UAF Hosts Tundra Stamp Unveiling

Submitted by Tori Tragis
Phone: (907) 474-6438
06/19/03

The University of Alaska Fairbanks will host the U.S. Postal Service on July 2 as it honors the flora and fauna that inhabit Alaska’s arctic tundra when 10 new commemorative postage stamps are issued in Fairbanks.

The first-day-of-issue ceremony for the Arctic Tundra stamps will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the International Arctic Research Center (IARC) on the West Ridge of the UAF campus. The ceremony is free and open to the public.

The 37-cent, self-adhesive arctic tundra stamps will be available only at the event and at Fairbanks post offices on July 2. They will be available at post offices across the country the following day.

Researchers Brian Barnes and Donald (Skip) Walker from UAF’s Institute of Arctic Biology and John E. Hobbie from the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Mass., served as consultants on the project to ensure an accurate and dynamic portrayal of life in the Arctic.

Scheduled to join Barnes at the first day ceremony are Postmaster General John E. Potter, who will dedicate the stamps; Sen. Ted Stevens; Dr. Syun-Ichi Akasofu, director, IARC; Orie Williams, director, Doyon, Ltd; and Fairbanks Postmaster Raymond E. Clark.

Parking at IARC is very limited due to construction in the area. A shuttle will be available in the Farmers Loop Taku parking lot beginning at 4 p.m. For information, please call 474-7581.

A high-resolution image of the stamp can be downloaded from http://www.uaf.edu/files/news/download/releasephotos/arctic_stamp.jpg.

CONTACT: Tori Tragis, special events coordinator, at (907) 474-6438 or tori.tragis@uaf.edu,, or Chris Lace, assistant to the director, IARC, at (907) 474-7413 or clace@iarc.uaf.edu.