News briefs

Submitted by Kay Koerner
Phone: 907-474-6959
05/15/08

UAF professors co-author book on education

Two professors from the UAF College of Liberal Arts collaborated with a colleague from the University of Texas-Pan American to write "Education Reform in the American States," which was recently published by Information Age Publishing. The book evaluates education reform by placing current trends of accountability in historical context, specifically focusing on the No Child Left Behind Act. Co-authors of the book include Jerry McBeath, UAF political science professor, Mary Ehrlander, UAF assistant professor of history and Maria Elena Reyes, University of Texas-Pan American professor, formerly a faculty member in the UAF School of Education.

ACRC recognized as state climate office

The Alaska Climate Research Center has achieved the status of a recognized state climate office by the American Association of State Climatologists. ACRC is the first office in Alaska to receive this designation, which is awarded to centers that actively participate in climate services, research, and education and outreach. The recognition was announced in April. The AASC is a professional scientific organization of state, regional and federal climate services More information is available at www.stateclimate.org.

UAF alumna on ’Jeopardy!’

UAF alumna Tania Clucas was a contestant on a recent episode of "Jeopardy!" Despite temporarily taking the lead, and being in second place going into final jeopardy, she guessed incorrectly on a question about the surviving wife of Henry VIII and ended up losing everything she had wagered, finishing in second place. Clucas is a North Pole resident and is vice president of the Fairbanks chapter of the UAF Alumni Association.

Research assistant professor wins national dissertation award

Amy Tidwell was the recipient of the 2008 Ph.D. Dissertation Award in the field of natural science and engineering from the Universities Council on Water Resources. Her dissertation is titled "Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change on River Basin Management: A New Method with Application to the Nile River." She has been invited to receive the award and present her dissertation at the UCOWR annual banquet in Durham, N.C. The award comes with a $750 check and a stipend for travel expenses. Tidwell is a research assistant professor at the Water and Environmental Research Center at the Institute of Northern Engineering.