Scientists from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, China, Finland, Norway and Switzerland are convening at the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow this week to share results from an interdisciplinary project investigating the consequences of climate change on the land, people, and ecosystem services of the Yamal region of northwest Siberia. UAF scientists participating in the conference include Alaska Geobotany Center research associate Martha Raynolds, IAB/IPY post-doctoral fellow József Geml, atmospheric scientist Uma Bhatt and permafrost scientist Vladimir Romanovsky from the UAF Geophysical Institute. For more information on the Nenets and the Greening of the Arctic project visit http://www.uaf.edu/news/featured/07/greening.

Fishermen, community leaders, Alaska Natives, scientists, government officials, environmental groups, and representatives from energy companies will meet in Anchorage Mar. 18-19 to discuss what’s needed to safely develop oil and gas in the North Aleutian Basin, a sprawling region that includes part of the salmon-rich Bristol Bay. If developed, North Aleutian Basin oil and gas could be worth $3 to $6 billion per year for the next 25 to 40 years, according to the U.S. Minerals Management Service. The Alaska Sea Grant College Program, a marine research, information and advisory program headquartered at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, is coordinating the meetings.

Researcher Katie Walter and her work on arctic lakes was recently featured in the data section of the February issue of Discover magazine. A photo taken by Marmian Grimes, UAF public information officer, accompanied the story.

Rich Carr, CLA, delivered a paper "Out of Down Under:  The Australian Expatriate Novel" at the MLA Annual Conference, held in Chicago from December 27-30.

The Rasmuson Library announces that Marge Thompson has filled the position of Manager in Digital Photographic Services. Digital Photographic Services offers reproductions of historical photographs, panoramas and rare maps from the Alaska & Polar Regions Collections. To view all offerings, see http://photolab.elmer.uaf.edu/store.

In an effort to better coordinate the numerous EPSCOR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) programs led by UAF, Chancellor Steve Jones has designated Buck Sharpton, vice chancellor for research, as Statewide EPSCOR Director.

Employee notice, protection for whistleblowers: Any employee may in good faith report to testify before a public agency concerning: a violation of federal, state or local law; a danger to public health or safety; gross mismanagement; a substantial waste of funds or clear abuse of authority; or a matter under investigation by the state. Employee protections and obligations regarding reports of these matters of public concern are fully stated in Alaska statutes 39.90.100 through 39.90.150, which are available for review at UAF University Relations, 201 Eielson Building.

Beware of e-mails, telephone calls or text messages requesting your personal information. Police say the number of scams involving e-mails, text messages and telephone calls from scammers claiming to be credit card representatives is on the rise. The potential victim is often directed to call a telephone number to re-activate a credit card due to a security issue. The scam is generally known as vishing and operates much like Internet phishing, but uses voice over Internet protocol. Contact the University Police Department at 6200 or e-mail fycops@uaf.edu for more information.

Participants of the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival January cabaret workshop will entertain the public during a performance on Feb. 2, 2008, at 7:30 p.m., in the Northern Latitudes Room at the Westmark Hotel.  Tickets for the show are $10 each and will be available at the door. For more information and a schedule of upcoming events visit http://www.fsaf.org/.

The Psychology Dept. announces a UAF/UAA Joint Ph.D. in Clinical-Community Psychology Research Colloquia Series: American Indian/Alaska Native Traditional Health Practices: The Role of Culture in Health Care, presented by Dr. Larry Murillo, University of California Berkeley, on Feb. 4, 2008, from 1:30-3:00 p.m., in Gruening 209. For more information contact Jessica Brooks at ftjlb1@uaf.edu.

The Science for Alaska Lecture Series takes place Tuesdays through Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. in the Westmark Gold Room. Lectures are free and open to the public. Upcoming topics include "There's No Place Like Nome: Science Nuggets From the Last Frontier," by Ned Rozell, science writer, GI/UAF, on Feb. 5 and "The Economics of Climate Change," by Britteny Cioni, assistant professor of economics, UAS, on Feb. 12. For more information, visit http://www.scienceforalaska.com or call 7558.

The UAF Visitor Industry Job Fair will be held Feb. 6 from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. in the Wood Center Commons. For more details contact Career Services at http://www.uaf.edu/career/Events/VIJF/index.html or 7596.

The Office of Information Technology hosts training opportunities throughout the semester, including Meeting Maker Feb. 5, QMenu Feb. 12, and EDIR Brief Feb. 13. For more information or to register visit www.uaf.edu/oit/training/.

UAF Music Department faculty and students will showcase a selection of contemporary music during the opening concert of the UAF New Music Festival on Feb. 7, 2008, at 8 p.m. As the festival continues, guest artists Christopher Adler and Matthew Burtner will perform in concert Feb. 8-9, also at 8 p.m. All concerts will be in the Davis Concert Hall. For more information, please contact Linda Harriger at 7555 or fnlah1@uaf.edu.

Spend the night at the museum and stargaze through telescopes, see the stars in a portable planetarium and investigate astronomical phenomena! The museum family program invites the public to a sleepover and star party, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. through Feb. 9 at 10 a.m. Admission for ages 8-12 with adult accompaniment is $40 per child/$10 per adult, with a maximum of five youth per adult. Pre-registration is required. Program cost includes bedtime cocoa and breakfast. For information and reservations call 5360.

Outdoor Adventures presents the Banff Mountain Film Festival on Feb. 10, 2008, at 6 p.m., in the Davis Concert Hall. For more information visit http://www.uaf.edu/outdoor/ or call 6027.

The Sidney Chapman Chair Lecture Series, Topics on the High-Latitude Systems, will feature guest speakers every Tuesday and Thursday from Feb. 12–March 6, 2008, at 3:40 p.m., in the Elvey Auditorium. Upcoming presentations include "Black Carbon in Arctic Snow and its Effect on Surface Albedo" on Feb. 12 and "Ocean Surfaces on Snowball Earth" on Feb. 14, both by Stephen Warren, University of Washington. Lectures are free and open to the public.

UAF Museum of the North will host “Journey Across the Changing Arctic”, by Matthew Sturm, scientist and SnowSTAR 2007 expedition leader, on Feb. 12, 2008, at 7 p.m. For more information on upcoming events at the University of Alaska Museum visit http://www.uaf.edu/museum or call 7505.

Spring and summer are very busy times for events on campus. To ensure the success of your event, please visit http://www.uaf.edu/safety/special%20event.htm and complete the requested information.

The Development Office is proud to announce the selection of the Annual Giving Program’s September 2007 direct mail piece as the recipient of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District VIII bronze award. The mailer was chosen under the category of Fundraising and Special Audience Publications. The award winning, “We change lives. You make it happen,” appeal project was under the guidance of Becky Lindsey, Director of Annual Giving and Megan Damario, Annual Giving Coordinator.

The Atwood Foundation gave UAF $16,000 to fund transportation and meal costs on the Alaska Railroad for high school-age participants to the April 2008 national finals of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl, to be held in Seward, Alaska. Because this will be the first time the NOSB national finals are to be held in Alaska, this partnership is a great opportunity to showcase our wonderful state, and attract future ocean scientists and scholars.

Wells Fargo renewed their support of the successful business course offered through the Rural Alaska Honors Institute (RAHI), with a recent gift of $50,000. The RAHI program acts as a bridging program to assist rural Alaskan high school students who are college-bound to make the social and academic transition between the two institutions.

The family and friends of RG Bouchum contributed a number of gifts to the RG and Onnie Bouchum Multicultural Scholarship after his passing away at age 90 on November 30, 2007. Established by their family 1997 after the passing of Onnie, RG’s wife, the fund has inspired and supported active student members of the Black Awareness Student Union.

Flint Hills Resources renewed its partnership with over $62,000 in support of a number of valuable, high-profile programs and scholarships including the UAF Athletics Nanook Fund for athletic scholarships, basket logo sponsorship and other recognition in the 2008 BP Top of the World Classic basketball tournament, TVC student tuition and fees assistance, and UAF’s School of Management visiting faculty program.

The University of Alaska Young Researchers’ Network was awarded $2000 from the Arthur J. Schaible Memorial Cultural Enrichment Fund for their proposal to host a festival featuring short films created by University of Alaska students for the group’s upcoming International Polar Year film contest. The contest will be launched in September 2008 and culminate with the festival the following March. For more information about the Young Researchers’ Network contact Travis Booms at fttlb@uaf.edu.

Nanook hockey faces off against Western Michigan Feb. 1-2 and Notre Dame Feb. 15-16. All games are at 7:05 p.m. in the Carlson Center.

Nanook women’s basketball takes on Northwest Nazarene Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. and Seattle Pacific Feb. 9 at 5:15 p.m.  Both games will be played in the Patty Center gym.

Nanook men’s basketball hosts Seattle Pacific Feb. 2 at 1 p.m. and UAA Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Both games will be played in the Patty Center gym.

For more information on these and other UAF athletic events, visit www.alaskananooks.com or call the ticket office at 5977.

Feb. 15, 2008: Deadline to submit nominations for he Marion Francis Boswell Award (Outstanding Graduating Senior Woman), the Joel Wiegert Award (Outstanding Graduating Senior Man) and the Gray S. Tilly Memorial Award (Outstanding Graduating Non-Traditional Student). For more information visit www.alaska.edu/woodcenter/awards.

Feb. 15, 2008: Last day to apply for graduation. If you expect to finish work for a degree this semester, you must complete a graduation application form and pay the application fee of $20. The form is available on the Web at http://www.uaf.edu/reg/forms/graduation.pdf, at the registrar’s office or at the Tanana Valley Campus student assistance center.

Feb. 15, 2008: Applications for the UA Foundation privately funded scholarships are due. Scholarships are available to students attending any UA campus. For more information, visit http://www.alaska.edu/uafound.

Feb. 18, 2008: Usibelli Award nominations in the areas of teaching, public service and research are due to the UAF Provost's Office. For guidelines and more information, please see the website at http://www.uaf.edu/provost/usibelli/index.html.

Feb. 18, 2008: Applications for the ISA Study Abroad Scholarships are due. This scholarship is available for students with a 3.5 GPA, 30-90 semester credits completed, who will be participating in a study abroad program that must begin no earlier than May 1, 2008 and end no later than June 30, 2009. For more information visit www.studiesabroad.com/resources/document/financialAidResources.

Feb. 22, 2008: Application deadline for the 2008 Global Change Student Research Grant Competition. Information and packets are available from the Graduate School, the Global Climate Change office, or online at http://www.cgc.uaf.edu.

Feb. 29, 2008: Faculty and staff deadline for technology fee (TAB grant) proposals. TAB funds are the result of fees collected from UAF students on a per course basis. Each proposal must focus on technology of direct benefit to students, either in the classroom or related educational/learning activities. For more information and to submit online, visit http://www.alaska.edu/uaf/tab.

Mar. 1, 2008: Application deadline for Graduation with Leadership Honors for both Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 graduates. Complete details are in the application packet; applications are available in the Leadership Program Office and online at http://www.alaska.edu/woodcenter/leadership/. For more information call the Leadership Program at 1170.

Cornerstone banner photo by Todd Paris, UAF Marketing and Communications.