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The University of Alaska Fairbanks is planning improvements to the Big Whizzy ski trail on the West Ridge of the UAF campus.

Two public forums will give people an opportunity to offer input on the proposed changes. The first will be Tuesday, Sept. 6 from noon to 4 p.m, in the Wood Center. The second will be Wednesday, Sept. 7 from noon to 4 p.m. in the Akasofu Buiilding lobby.

For a full description of the planned improvements, visit www.uaf.edu/trails or call 907-474-6757.

OTHER CONTACTS: Nicole Nordstrand, North Campus manager, at 907-474-6757 or [email protected]. Peter Fix, North Campus subcommittee chair, at 907-474-6926 or [email protected].

ON THE WEB: www.uaf.edu/trails

MLG/9-1-11/050psa-12

Amy Hartley
907-474-5823
8/31/11

The University of Alaska Fairbanks has selected Robert “Bob” McCoy as the Geophysical Institute’s new director. McCoy will be the fifth scientist to the hold the post since the institute was established in Fairbanks in 1946.

McCoy has more than 15 years of research experience as a space scientist at the Naval Research Laboratory and 15 years of administrative experience at the Office of Naval Research in Arlington, Va., where he is the team leader for space science and technology. Currently, he also serves as the technical director for the Operationally Responsive Space Office in Albuquerque, N.M.

“McCoy’s broad scientific background, combined with his extensive program management experience, makes him the ideal choice to lead the strategic growth of the Geophysical Institute,” said Mark Myers, UAF vice chancellor for research.

Throughout his career, McCoy has overseen multimillion-dollar operating budgets and managed interdisciplinary teams of scientists, engineers, contractors and students. McCoy is a strong advocate for education and K-12 outreach. He has received a variety of awards, including NRL 75th Anniversary Innovator Award in 1998, the Alan Berman Publication Award in 1994 and 2001, the NRL Group Achievement Award in 1983, the NASA Group Achievement Award in 2004 and the Rotary International Stellar Award in 2010.

McCoy earned his bachelor’s degree in physics from Cornell University, a master’s degree in physics from Texas A&M University and a doctorate in astrogeophysics at the University of Colorado in 1981. McCoy will begin his new $160,000-a-year position in October.

“I’ve always admired the Geophysical Institute and it seems to be in the right place at the right time. It’s very exciting to see all of the research areas becoming hot topics right now,” McCoy said from New Mexico. “I see a lot of opportunities for the GI to excel even more.”

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Marmian Grimes, UAF public information officer, at 907-474-7902 or [email protected].

AH/8-31-11/049-12

UAF photo by Maureen McCombs
Freshmen jump in front of the UAF time and temperature sign during the scavenger hunt as part of student orientation.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks will welcome more than 800 new students starting this weekend at the kickoff of new student orientation activities. The four-day event, which runs Sunday, Aug. 28 through Wednesday, Aug. 31, will include workshops and activities for new students and their families, as well as opportunities for students to connect with the Fairbanks community.

Orientation will officially kick off at 7:45 p.m. at Beluga Field with a dedication of the campus’ new Outdoor Education Center. Students will have the chance to meet their orientation leaders and members of their orientation group. Highlights of this year’s new student orientation events include workshops on making sound financial choices in college, a college-life game show, a city tour, sessions with tips for academic success, a disc golf tournament, a special late-night shopping event at West Fairbanks Fred Meyer and a mixer for family members at the Pub Sunday evening. A full schedule of events, as well as information on how to register for orientation, is available online at www.uaf.edu/orientation.

Campus residence halls will open for students to begin moving in at 8 a.m. Sunday Aug. 28. Student move-in includes “Rev It Up” activities in Hess Recreation Center in the Moore-Bartlett-Skarland complex from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is designed to be a one-stop resource for incoming freshmen, but is open to any student. It includes representatives from a wide variety of student services departments on campus who provide information on academics and student life. Residence Life staff members, community volunteers and UAF staffers will be there to help students move into their new homes. This year, more than 1,400 students will live in campus residence halls.

The weekend’s events will also include family orientation on Sunday, Aug. 28. Student services offices will be open after Rev It Up from 3-5 p.m. Classes begin Thursday, Sept. 1.

CONTACT: Damien Snook, new student orientation coordinator, at 907-474-2760 or [email protected].  Jamie Napolski, residential freshman coordinator, 907-474-1885 or [email protected].

ON THE WEB: http://www.uaf.edu/orientation/

MLG/8-26-11/046-12

UAF Photo by Todd Paris
Sophomore Andy Taranto faces off against a Seawolf during the annual Governor's Cup rivalry series in the Carlson Center.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks today accepted an invitation for its men’s ice hockey team to join the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

“The WCHA’s decision will benefit student-athletes from multiple schools, fans from various communities and the sport as a whole,” said UAF athletic director Forrest Karr.

The Nanooks will join the new conference for the 2013-14 season.
The Alaska Nanooks have been part of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association since 1992. They were granted affiliate membership in 1992 and full membership in 1994. The change comes after months of uncertainty, as hockey programs throughout the nation have worked through the process of conference realignment.

“There is a collective sense of relief,” Karr said. “We can now turn our attention to making sure all CCHA student-athletes have a quality experience over the next two years and to helping build on the WCHA’s solid foundation.”

The Nanooks’ move to the WCHA also means UAF will fall into the same conference as intrastate rival, the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. UAF Chancellor Brian Rogers noted that UAA athletic director Steve Cobb and Chancellor Tom Case were strong advocates for the Nanooks’ inclusion in the WCHA conference.

“I would like to thank UAA for helping make this happen. Their work and support is an example of the community spirit that makes the University of Alaska great,” Rogers said. “We cooperate off the ice, and compete on the ice.”

Hockey coach and Nanooks alumnus Dallas Ferguson said he is looking forward to joining the new conference, which stands to include both new rivals and old.

“The WCHA provides a unified group of schools that are committed to Division I hockey. Membership in this conference will provide advantages for both our fans and our student-athletes,” Ferguson said, noting that he is thankful the Nanooks now have a clear path forward for the coming years. “Our leaders were on top of the process and even though there was some uncertainty I was comfortable knowing our university was supportive of the program to the highest degree.”

UAF’s hockey tradition spans three decades and includes two CCHA coaches of the year, strong finishes in the conference in the last decade and a bid to the 2010 NCAA Tournament. In addition to their strength on the ice, Nanooks hockey student-athletes are consistently strong in the classroom, with average GPAs in recent years nearing 3.5.

The WCHA was founded in 1951 as the Midwest Collegiate Hockey League. Since then, teams representing the men’s WCHA have earned a record 37 NCAA championships, finished as the national runner-up another 27 times, and qualified for a berth in collegiate hockey’s national championship round, the NCAA Men’s Frozen Four, in 55 of 59 seasons overall. The conference has also extended invitations to four other CCHA-member schools: Bowling Green State University, Ferris State University, Lake Superior State University and Western Michigan University. Six other teams are committed to becoming part of the conference in the 2013-14 season: University of Alaska Anchorage, Bemidji State University, Michigan Technological University, Minnesota State University, Mankato, St. Cloud State University and Northern Michigan University.

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Forrest Karr, athletics director, at 907-474-6812 or [email protected]. Doug Spencer, WCHA associate commissioner for public relations, at 608-829-0100 or [email protected].

ON THE WEB: www.alaskananooks.com

NOTE TO EDITORS: A news release from the WCHA on their invitation to UAF and other schools is available at http://www.wcha.com/men/pres1112/201108/aug25wcm.php.

MG/8-25-11/042-12

Marmian Grimes
907-474-7902
8/17/11

The University of Alaska Fairbanks will host the season’s second Really Free Market Saturday, Aug. 20 in the Nenana Parking Lot across from the Patty Center on the UAF campus.

People can drop off items for the market from 8 to 10 a.m. The market is open from 10 a.m. to noon. There is no bartering or selling. All items are free. For information, visit www.uaf.edu/summer or call 907-474-7021.

ON THE WEB: http://www.uaf.edu/summer/summer-events/community/

MLG/8-17-11/038psa-12

UAF photo by Todd Paris
Representatives from the Fort Knox gold mine presented UAF officials with a sizeable donation at the Great Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce luncheon Aug. 16. From left are University of Alaska President Patrick Gamble; mining and geological engineering department chairman and professor of mineral enginieering Rajive Ganguli; Doug Goering, dean of the UAF College of Engineering and Mines; Lauren Roberts, Kinross Gold regional vice president of North America; Lorna Shaw, manager of community and government relations for Kinross Fort Knox; and Dan White, director of UAF's Institute of Northern Engineering.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks and Kinross Fort Knox today announced a gift to support graduate student research in mining engineering at UAF.

The $1 million engineering research endowment will allow UAF to provide advanced training for mining engineers by establishing a steady source of research funding.

“The endowment provides an important step toward replacing the efforts formerly led by the federal Bureau of Mines,” said Lauren Roberts, Kinross Gold regional vice president of North America. “UAF is conducting research and making gains in important areas that will pay dividends for the industry, Alaska and Fort Knox.”

The U.S. Bureau of Mines, which was closed in the mid-1990s, used to provide federal funding for mining research. Since its closure, finding funding for masters- and doctorate-level training has been a challenge, said Rajive Ganguli, chairman of the mining and geological engineering department at UAF.

“Alaska has minerals not just in its past, but also in its future. Realization of the full potential of our mineral resources requires both highly trained engineers and insight into our unique technical challenges,” Ganguli said. “This gift helps Alaska on both of these aspects: The monies will not only result in advanced training of the next generation of mining engineers, but will also help find solutions to our technical problems.”

The mining engineering program was one of the first at UAF, which was founded in 1917 as the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines. Since then, the university has served as a training ground for mining engineers for companies throughout the state, as well as the nation and world. As part of that mission, UAF has formed partnerships with mining companies like Kinross, which provides students access to high-caliber mentors and internship and job opportunities in the Fairbanks community. In addition, UAF students and faculty members regularly collaborate with Fort Knox on research projects and Fort Knox employees volunteer as members of advisory boards at UAF.

“UAF prides itself on working closely with industry to produce the type of engineering graduate who can be effective right out of college. We couldn’t do that without active partnerships like the one we have with Kinross,” said Doug Goering, dean of the UAF College of Engineering and Mines. “As we go forward, the technical challenges associated with developing the state’s mineral resources are only getting more complex. The support Kinross is providing will help us understand those challenges better and provide training aimed at advancing all aspects of mining in Alaska.”

Ganguli said the donation shows Kinross’ strong commitment to Alaska and the local community.

“They have shown faith in our ability to train engineers and solve difficult problems,” he said. “We will get better and stronger as a result of their generosity.”

Kinross’ partnership with UAF has been beneficial to the company as well, Roberts said.

“Kinross is pleased to operate in a region with such a strong mining engineering program at the local university,” he said. “We’ve been fortunate enough to attract UAF graduates and have also appreciated the opportunity to help our existing employees develop their skills through higher education at UAF.”

Kinross Gold Corporation is a Canada-based gold mining company with mines and projects in Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Ghana, Mauritania, Russia and the United States and employs approximately 7,500 people worldwide. The Kinross Fort Knox mine, located 25 miles northeast of Fairbanks, began commercial production in 1997. In 2011 the site poured its five-millionth ounce of gold. The mine employs more than 500 local residents.

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Lorna Shaw, Fort Knox community and government relations manager, 907-490-2218 or [email protected]. Rajive Ganguli, mining engineering department chairman, at 907-474-7212 or [email protected]. Doug Goering, College of Engineering and Mines dean, at 907-474-7730 or [email protected].

NOTE TO EDITORS: A photo from the gift announcement will be available online at www.uafnews.com.

MG/8-16-11/037-12

Michelle Renfrew
907-455-2833
8/16/11

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Community and Technical College Fire Science Program will be graduating 22 students Wednesday, Aug. 17 at 1 p.m. in the Wood Center Ballroom on the UAF main campus. The event will be the first formal graduation ceremony for the Firefighter I Summer Academy. The students are from across Alaska, Washington and Oregon and include local scholarship recipients from the North Star and Chena Goldstream Fire Departments.

The academy is a partnership between CTC, the University Fire Department and the local fire service areas.

ADDITIONAL CONTACT: John George, fire science program coordinator, at 907-455-2879 or via e-mail at [email protected].

MMR/8-16-11/036ma-12

Marmian Grimes
907-474-7902
8/5/11

The University of Alaska Fairbanks is sponsoring UAF Day at the Tanana Valley State Fair Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2011. Bring your UAF PolarExpress card or UAF Alumni Association membership card and receive $1 off adult fair admission.

Visit UAF’s main booth in the Borealis Pavilion for information, class schedules, undergraduate applications and details about the upcoming semester. From noon to 6 p.m. in Totem Square, the UAF Police Department will offer child ID and DNA kits and the University Fire Department will have a smoke house set up for children to go through and practice fire safety. Representatives from the Alaska Nanooks, Alaska Sea Grant, UA Press, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, the UAF Cooperative Extension Service, the UAF Geophysical Institute and the Associated Students of Business will also be in Totem Square with hands-on demonstrations and information about upcoming activities and events.

The UAF Passport is a new addition to the fair this year. Throughout the entire fair, pick up your passport at any of the following eight locations: the main UAF booth, Cooperative Extension, UAF Community and Technical College, the UAF Center for Distance Education, UA College Savings, the UAF Alumni Association burger booth, KSUA student radio and 4H. Passports must be stamped at every booth and then can be entered into a drawing to win two tickets to one of the following: an Alaska Nanooks hockey game, an Alaska Nanooks men’s or women’s basketball doubleheader, a UAF music department concert or a TheatreUAF production.

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Cheri Renson, UAF events coordinator, at 907-474-5114 or [email protected].

NW/08-05-11/029-12

Marmian Grimes
907-474-7902
7/25/11

The University of Alaska Fairbanks will be conducting a disaster response exercise this week, July 26 through 28.

During the exercise, there will be test communications and exercise activities happening at a variety of locations around campus and in the community. Visitors to campus are encouraged to watch for signs and emergency vehicles and plan for traffic delays at some locations on campus.

Exercise communications will be available online at uafalert.alaska.edu or by calling 474-7UAF.

MEDIA CONTACT: Marmian Grimes, UAF public information officer, at 907-474-7902 or via e-mail at [email protected].

ON THE WEB: uafalert.alaska.edu 

MLG/7-25-11/018psa-12

Marmian Grimes

907-474-7902

7/22/11

The University of Alaska Fairbanks will host experts from 12 nations July 24-27 for a workshop examining international policy issues involving the Arctic Ocean.

The workshop, “The Arctic Ocean Beyond National Jurisdiction,” is expected to draw about 60 arctic experts and policymakers from around the world.

“We will consider the politics, economics, legal frameworks and use of resources in the Arctic Ocean outside the bounds of national arctic nation jurisdiction,” said UAF professor Lawson Brigham, who is leading the workshop with UAF Vice Chancellor Mike Sfraga.

The workshop is an outgrowth of Chancellor Brian Rogers’ goal to position UAF as a leader in arctic policy issues.

The workshop highlights UAF’s unique role in discussions about the Arctic and ways in which these discussions affect the state of Alaska, Sfraga said.

Workshop speakers include U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell, U.S. Arctic Research Commission chairwoman Fran Ulmer and Canadian Polar Commission chairman Bernie Funston. Three working groups will focus on living resources and scientific research, marine navigation and security, and international seabed and extended Continental Shelf.

The workshop is jointly hosted by the UAF School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences and the UA Geography Program and the Marine and Environmental Law Institute at Dalhousie University, one of Canada’s leading universities emphasizing marine research. PEW Charitable Trusts is the workshop’s primary sponsor. Other sponsors include Total Foundation of France, the Canadian Consulate of Anchorage and the Natural Resources Defense Council. The workshop is not open to the public, however, the final workshop report will be publicly available.

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Nancy Tarnai, SNRAS information officer, at 907-474-5042 or [email protected] Mike Sfraga or Lawson Brigham at 907-474-7317.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Contact Tarnai to schedule interviews with participants during breaks and receptions.