Backstage pass to UAF’s research
John Haverlack explains the mobile solar-powered nanogrid power system to attendees during the 2024 Arctic Research Open House.
May 19, 2024
Hundreds of Fairbanks area residents received a backstage pass to UAF’s Rockin’ Research at the 2024 Arctic Research Open House last Thursday evening on West Ridge, under sunny skies and warm weather.
This year, in addition to the crowd-pleasing bicycle generator hosted by Tom Marsik, ACEP’s booth boasted a mobile solar-powered nanogrid — a self-sufficient power grid system, often smaller than a microgrid.
The grid on a trailer was the brainchild of ACEP’s information security lead John Haverlack and was built with the assistance of data science researcher Jesse Kaczmarski. The nanogrid drew the attention of visitors of all ages, and tours of the system gave a behind-the-scenes view of how the power of the sun can generate electricity and power appliances.
Children look on as Teaching Through Technology's Adam Low touches wires together that are attached to a battery, ready to power a robot toothbrush.
ACEP shared their booth with UAF’s Teaching Through Technology. Children built and took home robot toothbrushes while learning about electric currents and energy. T3’s Adam Low helped children understand the physics behind harnessing the chemical energy of a battery with wires to create kinetic energy and creating mechanical energy when connected to a toothbrush.
Other research units from across UAF showcased their work in labs and foyers and under tents outside, while music made the event seem even more festive.
The Arctic Research Open House is an event organized by the communications and storytelling leads of UAF’s research units and sponsored by UAF’s Vice Chancellor for Research Nettie Labelle-Hamer.