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Kevin Engle, a research programmer and ground station manager at UAF's Geographic Information Network of Alaska, died unexpectedly Jan. 27. Engle, 46, helped people process and deliver satellite data. A memorial event will take place Saturday, Feb. 19, from 2 – 5 p.m. at Big Daddy's BBQ banquet hall at the corner of 1st and Wickersham streets. Remembrances to be shared in celebration of Kevin's life can be sent to remembering.kevin@gina.alaska.edu or posted on the memorial website.

Paul Layer has been appointed dean of the College of Natural Science and Mathematics, effective Jan. 30. Layer has been at UAF since 1989, and served as the interim dean of CNSM since 2009.

The Geophysical Institute's Poker Flat Research Range plans to launch two NASA sounding rockets during the Jan. 26 – Feb. 15 launch window.

Gary Laursen, Biology and Wildlife, has been named interim director of the Honors Program.

Sunny Rice, Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, Ginny Eckert, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, graduate student Zachary Hoyt, and Verena Gill, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are collaborating on a wide-ranging study to assess sea otter populations and gauge the impact of sea otters on Southeast Alaska's crab and dive harvest fisheries.

School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences graduate student Matthew Sean Willison is showing that native sedge grasses can play an important role in returning North Slope gravel pads that are no longer being used for oil production to their formerly diverse, natural state. This work is supported by a partnership among SNRAS, Alaska Sea Grant and BP.

Ray RaLonde, Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, is working with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources to streamline the state's aquatic farming permit application. The changes are expected to contribute to an increase in the number of sustainable shellfish farms and help diversify Alaska's coastal economy.

Glenn Haight and Sunny Rice, both with the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, and private contractor Greg Fisk began development of the federal trade adjustment assistance program for Alaska shrimp fishermen displaced by foreign shrimp competition. Approximately 100 shrimpers will receive training in business management, marketing and enhanced business planning and may receive a cash payout from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Dianne Coursey, School of Education, participated in the Teacher-to-Teacher: Alaska to El Salvador program for the eighth year. Coursey spent three weeks during November – December 2010 presenting an English language proficiency workshop for teachers of English in Salvadoran secondary schools.

Work by Ben Huff, master of fine arts photography student, was featured in the February 2011 issue of Photo District New Magazine.

School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences faculty and staff presented at the Alaska Marine Science Symposium Jan. 16 – 20 in Anchorage. Russ Andrews presented the keynote speech, "Steller’s curse: the unfortunate fate of Alaska’s first naturalist and the marine mammals that bear his name." Other faculty and staff presenters included Arny Blanchard, Rachel Potter, Peter Winsor, Bodil Bluhm, Brenda Norcross, Seth Danielson and Franz Mueter.

UA employee 2010 W-2s are available though UAOnline. The online PDF form can be printed and submitted to the IRS. A printed W-2 will be mailed to employees, postmarked by Jan. 31.

The UA Health in Action WIN for Alaska Get the Point Incentive Program begins Feb. 1. The program's goal is to help you incorporate healthy habits into your lifestyle.

The UA College Savings Plan is hosting a contest for participants in the Permanent Fund Dividend college savings plan. If you click "yes" on line 6 of the PFD application to contribute to the plan you will automatically be entered in the drawing. The prizes are one $25,000 and four $2,500 scholarship accounts.

The National Student Exchange office in Admissions is currently accepting applications from students wanting to go on exchange during the 2011 – 2012 academic year. Interested students are required to attend an information session offered every Tuesday and Thursday at 1:05 p.m. in 113 Eielson. The application deadline is Feb. 15. For more information contact Megan Allen at 474-5809 or uaf.nse@alaska.edu.

The School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences Seward Marine Center is hosting the 14th annual National Ocean Sciences Bowl Alaska regional competition, known as the Tsunami Bowl, Friday – Sunday, Feb. 4 – 6. The Tsunami Bowl is a competition for Alaska high school students on topics related to study of the oceans. This year, 15 high schools, representing towns and villages from across Alaska, will travel to Seward to compete in the bow.

Weight Watchers at Work begins a new 17-week series Tuesday, Feb. 22, at noon in the Administrative Services Center conference room. For more information contact Michelle Littell at mlittell2@alaska.edu.

The January 2011 Statewide Voice is available online.

Show off your Nanook pride! Replace that worn-out desktop image with a free UAF downloadable desktop image available online.

A reminder that UAF campus policy prohibits smoking within 50 feet of campus buildings.

Employee notice, protection for whistle-blowers: 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 201 Eielson Building.

The UA Museum of the North is hosting a marmot family day Saturday, Jan. 29, from noon – 5 p.m. to celebrate Alaska Marmot Day. Learn about weather-predicting groundhogs and take home a shadow of your own, make marmot mask crafts, and participate in a life-sized marmot game. Activities are included in museum admission. For more information call 474-7505.

School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences dean candidate Mike Castellini will participate in an open forum Monday, Jan. 31, from 3 – 4:30 p.m. in 109 Butrovich. The forum will be available via video conference at the following locations: Juneau: 101 Lena Point; Seward: Marine Center Auditorium; Kodiak: 219 Fisheries Industrial Technology Center; Anchorage: Marine Advisory Program Library; and Petersburg: Petersburg Public Library.

The Financial Aid Office presents Finan˘ial $ense Day, Tuesday, Feb. 1, with workshops around campus at 9 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Sessions are free, open to all and registration is not required. A financial fair will be held in Wood Center from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and application completion assistance will be available from noon – 2 p.m. in 301 Rasmuson Library. For more information and a listing of workshops visit the website.

The 2011 Science for Alaska Lecture Series takes place Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in the Westmark Gold Room through Feb. 22. Pre-lecture hands-on activities for all ages begin at 6 p.m. before each session. "Thawing Permafrost: What Does it Mean for the Arctic?" by Vladimir Romanovsky, Geophysical Institute, takes place Feb. 1 and "Lessons Learned From the Gulf Oil Spill" by Fran Ulmer, chancellor of UAA, takes place Feb. 8.

Career Services is hosting the Visitor Industry and Summer Job Fair Wednesday, Feb. 2, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. in Wood Center. For more information call 474-7596 or e-mail careerservices@uaf.edu.

Discover UAF: Admissions, Financial Aid and Scholarships, a program for high school juniors and seniors and their parents to learn about UAF, ask questions and tour campus, takes place Saturday, Feb. 5, from 1 – 3 p.m. in Signers' Hall. For more information contact Lael Oldmixon at 474-6679 or lmoldmixon@alaska.edu.

The Banff Mountain Film Festival, hosted by the Student Activities Office, takes place Sunday, Feb. 6, at 6 p.m. in Davis Concert Hall. Tickets are available in advance at Wood Center and Beaver Sports for $10 students and $12 general admission, or $12 students and $14 general admission at the door.

The UAF Faculty Senate meets Monday, Feb. 7, from 1 – 3 p.m. in the Wood Center Carol Brown Ballroom. For more information contact Jayne Harvie at 474-7964.

The Snedden Guest Lecture Series presents a free public lecture, "The Cost of Conflict: A Personal Journey," by Cheryl Hatch Tuesday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m. in Schaible Auditorium.

The UAF Yoga Club presents a Hearts for Haiti fundraiser Saturday, Feb. 12, from 2 – 5 p.m. at the University Park gym. Local yoga teachers will take turns leading the class. Admission is $30. All proceeds will benefit Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team Haiti. For more information e-mail ntarnai@alaska.edu.

The UAF Alumni Association's 9th annual Wine Tasting and Silent Auction takes place Saturday, Feb. 12, at 6 p.m. in the Wood Center Pub. Tickets are $30 in advance, available at the Alumni Office, Wood Center front desk and the Pub, or $35 at the door. For more information call 474-7081.

The Associated Students of Business will host a spring semester ice breaker Saturday, Feb. 12, from 7 p.m. to midnight at Wedgewood Resort. The event will provide networking opportunities among business students, faculty and local business professionals. The event is free to UAF students and $25 to all others. For more information or to purchase tickets e-mail asbuaf@gmail.com.

Dancing with the Cars, a fundraising gala hosted by Chancellor Rogers and Sherry Modrow, takes place Friday, Feb. 11, from 7 – 11 p.m. Doors at the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum open at 6:30 p.m. The gala will feature fine food, antique autos, a live auction, and music by Theresa Bauer and Friends; dress is semiformal. Tickets are $100, which includes a $25 tax-deductible donation. Proceeds benefit the UAF Giving Green Sustainability Initiatives Fund and the Fairbanks Community Food Bank. For more information call 474-2600 or e-mail hleavengood@alaska.edu.

Representatives of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center of Greenbelt, Md., will visit UAF Wednesday – Thursday, March 2 – 3. Meet NASA representatives at the Career Services Career Expo March 2 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. in Wood Center. There will be two information sessions March 3 in the Brooks Building Gathering Room; session one is 10 a.m. – noon and session two for UAF students only, with a reception hosted by the Geophysical Institute Alaska Satellite Facility, is from 5 – 7 p.m. For more information contact Career Services at 474-7596.

Check out the UAF Weekly Science Calendar, sponsored by the Center for Global Change and Arctic System Research, for science-related events at UAF.

Visit UAF's online calendar for information on UAF events or to publicize an event.

Nanook hockey faces off with Ferris State Friday – Saturday, Feb. 4 – 5, at the Carlson Center.

The Alaska Nanook athletic event scores from last week are: Home games – hockey vs. Ohio State, 1-0 and 6-2; women's basketball vs. Montana State Billings, 58-81 and vs. Seattle Pacific, 39-93; men's basketball vs. Central Washington, 70-82 and vs. Northwest Nazarene, 84-79.

Feb. 11: Proposals for the Global Change Student Research Grant Competition are due. Guidelines are available online; please review them carefully as they have changed significantly from the 2010 guidelines. For more information contact Susan Sugai at 474-5415 or susan.sugai@alaska.edu.

Feb. 11: Emeriti nominations are due to the UAF Provost's Office. Guidelines and more information are available at the Provost's Office website.

Feb. 15: Nominations for the Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award, the Joel Wiegert Award and the Gray Tilly Memorial Award are due. For more information contact Lydia Anderson at 474-7037 or lmanderson@alaska.edu.

Feb. 15: Nominations for the Chancellor's Cornerstone Award to recognize UAF staff are due. Please be sure to review eligibility guidelines before submitting a nomination online. For more information contact Staff Council at 474-7056 or fystaff@uaf.edu.

Feb 16: Faculty, staff and student deadline for technology fee (TAB grant) proposals. TAB funds come from 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.

Feb. 18: 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 visit the Usibelli Award nominations website.

Feb. 28: Honorary degree nominations are due to the UAF Provost’s Office. For guidelines and more information visit the Honorary Degree website.

March 1: Student proposals for fall 2011 RISE (Review of Infrastructure, Sustainability and Energy) sustainability proposals are due. Guidelines for proposals can be found online.

March 18: Nominations for the Staff Make Students Count Award are due. Please be sure to review eligibility guidelines before submitting a nomination online. For more information contact the UAF Governance office at 474-7056 or fystaff@uaf.edu.

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