FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Stevie Seibert, GI Public Relations, 907-474-5229, stevie [dot] seibert [at] gi [dot] alaska [dot] edu

Fairbanks, Alaska—Each year, humpback whales migrate from the cool waters of Alaska to the warmth of Hawaii or Mexico. But while most animals and people might prefer to spend the mild winters in Hawaii and summers in Alaska, some humpbacks remain in the north during fall and winter.

On Feb. 22 at 7 p.m., Jan Straley will present recent research of humpback whales throughout the North Pacific with particular attention to those in Alaska waters. Straley, assistant professor of marine biology at the University of Alaska Southeast, will present “Whale Tales: A Thirty- Year Perspective on Humpback Whales in Alaska Waters” in the Westmark Gold Room. The lecture will be the sixth and final installment in the 2011 Science for Alaska Lecture Series.

Science for Alaska is sponsored by the Geophysical Institute, UAF, and Alyeska Pipeline Service Company.

Hands-on activities for all ages begin at 6 p.m. inside the Gold Room. Families are welcome.

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS:
Jan Straley, assistant professor of marine biology, UAS, 907-747-7779, or Janice [dot] straley [at] uas [dot] alaska [dot] edu
Marmian Grimes, UAF public information officer, at 907-474-7902 or marmian [dot] grimes [at] alaska [dot] edu

ON THE WEB: http://www.scienceforalaska.com