MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO EXPLORE UAF’S SUMMER RESEARCH ACADEMY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 7, 2001

Fairbanks, Alaska — The University of Alaska Fairbanks will host the first-ever Alaska Summer Research Academy (ASRA) for students in eighth through 11th grades interested in science, engineering, mathematics and computer science.

The residential program will take place June 10 — 16, 2001 and will provide academic opportunities in natural and scientific laboratory settings. Students may also earn two academic college credits at UAF for completing the camp. It will accommodate 32 students this year and 60 next year.

"Students will work with faculty, graduate and undergraduate science students in a mentoring environment," said Gary Laursen, ASRA Director. "They will see their research projects from the idea stage through field research to presentation of results."

Field-work will take place in university laboratories, Large Animal Research Station, Murphy Dome, and Creamer’s Field under an umbrella of environmental science using fundamentals of engineering and chemical science, earth and environmental science and space and physical science.

"Alaska students have a fantastic laboratory in their backyard and world-class faculty to help them explore it and give it context in a scientific environment they can understand," said Ali Knabe, ASRA Program Coordinator. "We’ve even had a few students from outside Alaska show interest in the program."

Students will be submitting the results of their weeklong research findings in formal abstracts and presentations given to a broad audience of peers, parents and guests.

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Note to Editors: Agenda is available on the web site at http://www.uaf.edu/csem/asra/index.html

CONTACT: Gary Laursen, ASRA Director, at (907) 474-6295, or Ali Knabe, ASRA Program Coordinator, at (907) 474—5740 or e-mail: fnasc1@uaf.edu.

CJB//06-07-01/01-078