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Columns from January, 2010 to current are archived on this site. Older columns are available at http://www2.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum. We are working to consolidate all the columns on this new site for your convenience.
UAF names Geophysical Institute director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 26, 2011
CONTACT: Amy Hartley, GI information officer, 907-474-5823, amy [dot] hartley [at] gi [dot] alaska [dot] edu
Fairbanks, Alaska—After a vigorous vetting process, the University of Alaska Fairbanks selected Robert “Bob” McCoy as the Geophysical Institute’s new director. McCoy will be the seventh scientist to the hold the post since the institute was established in Fairbanks in 1946.
PDF DownloadLone wolf goes the distance
By Ned Rozell
Somewhere in the rolling tundra east of Deadhorse, a lone wolf hunts. The 100-pound male will take anything it can catch, or find — a ptarmigan, a darting tundra rodent, a fish, the scraps of a carcass, or, if lucky, a moose calf or caribou. Hunger is a common companion, but the wolf somehow survived when his mate probably died of it last winter.
BP workshop to be held September 13 and 16 for interviews and resume building
What: The College Recruiting Advisor for BP Alaska will lead a Resume/Interview workshop to benefit students of all disciplines applying for all types of professional jobs, not just engineers and geologists applying to BP.
When & Where:
September 13, 5-6:30 p.m. in Duckering 252
September 16, 12-1:30 p.m. in Great Hall
Who should come: Everyone! Students are encouraged to bring resumes with them for feedback from the recruiters.
Alaska Satellite Facility Open House: Celebrating 20 years
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 15, 2011
CONTACT: Amy Hartley, GI information officer, 907-474-5823, amy [dot] hartley [at] gi [dot] alaska [dot] edu
Fairbanks, Alaska—The Geophysical Institute’s Alaska Satellite Facility will celebrate 20 years since the first downlink of images from an earth-observing synthetic aperture radar satellite by hosting an Open House on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011. The event is free and runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on campus.
Unmanned aircraft offer options for wildlife observation
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 29, 2011 CONTACT: Amy Hartley, Geophysical Institute information officer, 907-474-5823, amy [dot] hartley [at] gi [dot] alaska [dot] edu
Fairbanks, Alaska— On a two-day trip to the Aleutians earlier this month, researchers from Poker Flat Research Range evaluated the performance of a new unmanned aircraft system that will be used to monitor Steller sea lions.
University of Alaska unmanned aircraft to assist oil spill response
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 25, 2011
CONTACT: Amy Hartley, Geophysical Institute, 907-474-5823, amy [dot] hartley [at] gi [dot] alaska [dot] edu
Sea ice study goes beyond the numbers
By Ned Rozell
In places where the air gets cold enough to freeze seawater, sea ice creates a world known by few people — a shifting, ephemeral, both jagged and smooth platform of white that clings to the shore for much of the year. In Barrow, people who hunt whales start packing down snowmachine trails over this blue-white dreamscape in March. The trails allow a few dozen crews to pursue and hopefully winch home a few bowhead whales in April and May.
Study of a dying glacier
By Ned Rozell
Yakutat Glacier, near the Alaska town of the same name and flowing from the mountains near the Canada border, calves into a lake as deep as an ocean bay. The icefield that feeds Yakutat is large enough to cover the five boroughs of New York City. Despite its bulk, the glacier is doomed unless we experience a drastic change in climate.
A high-country Eden for sockeye salmon
By Ned Rozell
EAST FORK OF THE GULKANA RIVER — In early August, a few months before this mossy valley will feel the sting of 40-below air, bright red salmon dart through a crystal clear pool amid fragrant green vegetation. The Gulkana Hatchery has a Garden-of-Eden feel, which is fitting since millions of sockeye salmon begin life here each year.
