Category: Research

Research Vessel Sikuliaq Expands Ways to Study Gulf of Alaska Ecosystems

Sikuliaq pulls into Seward before departing for the Northern Gulf of Alaska Long-term Ecological Research cruise in May. Photo by Sarah Spanos

Editor’s note: New funding and the use of the research vessel Sikuliaq have revolutionized data collection in the Gulf of Alaska by increasing the space and workforce available to conduct complex experiments at sea.

With 20 years of research and data to support their efforts, scientists in the Northern Gulf of Alaska Long-term Ecological Research program strive to better understand how physical processes and climate variability influence the base of the food web in the productive northern Gulf of Alaska. Led by researchers from the University of Alaska Fairbanks College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences and their collaborators, the first LTER research expedition on Sikuliaq concluded in May 2018.

This is the first story in a four-part series documenting successes and preliminary findings from that expedition.

The Gulf of Alaska supports a diverse ecosystem that includes several commercially important fisheries, as well as culturally and economically important marine mammals and birds. All of these species are fueled by tiny organisms at the base of the food chain. Observations indicate that changes in these communities of tiny organisms are linked to climate variability, but these links are poorly understood. Researchers want to better understand these links so they can evaluate how the gulf’s fisheries and marine mammals may be impacted by changes in the environment.

Read the full article here.

Source: Research vessel Sikuliaq expands ways to study Gulf of Alaska ecosystems – News Miner

Alaska September Economic Trends

SeptTrendsSeptember Trends features results of our 2018 Rental Market Survey, a profile of Alaska’s auto industry, and a look at how the decennial census affects funding allocations and other important decisions. We also look at why total wages are up from this time last year, even though the state continued to lose jobs over the same period.

Also in this issue: The auto industry and how it has been less vulnerable during the recession.

Read the full issue here.

Source: Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development

Werner to Discuss Fisheries and Ocean Research Technology

Photo courtesy of Cisco Werner
Cisco Werner stands near the ice edge in Svalbard.
Date: September 12, 2018
Time: 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Location: University of Alaska Fairbanks Murie Building auditorium

A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) chief science advisor will talk about emerging technologies for fisheries and ocean research from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12, on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus.

NOAA’s Cisco Werner will present the 2018 Fisheries and Ocean Sciences Keynote Seminar, sponsored by the UAF College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences.

Werner’s presentation in Fairbanks will be in the Murie Building auditorium. Streaming is available at media.uaf.edu.

Source: Werner to discuss fisheries and ocean research technology – UAF Cornerstone

Alaska Teacher to Join International Arctic Research Expedition

 

moira_ship-547x600
Photo courtesy of Moira O’Malley
Fairbanks teacher Moira O’Malley poses in front of the Arctic research ship Akademik Tryoshnikov, which she will live on for the next 55 days.

Oceanographers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks International Arctic Research Center embark this week for a 55-day research expedition in the eastern Arctic Ocean. This year, Fairbanks elementary school teacher Moira O’Malley will join the team.

“I am ecstatic about this opportunity,” O’Malley said.

O’Malley will write a daily blog, providing updates that are exciting, fun, and written to get youth interested and involved in Arctic research. Her second-graders at Watershed School in Fairbanks will be among many Alaska students and educators following along. Once a week, students will get to ask O’Malley questions about research and life on a 438-foot scientific vessel, the Akademik Tryoshnikov.

Source: Alaska teacher to join international Arctic research expedition – UAF News and Information

Alaska August Economic Trends

Trends_August2018August Trends includes an update on the state’s home sales and why prices have remained steady and even rising in some places despite the state’s recession that began in late 2015. Also this month is an overview of our recently released population projections for 2017 to 2045.

Read the full issue here.

Source: Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development