Chapin named to the National Academy of Sciences

Submitted by Marie Gilbert
Phone: (907) 474-7412
04/21/04

University of Alaska Fairbanks Institute of Arctic Biology Professor F. Stuart (Terry) Chapin III, one of the nation’s leading ecologists and a pioneer in the field of terrestrial ecosystem ecology, was elected this week to the National Academy of Sciences, one of the highest honors bestowed upon a United States scientist. Chapin, who received a 5 a.m. wake-up call Tuesday from NAS telling him of his election, is the first NAS member from the University of Alaska and the first from Alaska.

It is the NAS, by virtue of its mandate, that advises the federal government in any matter of science or technology. Established in 1863 by a congressional act signed by Abraham Lincoln, the NAS’ membership numbers only 1,949.

"I have a huge amount of respect for what NAS does," Chapin said. "It’s one of the few ways scientists can engage in issues of policy importance."

"We’re immensely proud of Terry," IAB Director Brian Barnes said. "This is a well-deserved honor recognizing his contributions not just to ecosystem science and ecology in Alaska, but truly nationally and internationally. It is also an honor for the University of Alaska Fairbanks and recognition of the high caliber of research that we do here."

Chapin’s research, which began in Alaska in the late 1960s, focuses on how plants have adapted to high-latitude environments and, more recently, has expanded to focus on how people affect ecosystems and global processes and the ways in which ecological, cultural, and economic processes interact to determine the responses of regions to global change.

Other scientists have cited Chapin’s 300 publications more than 12,500 times in the scientific literature. His work has had a profound influence on experimental studies in ecology and the understanding of the role of biodiversity in ecosystem function.

"Science has a lot to offer to many of the major challenges facing Alaska, including changes in climate, cultures, and renewable and nonrenewable resources," Chapin said.

"Perhaps the Academy will provide opportunities to broaden the search for innovative solutions to these challenges. It may also be a place to convey the insights gained from recent Alaska research on these issues to people who are facing similar challenges in other parts of the world.

"Basically, Alaska is a microcosm of many of the challenges faced elsewhere, but we still have the opportunity and the resources to do things right - if we can figure out what to do," Chapin said.

Chapin, who received his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1973, has been at IAB for 22 years and teaches ecosystem ecology and ecosystems of Alaska.

He is the principal investigator at the Bonanza Creek www.lter.uaf.edu/ Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program in interior Alaska, which focuses on improving understanding of the long-term consequences of changing climate and disturbance regimes in Alaska’s boreal forest.

Chapin is also the director of the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Training (IGERT- www.rap.uaf.edu program in Regional Resilience and Adaptation (RR&A), which trains UAF Ph.D. students in biology, anthropology, and economics in interdisciplinary studies of how to sustain the desirable features of Earth’s ecosystems and society at a time of rapid change.

Chapin also studies human-fire interactions in the boreal forest; especially important in Alaska’s boreal forest where fire is the dominant natural disturbance and is affected by both recent climate warming and changes in how people deal with fire.

Alaska is the recipient of several NAS-sponsored research projects:

A National Research Council project, part of the NAS, produced the 2003 book titled, "Cumulative Environmental Effects of Alaskan North Slope Oil and Gas Activities," which identified accumulated environmental, social and economic effects of oil and gas leasing, exploration, and production on Alaska’s North Slope.

Another NRC project, begun in 2001 on the steller sea lion, produced the 2003 book "The decline of the steller sea lion in Alaskan waters: Untangling food webs and fishing nets"

In 1997, the NAS’ Commission of Life Sciences produced, "Wolves, bears, and their prey in Alaska: Biological and social challenges in wildlife management."

CONTACT: IAB Publications and Information Coordinator Marie Gilbert at (907) 474-7412 or marie.gilbert@uaf.edu for more information.

Additional resources:
IAB www.iab.uaf.edu
Bonanza Creek LTER www.lter.uaf.edu/
NAS http://national-academies.org
IGERT www.rap.uaf.edu/