Foster to be named 2009 distinguished alumnus

Richard Foster. Photo courtesy of UAF Alumni Association.

Submitted by Marmian Grimes
Phone: 907-474-7902
09/18/09

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Alumni Association will honor state Rep. Richard Foster of Nome with the 2009 Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Foster, who has served 11 terms in the Alaska House of Representatives, will receive the award at a Sept. 25 luncheon at the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge. The event is part of the alumni association’s annual reunion, scheduled for Sept. 24 – 26.

Rogers highlights sustainability in 2009 convocation address

Submitted by Marmian Grimes
Phone: 907-474-7902
09/15/09

University of Alaska Fairbanks Chancellor Brian Rogers spoke about UAF’s capacity to endure during his 2009 convocation address Tuesday afternoon in the Davis Concert Hall.

“In higher education, we have enduring values like freedom of inquiry, freedom of speech, independence of scientific research and creative activity, tolerance of dissent, and respect for diversity,” Rogers said to a crowd of more than 400 people gathered in the Charles W. Davis Concert Hall on the UAF campus. “These sustain our academic enterprise.”

Tuesday’s address was Rogers’ second convocation address since taking the helm at UAF in July of 2008. While last year’s convocation focused on transition, Rogers this year reinforced his intent to remain a permanent part of the UAF community.

“I want all of you to know that my focus and dedication are right here at Alaska’s first university, the University of Alaska Fairbanks,” he said.

During the annual fall address, Rogers highlighted the accomplishments of the students and faculty and staff members at UAF, as well as his plans for the coming year and beyond, including a glimpse of the university’s operating and capital budget priorities for the legislative session. He spoke about the recently completed MacTaggart report and how information from the report, along with the UAF strategic plan and recommendations from the Vision Task Force, will be used to provide direction for the university’s future endeavors.

The full text of Rogers’ 2009 convocation address, as well as a webcast of the speech, is available online at www.uaf.edu/chancellor.

CONTACT: Marmian Grimes, UAF public information officer, at 907-474-7902 or via e-mail at marmian.grimes@alaska.edu.

New findings show increased ocean acidification in Alaska waters

 

Photo by Russ Hopcroft, UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences--The pteropod (also known as a sea butterfly or swimming sea snail) may be one of the first marine organisms affected by ocean acidification. Pteropods make up nearly half of the pink salmon diet. This particular pteropod is the Limacina helicina helicina.

The same things that make Alaska’s marine waters among the most productive in the world may also make them the most vulnerable to ocean acidification. According to new findings by a University of Alaska Fairbanks scientist, Alaska’s oceans are becoming increasingly acidic, which could damage Alaska’s king crab and salmon fisheries.

 

This spring, chemical oceanographer Jeremy Mathis returned from a cruise armed with seawater samples collected from the depths of the Gulf of Alaska. When he tested the samples’ acidity in his lab, the results were more acidic than expected. They show that ocean acidification is likely more severe and is happening more rapidly in Alaska than in tropical waters. The results also matched his recent findings in the Chukchi and Bering Seas.

“It seems like everywhere we look in Alaska’s coastal oceans, we see signs of increased ocean acidification,” said Mathis.

Often referred to as the “sister problem to climate change,” ocean acidification is a term to describe increasing acidity in the world’s oceans. The ocean absorbs carbon dioxide from the air. As the ocean absorbs more carbon dioxide, seawater becomes more acidic. Scientists estimate that the ocean is 25 percent more acidic today than it was 300 years ago.

“The increasing acidification of Alaska waters could have a destructive effect on all of our commercial fisheries. This is a problem that we have to think about in terms of the next decade instead of the next century,” said Mathis.

The ocean contains minerals that organisms like oysters and crabs use to build their shells. Ocean acidification makes it more difficult to build shells, and in some cases the water can become acidic enough to break down existing shells. Mathis’ recent research in the Gulf of Alaska uncovered multiple sites where the concentrations of shell-building minerals were so low that shellfish and other organisms in the region would be unable to build strong shells.

“We’re not saying that crab shells are going to start dissolving, but these organisms have adapted their physiology to a certain range of acidity. Early results have shown that when some species of crabs and fish are exposed to more acidic water, certain stress hormones increase and their metabolism slows down. If they are spending energy responding to acidity changes, then that energy is diverted away from growth, foraging and reproduction,” said Mathis.

Another organism that could be affected by ocean acidification is the tiny pteropod, also known as a sea butterfly or swimming sea snail. The pteropod is at the base of the food chain and makes up nearly half of the pink salmon’s diet. A 10 percent decrease in the population of pteropods could mean a 20 percent decrease in an adult salmon’s body weight.

“This is a case where we see ocean acidification having an indirect effect on a commercially viable species by reducing its food supply,” said Mathis.

The cold waters and broad, shallow continental shelves around Alaska’s coast could be accelerating the process of ocean acidification in the North, Mathis said. Cold water can hold more gas than warmer water, which means that the frigid waters off Alaska’s coasts can absorb more carbon dioxide. The shallow waters of Alaska’s continental shelves also retain more carbon dioxide because there is less mixing of seawater from deeper ocean waters.

Ask any coastal Alaskan and they will tell you that Alaska’s waters are teeming with biological life, from tiny plankton to humpback whales. All of these animals use oxygen and emit carbon dioxide. Mathis and other scientists call this the “biological pump.”
“We are blessed with highly productive coastal areas that support vast commercial fisheries, but this productivity acts like a pump, absorbing more and more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere,” said Mathis. “Because of this, the acidity of Alaska’s coastal seas will continue to increase, and likely accelerate, over the next decade.”
Mathis said that it is still unclear what the full range of effects of ocean acidification will be, but that it is a clear threat to Alaska’s commercial fisheries and subsistence communities.

“We need to give our policy makers and industry managers information and forecasts on ocean acidification in Alaska so they can make decisions that will keep our fisheries viable,” said Mathis. “Ecosystems in Alaska are going to take a hit from ocean acidification. Right now, we don’t know how they are going to respond.”

CONTACT: Carin Stephens, public information officer, at 907-322-8730, or via e-mail at stephens@sfos.uaf.edu. Jeremy Mathis, assistant professor of oceanography, at 907-474-5926, or via e-mail at jmathis@sfos.uaf.edu.

ON THE WEB: www.sfos.uaf.edu/oa

Author to speak about politics of food

Author and educator Marion Nestle will give a free public lecture, “Politics of Food–Personal Responsibility vs. Social Responsibility,” Wednesday, July 15 at 7 p.m. in Schaible Auditorium on the UAF campus.

Nestle is the author of three prize-winning nutrition books and writes food and nutrition columns for the San Francisco Chronicle and The Bark magazine. She is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the James Beard Foundation, one of the food world’s highest honors.

CONTACT: UAF Summer Sessions at 907-474-7021 or via e-mail at summer@uaf.edu.

Sale to feature historical photo reprints

The Alaska History Store at the University of Alaska Fairbanks will host its annual Golden Days historical photograph reprint sale Thursday through Saturday, July 23rd to 25th.

The sale will take place on the lower level of the Sadler’s building in downtown Fairbanks. It will run 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 9:30 to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

The sale will allow the public to purchase reproductions of historic Alaska photographs, panoramas, rare maps and notecards, as well as a booklet celebrating 50 years of statehood and a locally designed tote bag.

For more information, call 907-474-6344 or visit www.alaskahistorystore.org.

CONTACT: Marmian Grimes, UAF public information officer, at 907-474-7902 or via e-mail at marmian.grimes@alaska.edu.

ON THE WEB: www.alaskahistorystore.org

Rural Alaska Honors Institute to host graduation

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Rural Alaska Honors Institute will honor 65 RAHI students at a graduation ceremony on Wednesday, July 8, at 1 p.m. in the Schaible Auditorium with an ice cream social to follow at 2:30 p.m. in the Great Hall in the Fine Arts Complex.

The students participating in this year’s program come from 43 communities across Alaska. They spent six weeks living in UAF residence halls, building their academic skills and learning firsthand about college life. They earned up to 10 college credits.

Organized in 1983 at the request of the Alaska Federation of Natives, RAHI aims to help increase college success for rural and Alaska Native students. Hundreds of RAHI graduates have gone on to earn graduate, baccalaureate and associate degrees. Many have joined Alaska’s professional workforce and many more are pursuing postsecondary education.

Among the graduates are participants in RAHI II, Next Step, a program that allows students to do research alongside UAF scientists, and two interns with a program funded by the National Science Foundation’s Long Term Ecological Research program.

Following graduation, three of the students will fly to New Hampshire to participate in three weeks of academic study with the Science & Mathematics through Research Training Project. Another 10 students will fly to Barrow to work with scientists from the Barrow Arctic Science Consortium and 7 others will take video cameras home to their communities to complete a film project for possible premiere at the Alaska House in New York.

RAHI sponsors include several UAF departments, New York Life, Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., Wells Fargo, Rasmuson Foundation, the Alaska INBRE program and The Boeing Corporation.

CONTACT: Denise Wartes, RAHI director, at 907-474-6886 or 800-478-6886 or via e-mail at fyrahi@uaf.edu.

RAHI Class of 2009
Jerica Aamodt, Barrow
Marlena Acord, Wasilla
Gordon Ahnangnatoguk Jr., Point Hope
Madelyn Alvanna-Stimpfle, Nome
Sarah Anderson, Port Heiden
Dianne Arce, Sitka
Charlene Berlin, Kasigluk
Vanessa Booth, Craig
Renee Cheemuk, Kotlik
Marissa Chingliak, Akiachak
Melody Chong, Kodiak
Christy Crow, North Pole
Nadia Duffy, Russian Mission
Nicole Fennimore, Galena
Amanda Fisher, Delta Junction
Samantha Foss, Pedro Bay
Laura Fox, Takotna
Rachel Funk, Ketchikan
Paige Goneau, Tok
Kimberly Greenway, Fairbanks
Thomas Hammersland-Torres, Ketchikan
Kenlynn Henry, Eek
Caroline Hoover, Kasigluk
Jerilyn Hunt, Emmonak
Nellie Iyapana, North Pole
Mariah Jackson, Point Baker
Heidi Jacobsen, Sand Point
Corey Joseph, Kwigillingok
Felicia Kayotuk, Galena
Jayna Kelly, Pilot Station
Danielle Kinneeveak, Point Hope
Hannah Knapp, Big Lake
Rachel Kokrine, North Pole
Katrina Kruger, Anvik
Marceline Lee, Selawik
Willow Leedy, Unalakleet
Concepcion Melovidov, St. Paul Island
Teressa Muller, Larsen Bay
Raven Mustafoski, Galena
Timothy Nick, Napaskiak
Priscilla Pavilla, Tuntutuliak
Mary Petluska, Eek
Lizbeth Piazza, Dillingham
Nicole Polty, Pilot Station
Katie Roseberry, Barrow
Jessica Schneider, Akiachak
Joanne Semaken, Unalakleet
Ian Sia, Bethel
Janice Smith, Gustavus
Ashley Webb, Fairbanks
Melana Webb, Slana
DeShaun Whiskey, Barrow
Samantha Wilson, Craig

RAHI II, Next Step 
Kate Akpik, Barrow
Rachel DeWilde ,Fairbanks
Stephanie Fox, Kodiak
Michael Kowalski, Fairbanks
Wilfred Kozevnikoff, Fairbanks
Benjamin Renshaw, Healy
Timothy Sanner, Pedro Bay
Vera Simmonds, Barrow
Whitney Walker, Bethel
Craig-David Wood, Fairbanks

LTER interns 
Kelsie Maslen, Kotzebue
Logan Richter, Edna Bay

KCK/7-07-09/004ma-10

Honors students named at UAF

The University of Alaska Fairbanks has announced the students named to the deans’ and chancellor’s lists for the spring 2009 semester. The lists recognize students’ outstanding academic achievements.

Students receiving a 3.9 grade point average or higher are placed on the chancellor’s list, while those receiving a grade point average of between 3.5 and 3.89 are named to the deans’ list.

UAF is a Land, Sea and Space Grant institution with an enrollment of more than 9,000 students. Located 160 miles south of the Arctic Circle, UAF is the only doctoral-degree-granting institution in the state. Since it was founded in 1917, UAF has been internationally recognized for research relating to the Arctic and subarctic, in areas such as biology, geophysics, engineering, natural resources and global climate change.

The complete honors list is available at http://www.uaf.edu/news/honors/spring09.html.

CONTACT: Marmian Grimes, public information officer, at 907-474-7902 or via e-mail at marmian.grimes@uaf.edu.

UAF in the news: week of June 29, 2009

University of Alaska Museum of the North offers free family passes
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
FAIRBANKS–Ten free family passes to the University of Alaska Museum of the North will be up for grabs at public libraries starting Wednesday, a museum official said. Read more …

UAF prof has plans for state energy policy
APRN
A University of Alaska Fairbanks professor is offering a plan for the state’s energy and economic future. Read more …

Shell gives UAF $175,000 for research
Petroleum News Alaska
Shell has given the University of Alaska Fairbanks a grant of $175,000 for Arctic research. Pete Slaiby, Shell Alaska general manager, presented a check to UAF Chancellor Brian Rogers at a Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce luncheon June 16. Read more …

Freecycling concept comes to University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
FAIRBANKS–Money was no good at the first Really Free Market on Saturday on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. Read more …

Scientists discover track of soaring prehistoric creature
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
While hiking a hillside in Denali National Park last July, Steve Hasiotis bent down and picked up a rock. Its curious shape, like a plaster cast of a giant bird track, made him ponder the rock for a second before handing it to Tony Fiorillo. Fiorillo looked at it and confirmed they had found a missing piece of Alaska during the time of the dinosaurs. Read more …

The environmental risks of arctic shipping
New York Times
As the Arctic warms, an expected increase in shipping threatens to introduce invasive species, harm existing marine wildlife and lead to damaging oil spills, according to a recent report from the Arctic Council, an intergovernmental forum of Arctic nations. Read more …

Nanooks make strong showing in classroom
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
FAIRBANKS–Student-athletes at the University of Alaska Fairbanks posted a cumulative 3.25 grade point average for the 2008-09 academic year, the program’s highest ever, according to an athletics department release Monday evening. Read more …

Scientists lower Alaska volcano threat level
Associated Press
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP)–Alaskans can put away their dust masks and spare air filters, for now, because Mount Redoubt seems to have cooled off since its last major eruption nearly three months ago. Read more …

Thawing permafrost could emit massive amounts of greenhouse gases
Solveclimate.com
While politicians around the world debate how to reduce human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, scientists are making some unsettling discoveries about another developing greenhouse gas problem: nature’s own emissions. Read more …

UAF artist to exhibit new works

"Short-eared Owl" and "Sitting Lynx", both acrylic on wood panel, approximately life-size. Both are photographed by Lily Swaim.

University of Alaska Fairbanks art professor Todd Sherman will showcase his new artwork at the Annex Gallery during the month of July.

The exhibit opening for “Dualities: Cut-Outs” will take place Friday, July 3 from 5:30-9 p.m.

The Annex Gallery, located at 2922 Parks Highway, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 1-6 p.m. The exhibit will run through July 31.

CONTACT: Todd Sherman, UAF art department, at 907-474-5785 or e-mail fftls@uaf.edu.

Sessions for prospective UAF students

The University of Alaska Fairbanks will host information sessions for prospective students throughout the summer. The next session is scheduled for July 11 at 9 a.m. in the Wood Center and will feature representatives from the Tanana Valley Campus.

Each session runs from 9 a.m. to noon and will offer a brief overview of the admissions process, a campus tour and a chance for students and their parents to ask questions.

Please call 907-474-7500 or toll free 1-800-478-1823 today to reserve a space with an admissions counselor.

CONTACT: UAF admissions at 907-474-7500 or 1-800-478-1823 for more information.

ON THE WEB: http://www.uaf.edu/admissions/