Stephen Jewett, IMS, and a team of UAF researchers completed the second phase of a scientific survey of waters around the Aleutian Islands, and have discovered what may be three new marine organisms. The team found two potentially new “swimming” sea anemones and a species of kelp or brown algae. For more information visit www.uaf.edu/news/news/20071030121438.html.
Godwin Chukwu, CEM, has been appointed to serve as visiting professor of petroleum engineering at the Federal University of Technology Owerri in Nigeria.
Katey Walter, INE, is the lead author of a report in the Oct. 26 issue of Science. The report identified a new likely source of a spike in atmospheric methane coming out of the North during the end of the last ice age. Methane bubbling from arctic lakes could have been responsible for up to 87 percent of that methane spike. For more information visit www.uaf.edu/news/headlines/20071024130833.html.
Show off your Nanook pride! Replace that worn-out desktop image with a free UAF downloadable desktop available at www.uaf.edu/gallery/desktops/.
United Way sponsors 23 member agencies that you can support or you can choose another eligible non-profit agency within Alaska. For more information see this year’s contribution form or contact Chris Bennett at 2850 or fncmb2@uaf.edu.
Graduate student Todd Sformo, IAB, is researching Alaska beetles and how they survive freezing temperatures. Sformo has cooled red flat bark beetles in the lab to 94 degrees below zero and they have not died. For more information visit www.uaf.edu/news/a_news/20071018135914.html.
Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management offers UAF employees one free pair of SPIKYs, a traction device to go over your shoes, to help prevent slips and falls in icy conditions. For more information visit room 157 UPark or call 5487.
Chris Larsen, GI, is taking part in a study that included flying over the Tweedsmuir Glacier in the St. Elias Mountains. Larsen discovered that the glacier had surged and may dam up the Alsek River, which flows to the Gulf of Alaska at Dry Bay. For more information visit www.uaf.edu/news/news/20071025085229.html.
Read about the Alaska Nanooks’ two newest coaches at www.uaf.edu/news/featured/07/coaches/.
Registration and fee payment for spring 2008 begin Nov. 19. For information visit www.uaf.edu/reg/schedule/ after Nov. 12.
Sign up to receive news releases and feature stories via e-mail or submit announcements and story ideas to UAF’s online newsroom at www.uaf.edu/news/.
Most UAF offices will be closed Nov. 22 – 23 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Archival Legacies of the International Polar Year, an exhibit featuring historical photos, diaries and publications from previous IPYs, is on display in the Alaska and Polar Regions Collections Department in the Rasmuson Library.
The Mensah Brothers from Ghana will open UAF’s International Education Week with a drum and flag ceremony Nov. 12 at 5 p.m. in the Wood Center multilevel lounge. The group will give a free African drumming class Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. in 217 Fine Arts Building. Bring your own drum if you have one. For more information on the class call 7555. They are also presenting a dance and drumming concert Nov. 16 at 8 p.m. in the Davis Concert Hall. Tickets are $5 and available at the door. For more information on the concert call 7300.
The English Department presents a research colloquium with Chris Coffman, CLA, titled “Gertrude Stein and the Pleasures of Theory,” Nov. 13 at 1 p.m. in the Kayak Room, Rasmuson Library.
The Office of Information Technology is hosting training opportunities throughout the semester, including Meeting Maker Nov. 13, Excel I Nov. 15, Banner Navigation Nov. 27 and Excel II Nov. 29. For more information or to register visit www.uaf.edu/oit/training/.
The UAF Staff Council is holding a public meeting Nov. 14 at 8:45 a.m. in the Wood Center Carol Brown Ballroom. For more information contact fystaff@uaf.edu.
The UAF Brass and Cello Choirs present a recital Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. in Davis Concert Hall. Admission is free. For more information call 7555.
The IPY Science Café presents “What’s Behind the Northern Lights? Aurora Research in Alaska,” a lecture by Dirk Lummerzheim, GI, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. at Alaska Coffee Roasting Company. For more information call 5479.
Music at One, free recitals by UAF music students, take place each Thursday at 1 p.m. in the Davis Concert Hall. The next recital will be Nov. 15; there is no recital Nov. 22. For more information call 7555.
The UA Museum of the North presents Birds of the Aleutians, a lecture and book signing by Dan Gibson, Museum, and G. Vernon Byrd, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. Admission is free. For more information call 7505.
Jessica DeLeon presents a junior voice recital, directed by Jaunelle Celaire, Nov. 15 at 8 p.m. in the Davis Concert Hall. Admission is free. For more information call 7555.
The United Way Chili Cookoff is back! Enter your famous chili or come out to taste and vote for the best. Cost is $2. The cookoff will be held Nov. 16 at 11:30 a.m. in the Wood Center multilevel lounge. Entry registration is required and due by Nov. 12. Participation is limited to 15. For more information or to register contact Chris Bennett at 2850 or chris.bennett@uaf.edu.
The UA Museum of the North presents the Artisan Invitational Expo and Sale Nov. 16 from 3 – 7 p.m. and Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Alaskan artists will display and sell their work. Admission is free. For more information call 7505.
The IAB Life Sciences Seminar Series presents “Resilience and Complexity in Human Hydrological Systems: An Integrated Approach” by Lilian Na’ia, UAA, Nov. 16 at 3:30 p.m. in 214 Elvey. For more information call 7640.
Theatre UAF presents Shakespeare’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona Nov. 16 and 17 at 8:15 p.m. and Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. in the Salisbury Theatre. Tickets cost $15, $12 for seniors, military and UAF employees, $7 for students with ID. For more information call 7751.
Vanessa Cox presents a junior voice recital, directed by Jaunelle Celaire, Nov. 15 at 8 p.m. in the Davis Concert Hall. Admission is free. For more information call 7555.
Visit UAF’s online calendar at www.uaf.edu/events/ for information on UAF events or to publicize an event.
Christine Peterson, an undergraduate fisheries student, and Kelly Newman, a doctoral marine biology student, received the first scholarships awarded by the Katherine ‘K’ E. and John P. Doyle Scholarship.
The BP Top of the World Classic men's basketball tournament takes place Nov. 15 – 18 at the Carlson Center. BP recently signed a five-year extension for $575,000 and will sponsor the tournament through 2012. For more information call 5977 or visit www.alaskananooks.com.
The Mt. McKinley Bank North Star Invitational women's basketball tournament takes place Nov. 23 – 24 in the Patty Center gym. For more information call 5977 or visit www.alaskananooks.com.
Nov. 15, 2007: All application materials and fees for December 2007 graduation are due. The application fee is $50. Applications can be found at www.uaf.edu/reg/graduation.html. For more information call 7523.
Nov. 15, 2007: Applications for the Angus Gavin Migratory Bird Research Grant for the 2008 field season are due. For more information visit www.alaska.edu/foundation/grantsandawards/.
Dec. 1, 2007: Nominations for the Edith R. Bullock Prize for Excellence are due. For more information visit www.alaska.edu/foundation/grantsandawards/.
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 www.alaska.edu/uafound/.
A New Doctorate in the Works
A gathering of 40 people who previously expressed interest in earning a Ph.D. in indigenous studies at UAF took place Oct. 26 – 27. Sponsored by the Andrew K. Mellon Foundation, this event was organized to hear from potential doctoral students about their interest in such a program and to discuss strategies to increase the number of Alaska Native Ph.D. students at UAF.
Since an indigenous studies doctoral program is in development, the meeting was critical in gathering valuable input from potential students. With help from UAF faculty across disciplines, Provost Henrichs played a key role in development of the concept and first drafts of the program in her previous position as dean of the Graduate School. Ray Barnhardt of the Alaska Native Knowledge Network and President’s Professor of Education Bryan Brayboy will take the lead in packaging the program with support from a team made up of faculty and workshop participants. The goal is to bring the program before the UAF Faculty Senate by early spring.
If the enthusiasm of the meeting attendees is any indication, it was a hit. Participants came from New York, Juneau, Nome, Bethel and throughout the Interior. They spoke about the importance of the program having a meaningful connection to rural communities in community development, rural education, and culture and language preservation. They stressed the importance of distance-delivered courses as well as strong connections with other indigenous peoples from around the world.
A panel discussion of current Alaska Native doctoral students at UAF highlighted challenges and generated ideas about research topics, connecting with rural communities and the importance of disseminating information back to the communities.
Ten Alaska Native students are currently enrolled in Ph.D. programs at UAF, and we hope to expand that number with the new program. We wish them the best with their studies and look forward to the contribution they will make to academia and our communities.
