UAS Adds Two Professors in Marine Fisheries

The University of Alaska Southeast welcomes new marine fisheries professors: Keith Cox and Michael Navarro in the Department of Natural Sciences

Dr. Keith Cox has joined UAS as an assistant professor of marine fisheries in the Department of Natural Sciences. For the past three years, Cox has served as the director for the Alaska Native Science and Engineering (ANSEP) program at UAS and has taught microbiology in the department. Cox’s doctorate is in fish physiology and bioenergetics from West Virginia University. He also holds a master’s of science degree in aquatic ecology from Texas State University and a bachelor’s of science in Biology from Centenary College of Louisiana. He will continue to support the ANSEP program and teach biology courses.

Dr. Michael Navarro has joined UAS as an assistant professor of marine fisheries in the Department of Natural Sciences. Navarro comes to UAS from California State University Monterey Bay where he has been a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Scholar in ocean sciences for two years. Navarro’s doctorate is in biological oceanography from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego; he also holds a master of science degree in biological science from California State University Fullerton and a bachelor’s of science degree in biology from the University of California Los Angeles.

Navarro brings faculty expertise for developing new courses in marine fisheries at UAS. He will also teach biology courses and supervise undergraduate research to support the growth of UAS’ marine biology and environmental science baccalaureate programs.

Source: UAS has three new arts and sciences faculty | Juneau Empire – Alaska’s Capital City Online Newspaper

UAS Marine Fisheries Faculty Participates in Submarine Research

navarroJUNEAU – New UAS Assistant Professor of Marine Fisheries Dr. Mike Navarro is currently participating in the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) oceanographic training cruise for early-career marine scientists. Dr. Navarro joins the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) this fall. He earned his PhD at the University of California San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and has most recently served as a post-doctoral researcher with California State University in Monterey Bay. His duties at UAS will include working on an expanded partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks, moving toward a joint Bachelor of Science degree in Fisheries.

Dr. Navarro is currently aboard the RV Atlantis, from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, through August 7. According to project spokesman Karl Bates, “this cruise is intended to help these young researchers become leaders at sea and on land, and as part of the training they will be learning about communicating with the general public and sharing the excitement of the scientific process as it happens.” Marine scientists will be interacting with “Alvin,” a human-occupied submarine, as well as an autonomous robot submarine called “Sentry.” The group is planning live video shows to Facebook Live on several evenings. Scientists will host these broadcasts which will feature videos and photos from onboard the sub, and giving updates on what is found. The researchers are also using social media to post updates on both Twitter and Instagram, using the hashtag #SeaFloorSci. They can be followed on Twitter @AT36_EAGER and on Instagram @at36_eager.

UA President Jim Johnsen affirmed that this offering is in line with his consideration of undergraduate fisheries in Juneau, as outlined in Strategic Pathways. The UA Fisheries, Seafood, and Maritime Initiative (FSMI) plan recognizes Alaska’s need for management and research employees in fisheries and marine biology. Those interested in pursuing careers in these fields are encouraged to contact the UAS Admissions Office or the UAS School of Arts & Sciences for more information. Both offices can be accessed through http://www.uas.alaska.edu or by calling 907-796-6100.

For more information contact Keni Campbell, Public Information Officer, at 907-796-6509.

Dr. Mike Navarro, Dr. Michael Navarro, principal investigator, directing the seafloor marine life team during the San Diego Coastal Expedition, 2012, photo credit: http://www.michael-o-navarro.com

UAS Tech Prep Films Win Telly Award

JUNEAU — Juneau-based G-Force Productions Digital Cinema has been named a winner at the 27th annual Telly Awards for their series “UAS Tech Prep.”

Competing with more than 13,000 entries from the U.S. and other countries at the Telly Awards, “UAS Tech Prep”won in category “Online video series & campaign — promotional.”

The three films that make up “UAS Tech Prep” featured UAS students, teachers and officials from Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka as well as high school students in Ketchikan, Sitka and Wrangell, and state officials such as Rep. Cathy Muñoz, R-Juneau, and Gov. Bill Walker.

The Telly Awards were founded in 1979 and are the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional and cable TV commercials and programs, the finest video and film productions, online commercials, videos and films.

“The Telly Awards has a mission to honor the very best in film and video,” said Executive Director Linda Day. “G-Force Production’s accomplishment illustrates their creativity, skill and dedication to their craft and serves as a testament to great film and video production.”

“One of the biggest reasons this series won an award was the amazing people at UAS,” said Gabe Strong, the owner and operator of G-Force Production who filmed and edited the series. “From the very beginning, Kim Szczatko, Pete Traxler and the Tech Prep department had a very strong vision about how they wanted the films to look. Juneau and the rest of Southeast Alaska should be proud to have such a great university with fantastic, talented people right here in Southeast Alaska. And the high school students in Wrangell deserve a special shout out. They volunteered and jumped right into acting in the ‘dramatization’ scenes and did an amazing job.”

To find out more about the Telly Awards visit www.tellyawards.com and to find out more about G-Force Productions visit www.gforcevideo.com.

Source: CapitalCityWeekly.com – Southeast Alaska’s Online Newspaper