Brian Barnes wins UA Foundation Bullock Prize
August 26, 2020
The University of Alaska Foundation announced that it will award the 2020 Edith R. Bullock Prize to Brian Barnes. Barnes is director of UAF’s Institute of Arctic Biology and has been a faculty member for more than three decades.
The Bullock Prize honors and showcases the extraordinary achievements of individuals on behalf of the UA system. The recognition includes a $15,000 award, which can be used as the recipient wishes. It is the single largest cash award presented by the UA Foundation’s Board of Directors each year.
“Edith Bullock made a generous contribution to the university that enabled this award,” said Foundation chair Cynthia Cartledge. “Dr. Barnes’ hibernation and Arctic research, along with his management of the Toolik Field Station, actively contribute to the advancement of Arctic research and education throughout the UA system and internationally.”
Since 1986 Barnes has been a faculty member with the Department of Biology and Wildlife and a researcher with the Institute of Arctic Biology. He became the director of the Institute of Arctic Biology in 2002. Since he joined the UAF faculty, his research interests have focused on the physiological ecology and endocrinology of hibernating mammals and overwintering biology of animals including Arctic ground squirrels, black bears and insects.
In 2014, he became the principal investigator and director for the Alaska IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence. INBRE is Alaska’s biomedical research program and is funded by the National Institutes of General Sciences. Alaska INBRE strives to enhance biomedical research, training, and education.
“Brian has done a masterful job of utilizing the intrinsic appeal of his science (those squirrels really are cute, aren’t they?) and his down-to-earth persona to present understandable science to the public,” said UAF Provost Emeritus Paul Reichardt in his nomination. “In fact, one could argue that in the long run, the impact of his public media publications and appearances may rival or even exceed the impact of his scientific publications.”
The Bullock Prize was established with a generous gift from the late Edith R. Bullock, whose 30 years of service to the university included service on the UA Board of Regents and the UA Foundation Board of Directors. The UA Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3), seeks, secures, and stewards philanthropic support to build excellence at the University of Alaska.
For more information, contact Dory Straight, scholarship officer, UA Foundation, 450-8030.