Parking: 

On weekdays from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. parking permits are necessary to park your vehicle on the UAF campus. Visitors will find metered parking spots available in front of the Elvey Building.  

In addition, hourly, daily and weekly passes are available for purchase at kiosks in each parking lot or through the Passport parking app. For more information click the links below.

General Parking Information
UAF Campus Map
Shuttle Bus
Shuttle Tracker

Join a free guided summer tour:

The Geophysical Institute offers free public summer tours! Learn about Alaska’s largest research institute and how world-class researchers study everything from the center of the Earth to the center of the sun. The tour takes about 1.5 hours. No registration required. Stops include the Alaska Satellite Facility, Alaska Earthquake Center, Wilson Alaska Technical Center and Alaska Center for UAS Integration (ACUASI). 

The tour takes about 90 minutes and is offered Wednesdays from May 28 through Aug. 27. Tours begin at 1 p.m. in the Elvey Building entrance lobby on UAF’s West Ridge. No registration is required, but for large groups, please call in advance. The ideal age range for tours is 12 years and older, and minors must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Join the Geophysical Institute’s Facebook event for updates and more information.

Tour dates: Memorial Day through Labor Day, Wednesdays, 1 p.m.

Poker Flat Research Range is also holding free summer walking tours. Join to learn about the exciting science that happens at the range and see some of the facilities, including the Blockhouse and the launch pads. Walking tours start at 2 p.m. and last about 2 hours. The gate opens about 1:30 p.m. No tickets or reservations required. Visit https://www.pfrr.alaska.edu/ for more information.

Tour dates: May 1, 15, 29; June 12, 26; July 10, 24; Aug. 7, 21; Sept. 4 (alternate Thursdays)
**Note: The June 26 tour is canceled due to nearby evacuation areas and smoke.

Science for Alaska talk series:

Science for Alaska is one of the largest public outreach efforts undertaken each year by the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

For over 30 years, the series has brought current scientific research to communities throughout the state. Administrators, faculty, staff and the public weigh-in on possibilities for speakers and topics to be included in the popular lecture series. The result is a well-rounded event that pools expertise from scientists studying in various locales in Alaska, on topics as diverse as satellites to beavers. Read more about Science for Alaska here.

The Geophysical Institute Public Information team is pleased to partner with visitors bureau Explore Fairbanks for the 2nd annual Science for Alaska Summer Series. This series is a more casual version of our winter series, furthers the GI’s investment in public outreach to connect with summer visitors in an off-campus location.

All four talks are in-person at the Morris Thompson Cultural & Vistors Center, 101 Dunkel St in downtown Fairbanks. Talks start at 11:30 a.m. and last about 30 minutes with extended time for audience questions. 

Talks will not be streamed to Zoom as in the winter series, but we will try a basic Facebook livestream from the Geophysical Institute Facebook page.

Talk schedule, 11:30 a.m. AKDT, Saturdays:
(download series flyer)

• June 14: Mount Spurr Volcano, David Fee
• July 12: Seismology in Alaska and on Venus, Bryant Chow
• August 9: Alaska Wildfire Monitoring, Jen Delamere
• September 13: Aurora Season Kickoff, Don Hampton

Explore the GI on your own:

Can't attend a guided tour? Check out these other options for exploring the Geophysical Institute:

Geophysical Institute – Indoor Walking Tour (self-guided)

Take a self-guided tour of the Geophysical Institute in the Elvey Building at your own pace. Download the self-guided tour pamphlet or pick up a paper copy onsite. The Elvey Building is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and closed on holidays.

Geophysical Institute – Outdoor Walking Tour (self-guided)

Looking for something to do outside? Come to the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus and check out the GI's free outdoor walking tour. See a rocket, satellite dishes, the Planet Walk and more! For the full tour, visit https://www.gi.alaska.edu/about/outdoor-walking-tour

Planet Walk (self-guided)

Take an out-of-this-world stroll along the UAF Planet Walk! This 1:4.4 billion scale model of the solar system will take you on a little less than one mile walk through our solar system. The Planet Walk begins at the west end of Yukon Drive, near the intersection with Koyukuk Drive.

Learn more and download the Planet Walk scavenger hunt here: https://www.gi.alaska.edu/services/education-outreach/planet-walk

Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration (ACUASI) – short video

Watch a short video about how the University of Alaska Fairbanks drone research technology is helping monitor infrastructure and support rural Alaska communities.