New UAF aurora film debuts at AGU conference

December 13, 2016

University of Alaska Fairbanks scientists are presenting their work at the American Geophysical Union’s fall meeting in San Francisco this week. Here are some highlights of their research, as shared at the world’s largest Earth and space science meeting.

A short film produced by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute made its public debut on Tuesday, providing a new view of the aurora to a crowd of scientists attending the AGU fall conference.

“Kiuguyat: The Northern Lights” combines scientific and indigenous perspectives. Researchers from the University of Alaska highlight the science behind the lights, while Inupiaq elders from Barrow, Kotzebue and Nome discuss their cultural connection to the aurora.

The 25-minute film is part of a $1.4 million U.S. Department of Education grant that UAF was awarded in 2014. The project was completed just before the conference, allowing it to be shown as part of a collection of science films.

“I’m really proud of the project,” GI Communications Director Lynda McGilvary said. “It’s been very satisfying to get to know the Inupiaq community in this way.”

Scientists contributing to the film included University of Alaska Anchorage Astromony Professor Travis Rector, UAF Research Professor Robert Herrick, GI postdoctoral researcher Nate Murphy and GI Director Bob McCoy.

The film, which was made by Open Lens Productions, is also designed to be shown on a planetarium dome. Its Alaska debut will be in January at UAA’s Planetarium and Visualization Theater. Using an inflatable planetarium known as a STARLAB, the film and an accompanying study guide will also travel next year to 20 rural Alaska schools.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb0WlrkcOak