UA Newswire September 14, 2022

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Connecting Alaska's press to UA News

September 14, 2022

Research, workforce development and economic growth news stories and other feature articles from the University of Alaska Anchorage, University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Alaska Southeast, University of Alaska System Office and the UA Foundation. Compiled by the University of Alaska System Office of Public Affairs.

University of Alaska Anchorage

A calling, not a job: UAA’s Atwood Chair discusses the craft of storytelling

“At this point in my career, I feel that there's no better place for me to be than in the classroom, and to share my professional experience and my passion for journalism with the next generation of storytellers,” said John Sharify, UAA’s 2022-23 Atwood Chair of Journalism. Sharify’s journalism career spans more than four decades, and he has done it all — print, radio, television and now, in this new age of news, digital.

Sharify is a 79-time Emmy award winner with nine National Edward R. Murrow awards. Sharify is a two-time National Press Photographer Associations’s (NPPA) Reporter of the Year and twice runner-up.

His passion for journalism has taken him around the world, presenting workshops on the craft of video journalism in newsrooms.

Contact Catalina Myers for more information.

John Sharify, UAA Department of Journalism and Public Communications 2022 Atwood Chair of Journalism, has a career that spans four decades, has taken him around the world and the recipient of many accolades. Despite his success, he remains steadfast in his desire to "tell the stories that matter." (Photo by James Evans / University of Alaska Anchorage)

Attend Democracy & Civic Action Week, September 19-23

Since 2018, UAA's Democracy & Civic Action Week has invited students, faculty, staff and community members to explore diverse perspectives about the role of democracy and civic engagement in the United States. This year's theme is “Building Community” and will be taking place September 19-23.

Contact UAA Center for Community Engagement and Learning for more information.

The UAA Bakery Cart Now Open!

The Bakery Cart opened on September 8! The cart's operating hours are Wednesday's and Thursday's from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., September 8 to October 20. Orders will only be accepted online at The Bakery Cart at Lucy's Mobile Bites site. Menus become available at 10:45 a.m. on the day of service. The Bakery Cart is student-run and part of the CA A111 Bakery Skills Development Lab curriculum.

Contact Catalina Myers for more information.

IN THE NEWS:

UAA volleyball star Stephens breaks conference kills mark in Seawolves win

University of Alaska Anchorage senior Eve Stephens set a new conference mark for most career kills on Saturday as the Seawolves defeated Western Oregon 3-0 (25-21, 25-11, 25-18).

Stephens, a Colony High grad from Palmer, recorded nine kills to push her career total to 1,630, setting a new high mark in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The previous mark was held by Western Washington’s Abby Phelps, who had 1,628 kills from 2015-18.

By Anchorage Daily News

University of Alaska Fairbanks

UAF scientists lead Arctic section of State of the Climate report

University of Alaska Fairbanks scientists at the International Arctic Research Center (IARC) are among world experts leading the State of the Climate report, which summarizes global environmental conditions in 2021.

IARC’s Rick Thoman is once again the lead editor of the Arctic chapter, which shares a comprehensive update on the region’s climate indicators, notable weather events and more. Thoman emphasized that the sections on Arctic pollution and glacier change are of particular interest to Alaskans.

Contact Heather McFarland for more information.

UAF researchers are studying how methane released by a warming Arctic is a powerful force in global climate change. Prajna Lindgren, left, with the Geophysical Institute, and Melanie Engram with the Water and Environmental Research Center, demonstrate the release of methane from frozen ponds throughout the far north. / UAF Photo

UAF, Latitude 65 to launch Nanook 65 Golden Ale

The University of Alaska Fairbanks has teamed up with Fairbanks’ Latitude 65 Brewing Company on a new beer that will boost scholarships for Alaska Nanooks student-athletes.

Latitude 65 will formally launch Nanook 65 Golden Ale at a keg-tapping event Thursday, Sept. 15, from 4-6 p.m. at its brewery in Fairbanks. UAF will host a similar event the following day, Friday, Sept. 16, from 5-7 p.m. at The Pub in the Wood Center on campus.

Contact Marmian Grimes for more information.

Frigid but not rigid — researchers discover surprising plant phenomenon

Peter Ray and Syndonia Bret-Harte have studied Arctic plants for a combined 50 years. But they recently found there was still more to learn when an accidental experiment led to a surprising discovery about how such plants behave in the snow.

Common sense would say that freezing temperatures made the branches more rigid. But much to Bret-Harte’s surprise, the branches bent even farther in the cold.

Contact Haley Dunleavy for more information.

University of Alaska Southeast

UAS to receive $2.3 Million dollars to support Mariculture workforce development

On September 2nd President Biden announced the 21 winners of the $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge, this includes $49 million for Southeast Conference and the Alaska Mariculture Cluster, of which, UAS will receive $2.3 Million to support its growing mariculture program and workforce development in this emerging industry.

Contact Keni Campbell for more information.

UAS Mariculture research

Assistant Professor Angie Bowers collects sorus tissue from fertile bullkelp with student Julie Sorrells to create seeded lines for outplanting in Sitka Sound./ UAS Photo

University of Alaska Southeast Chancellor Search Underway

Earlier this year, University of Alaska Southeast Chancellor Karen Carey announced that she would be retiring at the end of the academic year, June 30. A nine-member search committee has been appointed to recruit the next UAS chancellor, and today the committee made public the position profile, candidate attributes and search timeline.

Contact Keni Campbell for more information.

University of Alaska Southeast and UAA Collaborate on Project LEAF -- Literacy Equity for Alaskan Families

The School of Education at the University of Alaska Anchorage received a $3M federal professional development grant, Project LEAF (Literacy Equity for Alaskan Families), through the Office of English Language Acquisition. Lisa Richardson, Ph.D., associate professor of education at University of Alaska Southeast, who coordinates the Reading Specialist M.Ed. program, is collaborating with Dr. Cathy Coulter and Dr. John-Shields of UAA to design and teach courses for this graduate certificate program.

Contact Keni Campbell for more information.

UA System Office

UA Board of Regents set FY24 budget priorities,
recognize outstanding staff

During its two-day meeting in Juneau, the University of Alaska Board of Regents addressed Alaska’s critical needs for a qualified workforce, the success of the dual enrollment programs across the system, and investments in the university to improve the student experience, faculty capacity, research and innovation to empower Alaska’s future.

Contact Robbie Graham for more information.

BOR members

Board of Regents Chair Sheri Buretta and Vice Chair Karen Perdue at a meeting in Fairbanks. / UA System file photo.

UA System "Did You Know?"

Did you know, dual enrollment programs are attracting and retaining more Alaska students into the UA system?

These opportunities including Middle Colleges, the Alaska Advantage program, ANSEP Acceleration Academies, and other programs, improve student outcomes in high school and college, and they save Alaska families thousands of dollars in education costs.

Contact Monique Musick for more information.

Did you know that Bering Sea mud contains data about ancient history of the area's storms?

R/V Sikuliaq spent nearly a month in the Bering Sea collecting sediment cores to help scientists understand thousands of years of storms and weather conditions along the Aleutian Island Chain. Their goal was to obtain long, cylindrical core samples from the ocean floor in order to research how sediment moved over time.

Contact Rod Boyce for more information.

For more information on the UA Newswire, contact UA Manager of Communications & Marketing Monique Musick at mmusick@alaska.edu

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