UAF JOINS INLAND NORTHWEST RESEARCH ALLIANCE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 15, 2001

Fairbanks, Alaska - The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), the nation's northernmost Land, Sea and Space Grant university and international research center, is the newest member of the Inland Northwest Research Alliance (INRA).

Every member institution of INRA enthusiastically supports the inclusion of UAF, according to University of Idaho President Bob Hoover, who helped establish INRA and serves as president of the eight-university research alliance.

"The University of Alaska Fairbanks adds a new dimension to INRA's research capabilities," Hoover said. "Their expertise in water resources, environmental engineering, atmospheric science, global climate change, geophysics and supercomputing make them a natural partner for the work of INRA and the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. We have enriched the alliance with their membership."

"Through this partnership our world-class faculty and researchers will interact with their counterparts in INRA working to jointly address issues of concern to Alaska and the world," said UAF Chancellor Marshall Lind.

UAF has an enrollment of more than 8,000 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 sub-arctic, in areas such as biology, geophysics, engineering, natural resources and global climate change.

The other member universities of INRA are Utah State, Montana State, University of Montana, Washington State, Boise State, Idaho State and the University of Idaho. INRA is a partner in Bechtel BWXT Idaho, the prime contractor at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory in southeastern Idaho, and also pursues other research opportunities for its member institutions.

-30-

Note to editors: The website for INRA http://www.inra.org.

CONTACT: Bob Hoover, president of the University of Idaho and of the Inland Northwest Research Alliance, (208) 885-9191, hoover@uidaho.edu, or Gautam Pillay, executive director of INRA, (208) 282-7902, gpillay@inra.org, or Ted DeLaca, Vice Provost for Research at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, (415) 346-4000, or Carla Browning, UAF Public Information Officer, (907) 474-7778.

CJB/10-15-01/02-017