Published Jul 5, 2023 by Mariana Low/ News-Miner

Students from the T3 Alaska summer program presented projects last week that they have been working on for the past five weeks at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Through the program, 37 students from around Alaska got to travel to villages, talk to researchers, learn from elders, and create and implement real-life solutions to problems relevant to them and their communities.

“In this program you’re in, you can do anything. You can become anything. You can become the teacher at the university, the director, just continue, continue educating yourself,” said Eliza Winfrey, an elder from Minto addressing the students.

T3 stands for Teaching Through Technology. It focuses on giving students relevant, hands-on educational experiences in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM. It also prioritizes culture, partnering with communities and Native corporations to impact change. The program is largely funded by Upward Bound, which helps underserved high school students prepare for college. Through partnerships with a variety of research programs at UAF, the program has expanded to serve a broader population of students.

Students came from nine villages including Shishmaref, Kipnuk, Chevak, Wrangell, Bethel, Brevig Mission, Quinhagak, Seward and North Pole to participate in the program.

Published Jul 2, 2023 by Gwen Holdmann

Inside the Steffes stove are ceramic fire bricks with a high heat capacity and density as well as an electric heating element that warms when there is cheap power available. The homeowner can use that heat by turning on a fan that blows air through channels in the hot bricks, and into the home.

Specifically, they had pioneered a strategy to store excess power in the form of heat (rather than in chemical batteries) by dispatching thermal electric stoves installed in individual residences around the community. These stoves are manufactured by Steffes, a small North Dakota based company. Appearing as a nondescript rectangular white appliance, these devices looked far more utilitarian than my aunt’s beautiful Kachelofen, but they function exactly the same way.

My aunt and the community of Kongiganak use these electric thermal stoves to reduce their home heating bill. In both cases, the strategy is to take advantage of cheap electric power when available, and to use that as an alternative to a more expensive primary source of heat. In Kongiganak, that cheap source of energy is excess wind power, especially during winter when heating demand is high.

Reducing the cost of heating is a big deal in rural Alaska. While the cost of electric power is subsidized through the Power Cost Equalization program for residential users, the cost of heating oil is not, with the exception of some low income heating assistance programs. Therefore, reducing the cost of heating, whether indirectly through home weatherization improvements or directly through a supplemental source of heating can make a big difference in rural household budgets.

In the vernacular of mainstream energy markets, Kongiganak has implemented a dynamic time-of-use rate structure, charging less when there is excess zero marginal cost power available. At the same time, they have strategically increased community load in order to justify the installation of bigger wind turbines that can achieve better economies of scale. The cost of installing six wind turbines, as Kogiganak has, is not too different from the cost of installing two.

Published Jul 2, 2023 by Katie DiCristina, garden directing manager

This week I assumed the role of visitor to my own campus and rode the free Musk Ox Line shuttle at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Having asked campus units what make UAF a special destination for visitors, Darrin “Bear” Edon, UAF Facility Services superintendent of operations, said, “The people; the staff of all units of UAF go out of their way to ensure everyone is happy.” We witnessed the dedication of UAF staff throughout our tour, stopping at the UA Museum of the North, Georgeson Botanical Garden and the Large Animal Research Station. In half a day, we were able to get out and enjoy the beautiful infrastructure the university offers and learn about topics ranging from honey bees to the complex history of muskoxen within the state of Alaska.

Published Jul 2, 2023 by Mark Sabbatini

Former superintendent looks back at 39-year K-12 career, ahead to new job inspiring future teachers.

Bridget Weiss’ last day as superintendent of the Juneau School District was June 30.

Published Jul 1, 2023

Jun. 30 was Karen Carey's last day as Chancellor for the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS).

An open house was held in the Chancellor's Suite Friday afternoon to wish her farewell with light refreshments.

"A real honor to be the chancellor at UAS. I am going to greatly miss this campus and all the great people that I've gotten to know. I am so pleased that we hired Aparna Palmer as the new chancellor. She's going to be just great," Carey said. "I've had the last two weeks to overlap with her and she's learning quickly and I think UAS is going to be in good hands. I'm going to remain in Juneau because I love it here so much. People will see me at UAS and I'll be busy supporting anything I can here at the campus."

Carey said she'll continue to cheer on UAS on the sidelines.

"I will be coming to a lot of their events. I certainly will continue to donate to the campus for scholarships and that sort of thing," she said. "Probably continue on the Alumni and Friends board. So, being involved wherever I can be and wherever they might need me."

Published Jul 1, 2023 by RSS Feed

The University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute has received a $70 million contract to continue serving as a satellite data hub for NASA. University officials announced the five-year contract extension this week.

The Geophysical Institute’s Alaska Satellite Facility is one of 12 sites around the nation used in NASA’s Earth Observing System Data and Information System.

Each of the 12 sites has its own function. The Alaska Satellite Facility’s specialty is the management of data derived through what’s known as synthetic aperture radar. That technology uses sensors on satellites that produce energy and then record how much energy is reflected back after interacting with Earth. The resulting images are used to better understand Earth’s systems and can help guide disaster response.