UAF names International Arctic Research Center deputy director

Submitted by Marmian Grimes
Phone: (907) 474-7902
01/20/06

UAF alumnus and longtime professor Larry Hinzman has been named deputy director of the University of Alaska Fairbanks International Arctic Research Center. In this position, Hinzman will be preparing to take the helm at the center upon the retirement of founding director Syun-Ichi Akasofu in 2007.

Hinzman is a strong leader equipped to continue IARC’s mission of cooperative research in the Arctic, said Akasofu.

"It is at this juncture that IARC should establish a closer tie with the U.S. arctic research community for expanded development,"? he said. "Hinzman is an ideal person for this purpose, since he has been active in multiple arctic research projects."?

Hinzman is an expert in hydrology, soil science and permafrost, and remote sensing. He has studied the Arctic for more than two decades as research faculty at UAF’s Water and Environmental Research Center. During his tenure, he has served as a mentor to dozens of graduate students, participated in more than 100 conferences and published his research results in multiple scientific journals.

Hinzman has dual bachelor’s degrees, in soil science and chemistry, from South Dakota State University and earned his master’s degree from Purdue University in agronomy, with an emphasis in remote sensing. In 1990, he graduated from UAF with a Ph.D. in soil physics, with an emphasis in arctic hydrology, and decided to remain in Alaska to continue his research.

"When I came up here it just seemed like there was so much to do and so many opportunities,"? said Hinzman. "UAF is in a great position to conduct important research on problems that our state and nation need to have resolved."?

Recently, Hinzman was lead author on a paper published in the journal "Climatic Change"? that presented a comprehensive examination of the cascading effects climate change is having on the land, vegetation, animals, weather and human systems in the Arctic. The paper was the result of decades of research by dozens of scientists in multiple disciplines.

"That exemplifies what I want to do at IARC,"? he said. "We want to serve as a synthesis center. Scientists from across the nation can come to Alaska to work with other arctic scientists from around the world to develop a more coherent understanding of arctic processes."?

The International Arctic Research Center was established in 1999 as a cooperative research institute and is funded by both the U.S. and Japanese governments. It serves as a focal point of synthesizing arctic research efforts and communicates the results to the global climate research community. IARC’s core research group interacts with scientists from many parts of the world, enabling climate change research to be an international effort. The center is poised to play a major role in International Polar Year, which commences in 2007 and will focus worldwide research interest on the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

As a researcher and research coordinator, Hinzman has been affiliated with IARC for several years and has extensive experience working with international researchers. He notes that his work has allowed him to visit every northern country and to collaborate with colleagues throughout the Arctic.

"I am delighted to have a more official role at IARC,"? he said. "I am hopeful I can continue to help arctic science advance."?

CONTACT: IARC Director Syun-Ichi Akasofu at (907) 474-6012 or sakasofu@iarc.uaf.edu. IARC Deputy Director Larry Hinzman at (907) 474-7331 or via e-mail ffldh@uaf.edu. UAF public information officer Marmian Grimes at (907) 474-7902 or via e-mail at marmian.grimes@uaf.edu

ON THE WEB: www.iarc.uaf.edu

High resolution photos are available for download.