Earth System Science Symposium shares student research

The 2026 UAF Earth System Science Symposium brought together more than a hundred participants on Saturday, Feb. 28 — students, faculty members and others — to review undergraduate and graduate student posters about their research projects.

“Now in its second year, the symposium is becoming the cornerstone student research symposium on campus, open to all students and offering free poster printing, free food and networking opportunities in addition to the main professional opportunity to present research and soak in others' research,” said Carl Tape, who served as one of the event organizers.

Broadly, Earth system science is the application of systems science to study the interconnected components of Earth — the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, cryosphere and biosphere — and how they interact to produce an integrated whole. At UAF the ESS program offers masters and doctoral degrees and involves faculty participation from six university departments and five research institutes.

“Faculty and students were excited to see so much science all in one place and centered on the broad theme of the Earth system,” Tape said.

In total, 37 posters were presented by graduate and undergraduate students, with 16 faculty members serving as judges. There were about 50 other attendees, Tape said. The symposium took place and posters were available for viewing in the Akasofu Building lobby, hall and in Mather Library.

Congratulations and thanks are due to members of the ESS Symposium organizers for a job well done: graduate students Claire Bachand, Cade Quigley, Tricia Hutton and Kyra Bornong. Event coordinators were Sara Wilbur of GI Communications as well as Tape. The event was sponsored by the UAF GDNP UARC

View a list of all the presentators here.