UAF researchers named to innovators hall of fame
April 4, 2019
Three UAF researchers were named to the 2019 Alaska State Committee on Research Innovator’s
Hall of Fame: Seth Danielson, Jerome Johnson and Matthew Sturm.
Danielson played essential, early roles in the conceptualization and development of the remote power module, which was initially inducted in the 2014-2015 class of the Alaska Innovators Hall of Fame. The RPM is an autonomous power generation unit collaboratively designed, built and tested by Professor Emeritus Thomas Weingartner, Danielson and a technical team led by university research analyst Hank Statscewich. The RPM units are deployed in remote regions typically without road and vehicle access (aside from snowmachines, skiffs or four-wheelers).
Johnson, a co-founder and CEO of startup company Coupi, Inc., was inducted for his research and innovation contributions in snow and soil strength in relation to infrastructure development and human interactions, development of the discrete element method model and its applications including in the design of NASA’s Mars Rover, and for his awards and distinctions that have helped put Alaska research on the world stage.
Sturm has studied snow and developed better ways to measure it. His achievements include identifying causes of avalanches, discovering new forms of snow crystals, and publishing well over 100 journal articles, many with widespread impact. He coauthored a book, "Finding the Arctic," to communicate snow science to the general public, and a children’s book, "Apun – The Arctic Snow," that teachers can use in the classroom. As an entrepreneur, Sturm, along with Jon Holmgren, co-founded the company Snow-Hydro LLC, which produces specialized instruments and equipment for snow research and hydrology.
For more information email Amanda Byrd at agbyrd@alaska.edu.