Karletta Chief facts for kids

Karletta Chief is a scientist who studies water, called a hydrologist. She is from the Navajo Nation, also known as the Diné people. Karletta is famous for helping to clean up pollution on the Navajo Nation. She also works to encourage more Native American students to study science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). She teaches at the University of Arizona.

Karletta Chief's Education

Karletta Chief went to Stanford University for her first two degrees. She earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and a Master of Science (M.S.). Her studies focused on civil and environmental engineering.

Later, she earned her PhD in 2007 from the University of Arizona. Her PhD was in hydrology and water resources. Today, she is a professor at the same university where she got her PhD.

Karletta Chief's Career and Research

One of Karletta Chief's main goals is to help Indigenous communities. She works on problems related to food, energy, and water. She tries to find solutions that also respect traditional values of these communities.

Helping After the Gold King Mine Spill

Karletta Chief has done important research on the 2015 Gold King Mine spill. This spill affected many people on the Navajo Nation. Her studies helped communities understand the effects of the disaster.

She often gives talks in the Navajo language to farmers, ranchers, and families. She explains how pollution and mining waste can affect them. Karletta believes her scientific work is deeply connected to who she is. She once said, "my identity is water-based [from the Bitter Water Clan]. And so that motivates me to do the work that I do."

Featured in Films

Karletta Chief was featured in a short film in 2018. This film was made by Science Friday. She was also interviewed for a documentary called Hacking at Leaves.

Awards and Honors

Karletta Chief has received many awards for her important work.

• In 2011, she was named "Most Promising Engineer/Scientist" by the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES).
• She was recognized as a "Distinguished Alumni Scholar" by Stanford University in 2013.
• In 2015, she was on the "Native American 40 Under 40" list. This list highlights young Native American leaders.
• AISES named her "Professional of the Year" in 2016.
• The Phoenix Indian Center honored her as "Woman of the Year" in 2016.
• She was a featured speaker at the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Native Americans in STEM (SACNAS) in 2019.
• She received the Ambassador Award in 2020.
• She is also a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union.