Science for Alaska lectures to begin in Juneau

Submitted by Marmian Grimes
Phone: 907-474-7902
03/11/09

University of Alaska Southeast associate professor of physics Matt Heavner will speak in Juneau Wednesday, March 18 in the first of two installments of the Juneau leg of the 2009 Science for Alaska Lecture Series.

His topic is, "SEAMONSTER: Learning About the Glacier in your own Backyard." The free public lecture will begin at 7 p.m. in Centennial Hall. Heavner will speak about his research using SEAMONSTER--the Southeast Alaska Monitoring Network for Science, Telecommunications, Education and Research--a web of sensors that monitors glacier change and its effects on coastal watersheds and ecosystems.

The second lecture, "Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Tragedy, Mystery and Optimism," is scheduled for Tuesday, March 24 at 7 p.m. at Centennial Hall. During this lecture, University of Alaska Fairbanks researcher Michael Harris will discuss his research on SIDS, which claims the lives of thousands of infants nationwide every year. He will also discuss why SIDS rates in Alaska are up to five times the national average.

Since 1992, the Science for Alaska Lecture Series has brought the current research of University of Alaska scientists to the community in free presentations that are entertaining and educational.

The 2009 Juneau Science for Alaska Lecture Series is sponsored by Alyeska Pipeline Service Company and the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

CONTACT: Ann Ringstad, director of community advocacy, at 907-474-5922 or via e-mail at ann@alaska.edu. Marmian Grimes, UAF public information officer, at 907-474-7902 or via e-mail at marmian.grimes@uaf.edu.

ON THE WEB: www.scienceforalaska.com

KCK/3-11-09/125-09