10-29.
  5. "Bitter Water". Science Friday. Retrieved 2019-10-29.
  6. "2016 AISES Professional of the Year Award Winners Announced". AISES. 2016-08-24. Retrieved 2019-10-29.
  7. "Keynote Speakers – SACNAS". Retrieved 2019-10-29.
  8. "Indigenous Symposium on Water Research, Education, and Engagement". Eos. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-29.
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