UAF to host AAAS 53rd Arctic Science Conference

Submitted by Carla Browning
Phone: (907) 474-7778
09/12/02

International researchers will gather on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus September 18 - 20 to present the results of research on the Arctic during the 53rd annual Arctic Science Conference.

More than 200 scientists will emphasize the interrelationships between northern land, air and ocean ecosystems. Special sessions will be devoted to recent scientific results in the Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea and Arctic Ocean. Presentations include discussion of studies on climate change, cold regions engineering, hydrology, human health, fisheries and oceanography, and biology of northern wildlife species.

The annual meeting is sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Arctic Division. The UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences is coordinating the event.

More information about other conferences, individual studies, meeting times and locations is available on the web .

SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS

More than 200 studies will be reported. Abstracts of each presentation will be available at the conference. However, if you’d like to receive a specific abstract in advance, please contact Maggie Billington, Conference Coordinator, (907) 474-7707, maggie@sfos.uaf.edu.

Aerial Pollen and Spore Dispersal and Climate Change in Alaska: While studies have generally found that pollen production has increased as climate has warmed in Alaska, research done since 1990 found substantial reductions in certain types of pollen production. Contact: J.H. Anderson, UAF institute of Arctic Biology, (907) 474-7442 or e-mail: ffjha@uaf.edu.

Evaluation of 240Pu/239Pu Ratios in Terrestrial Soil Versus Marine Sediments in the Western Alaska and Bering Sea Region: Findings provide evidence that there may be a source of plutonium other than global fallout to the Bering Sea region. Resolving this issue is critical to the assessment of the leakage of radionuclides from the former Amchitka Island nuclear underground test site. Contact: D.H. Dasher, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation at (907) 451-2172 or e-mail: doug_dasher@envircon.state.ak.us.

Scientific Worker and Licensed Professional Deaths in Alaska, 1990-2001: Being a scientist in Alaska is a dangerous job. Scientists and professional workers in Alaska experienced substantial numbers of deaths from traumatic injury. Nearly half of the 87 deaths during the study period resulted from aircraft accidents. Contact: George Conway, National Institutes of Occupational Health and Safety, at (907) 271-5249 or e-mail: gconway@cdc.gov.

A Century of Growth and Advance of Hubbard Glacier: Hubbard Glacier is a conspicuous example of the small number of tidewater glaciers that are currently growing and advancing. This atypical behavior is an important example of how insensitive to climate glaciers can become during parts of the calving cycle. As this glacier continues to advance, it is expected block the seaward entrance to Russell Fjord. Contact D.C. Trabant, U.S. Geological Survey, (907) 474-1934 or e-mail: dtrabant@usgs.gov.

An education workshop sponsored by the Association for Women in Science will address effective strategies and tools for assessment of student learning. Diane Ebert-May from Michigan State University is the presenter. She is also guest speaker at the AWIS luncheon with the topic: New Ways for Scientists to Nurture Scientists. Contact Elena Sparrow, UAF School of Agriculture and Land Resources Management, (907) 474-7699 or e-mail: ffebs@uaf.edu.

CONTACT: Carla Browning, Public Information Officer at (907) 474-7778 or carla.browning@alaska.edu or Terry Whitledge, Institute of Marine Science (907) 474-7229 or e-mail: terry@ims.uaf.edu, or Maggie Billington, Conference Coordinator at (907) 474-7707 or maggie@sfos.uaf.edu.