Science website launched

April 28, 2011

University Relations

A UAF scientist has launched Frontier Scientists, a new website that aims to link Alaska scientists with people curious about Arctic discoveries.

Frontier Scientists shares first-person accounts from archeologists, biologists, volcanologists, climate change specialists and other scientists studying the North. The site chronicles scientific discoveries via video clips from the field, Twitter feeds, blogs and web reports. The research is organized into six categories: grizzlies, petroglyphs, paleo-Eskimo, Cook Inlet volcanoes, Alutiiq weavers and climate change watch.

“We want travelers, teachers, students, aspiring scientists and anyone else interested in science to feel as if they are along when scientists are tracking a grizzly or documenting how climate change is disrupting Alaska ways of life,” said Greg Newby, chief scientist of the UAF Arctic Region Supercomputing Center and the project’s leader. “Visitors to Frontier Scientists can ask their own questions to our scientists directly, follow some of them on Twitter and Facebook, and converse on their blogs.”

Frontier Scientists also provides resources and tips on things to do in Alaska for those considering travel to the Last Frontier, whether on an Alaska cruise or a backpacking expedition. To encourage people to post their own Alaska photos, the site is holding the “My Alaska” photo contest from April 26 until May 9.

Frontier Scientists is funded by the National Science Foundation, with additional support from the National Park Service and 360 North.

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Greg Newby, project leader, at 907-450-8663 or newby@arsc.edu. Elizabeth O’Connell, WonderVisions, at 541-312-2419 or wondervision2@yahoo.com.