Geography Program Expands to Integrate Statewide Instruction, Research, and Outreach
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Natural Resource News, Vol. 05, No. 2 (August 2005) Item Type Journal Publisher UAF School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences Download date 24/09/2021 12:31:29 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/11122/2793 UAF School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences Volume 5, number 2 August 2005 Geography program expands to integrate statewide instruction, research, and outreach “Locally, regionally, and at A new Alaska Integrated Geography Program based at SNRAS joint research proposals, and a global planetary level, life will create a University of Alaska framework for cooperative allow UA to take advantage of modifies Earth environments programs throughout the UA system. Based at SNRAS on our arctic and polar expertise.” as much as environments shape life. Few changes have the UAF campus, the innovative program will involve people K-12 teacher education and so touched vista, ecosystem from all UA campuses in geography-related research, instruc- curriculum development will and global cycling as has the tion, and outreach. The state’s only baccalaureate degrees in also be a key component of the evolution of the angiosperms geography are offered at UAF. new geography program. Sfraga (plants with flowers). In the “This development fits in with the vision of UA president has already established strong lush Cretaceous forests of fern Mark Hamilton and the Board of Regents, who have encour- ties with the Alaska Geographic and cycad, new colors and aged coordination of university-wide programs that take ad- Alliance and sees a strong pres- scents arise....” —A Walk vantage of UA expertise and our strategic location,” said Dean ence for the AGA within the Through Time (Page 2) Carol Lewis. “The integrated geography program will allow us overall UA Geography program. to realize the vision in our Strategic Plan 2004 for a broadened “UAF, like no other research university in the world, is de- scope of geography, with intriguing new opportunities in re- fined by our location as America’s arctic university,” said UAF search, education and outreach.” Chancellor Steve Jones when the program was announced in Mike Sfraga will direct the program, and will also join July. “Mike’s appointment enables us to more systematically the existing geography faculty as an assistant professor. The weave that special thread of place through research, teaching, recipient of the first interdisciplinary doctorate degree in ge- and outreach focused on the high latitudes and Alaska.” ography and northern studies from UAF, Sfraga recently pub- Sfraga has been tapped to help develop national and inter- lished a book on the life of explorer and mountaineer Bradford national efforts associated with the 2007-2008 International Washburn. He previously served under Hamilton as associate Polar Year (IPY), a scientific and educational initiative marking vice president for student services and director of program de- the 50th anniversary of the 1957–58 International Geophysical velopment. Year. The first IPY in 1882–1883 was based on the concept that “I am very excited about the opportunity to work with a survey of geophysical phenomena required an international the faculty to enhance and expand geography throughout the effort. Twelve countries participated, setting a precedent for state,” said Sfraga. “There are endless opportunities to estab- international scientific cooperation. The ’57–’58 International lish valuable teaching, research, and outreach initiatives with Geophysical year produced a great deal of information, includ- UA institutes and research initiatives. For example, imagine ing confirmation of the theory of continental drift, discovery of strategic partnerships be- the Van Allen Radiation Belt, and the first informed estimates tween the geography fac- of the total size of Antarctica’s ice mass. ulty and our colleagues in Sfraga also will serve as the primary liaison between UAF the International Arctic and the Cold Climate Housing Research Center, an industry- Research Center, the UAF based nonprofit corporation created to facilitate the develop- Geophysical Institute and ment, use, and testing of building technologies for cold-cli- Institute of Arctic Biology, mate regions. The group, which has just begun constructing the UAA Institute of Social a Cold Climate Building and Infrastructure Research and and Economic Research, Testing Facility, is the first entrant in a newly developing re- and UAS programs that search park at UAF. The facility, with classrooms, offices, and take advantage of southeast’s research and testing bays, is being built on university land, and unique landscape and un- some of its research will be conducted jointly with the uni- derscore experiential learn- versity. Construction is expected to be complete by fall 2006. ing. Such partnerships will Jack Hébert is president and CEO of the organization and John Program Director Mike Sfraga infuse our curriculum, spur Davies is its research director. —STATEWIDE PUBLIC AFFAIRS A walk through time—from stardust to us A mile-long exhibit representing the cur- first animal life appears after 4,000 feet rent scientific understanding of Earth’s his- (representing 4 billion years). The first tory was on display at UAF July 17–31 and hominids appear in the last five feet will be shown on campus again this fall, of the walk, and the last ice age con- thanks to the initiative of natural resource cludes only one-tenth of an inch from professor Susan Todd. the end. As a complement to the ex- “A Walk Through Time...from Stardust hibit, geology professor Sarah Fowell to Us,” is a series of panels viewed by walk- gave a public lecture on the evolu- ing an approximate mile, with each foot rep- tion of Paleozoic plants on July 19. resenting one million years. At UAF it was The exhibit was developed by installed from Wood Center along Yukon Hewlett-Packard (HP) Laboratories in Drive past the UAF Museum and around Palo Alto, California. The company re- the West Ridge mall to the Arctic Health leased it for worldwide display by donat- Research Building. The walk puts into per- ing it to the nonprofit Foundation for spective Earth’s long history and the brevity Global Community, a California-based of human existence. Along the way, evolu- group. The original concept of the one- tionary processes and events are depicted on Homo erectus (upright man) is a hominid mile exhibit was the brainchild of Sid 90 panels of text and illustrations. species that lived from approximately 2 Liebes, a Hewlett-Packard employee who Todd received a grant from the Alaska million to around 400,000 years ago and sought to “provide a viscerally meaning- Humanities Forum for shipping the panels is believed to be an ancestor of modern ful perspective on how humans should from Anchorage and purchasing materi- humans. conduct themselves to avoid precipitat- als to construct stands for them. SNRAS ing the next mass extinction of species.” was the UAF sponsor, and Tim Quintal Creating the exhibit involved many of the forest soils laboratory volunteered “The human adventure has individuals who donated their time and to make the stands with help from other something to do with our creativity. Contributors to the origi- volunteers. Volunteers also set up and took nal implementation of the Walk were: down the display. The panels were loaned recovering—together—a the employees of the Hewlett-Packard by Anchorage Montessori School Principal sense of both amazement and Company under the company’s sponsor- Ed Miner. ship. It was first presented as part of HP “Those who take the walk gain an ap- gratitude at the gift of life. Laboratories’ Celebration of Creativity preciation for our planet’s history and the When readers take this Walk on Earth Day, 22 April 1997, at the HP processes that have made life possible,” Laboratories sites in Palo Alto, California; said Todd. “It is our hope that the Walk Through Time, they will Bristol, England; and Tokyo, Japan. will enhance the viewer’s understanding find themselves as actors in Sponsor of HP Laboratories Walk Thru of scientific knowledge, encourage a sense a larger reality beyond their Time: Joel Birnbaum; Project leaders of of wonder, inspire respect for our natural HP’s Walk Thru Time: Sid Liebes, Laurie world, and stimulate discussion about our imagination. Insofar as we Mittelstadt, Barbara Waugh; Walk Thru personal and societal roles in creating the can all join together on this Time research and text composition: future.” Lois Brynes (Deep-Time Associates). Consistent with the fossil record, the journey of discovery there Note: For more information on the ex- will be peace on earth.” hibit, visit globalcommunity.org/wtt/. —The Reverend Alan Jones, Dean of The exhibit is also available in book for- Grace Cathedral, San Francisco mat from the foundation. At left, UAF geology professor Sarah Fowell holds up the introductory panel during exhibit assembly work that was accomplished with volunteer labor. At right is one of the panels in front of the Geophysical Institute. More assembly photos on page 3. —PHOTOS BY SUSAN TODD Contact us for information on subscriptions to our science magazine, Agroborealis, or to receive our other publications. A Walk Through Time— behind the scenes The section of the exhibit shown above was installed in front of the International Arctic Research Center. At left, Tim Quintal glues plastic pipe for exhibit panel stands. Tim with his wife Mary Calmes (above left) and son Will (above right) donated 176 hours to the project. Exhibit organizer Susan Todd said that in all, 42 people donated 345 hours to make the frames, install the exhibit, and later remove it. SNRAS sponsored the exhibit at UAF. After a fall showing on campus, it will be available to schools and other organizations. SNRAS alumnus Dan Jordan becomes new UAF head rifle coach SNRAS alumnus Dan Jordan, who went on to earn All-American honors as a shooter, is the new head rifle coach at UAF.