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Traditional Knowledge (TK) from Native American/Alaska Native (NA/AN) communities is often met with dismissive attitudes due to its perceived qualitative nature, however, careful examination of what TK represents, and how it formed, leads to the realization that TK is a mixture of qualitative, quantitive, and spiritual knowledge utilizing the same rigor as western science. TK represents knowledge about place, historical insight, and spiritual beliefs with a longstanding and tested understanding about terrestrial and aquatic systems. Theoretical positioning of this study supports the ideology that providing NA/AN students with culturally aligned educational opportunities creates equitable and inclusive learning environments, thereby increasing sense of identity and belonging. We present focus group data collected from two national conferences focused on success of NA/AN students in geoscience. Using a small discussion group format respondents were asked to consider: (1) How do you define science?, (2) How do you define TK?, and (3) What does coupling TK and science mean to you? Our findings revealed a holistic definition of science using typical (e.g., biology, geology, etc.) and atypical (e.g., social science, cultural identity, equity) descriptors. These findings emphasize the importance of developing culturally

We provide nanoscale evidence of the role of sheath exopolymers in the silicification of the sheathed cyanobacteria Calothrix. Electron microscope observations of silicified Calothrix cells revealed that silica accretes directly onto EPS sheath fibrils to produce an open web of silica particles that could remain permeable to nutrients and waste products. We also found that silicified Calothrix cells from different microhabitats contained morphologically distinct silica particles. Differences in silicification texture suggest that environmental variables may influence silicification at the nanoscale. We develop a framework based on aggregation kinetics to address silicification processes in Calothrix and other sheathed cyanobacteria.

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