Friday Focus: Legacy of research excellence
June 20, 2019
— by Larry Hinzman, vice chancellor for research
UAF is well-known within the state, across the nation and throughout the world for being a research powerhouse. We produce more publications and receive more citations on Arctic science and engineering than any other institution in the world. How did we achieve that level of success, stature and reputation? It came though the diligent hard work and dedication of our faculty, staff and students. It also helps to live in a beautiful place where there are boundless research opportunities.
That reputation began to build in the 1950s and 1960s when the Geophysical Institute and Institute of Arctic Biology were established. Those first researchers were faced with substantial research problems that were limiting our ability to communicate and hampering international recovery from two major wars. But those same problems also captured the imagination of our nation’s citizens.
These challenges drew incredibly gifted researchers to Interior Alaska. These early scientific pioneers attacked such research questions with innovative experiments, meticulous observations, rigorous analyses and even early computer simulations. The infectious enthusiasm of our research predecessors set the stage for working together and reaching out to collaborators around the world. Those collaborations attracted other great researchers from international institutions, creating a wonderful confluence of scientific partnerships. UAF’s reputation for ingenuity, productivity and reliability emerged through those early successes.
The program managers who work in our federal funding agencies are stewards of public money and, quite appropriately, take their duties very seriously. They do not dole out research money for the sparkle of a shiny proposal. They direct the nation’s research funds where they are confident they will see a productive return on the investment. Much of their confidence in UAF researchers derives from a reputation built stronger and stronger, decade after decade. Our senior researchers mentor our early career scientists, providing direction and guidance to complete successful projects and allowing those junior researchers to tap into their reputation by association.
The best method for ensuring continued success in securing research grants is to demonstrate expertise, capability and capacity. Success begets success. Each researcher’s success stems heavily from their own efforts. It also grows from a long legacy of research excellence. UAF’s reputation paves the way for respect and esteem. As an institution or as an individual, our reputation is our most precious asset and must be continuously and vigorously protected and promoted.