Published Mar 9, 2023 by Pam Dunklebarger

In summary, vertical farming is one of the most promising technologies of our time, especially for urban areas and high-value crops.

However, in addition to many advantages, vertical farming also brings with it some disadvantages that need to be taken seriously into consideration. The technology needed is complex and expensive, and according to industry standards, a single large-scale vertical farming facility may cost more than $100 million in construction costs alone.

However, for some crops, the yield that can be obtained per acre in vertical farming can be 10 to 20 times compared to open-field crops.

Published Mar 9, 2023 by Austin Sjong

Max Helgeson, the hometown kid, is currently leading the UAA Seawolf hockey team in total points in just his first full year of NCAA D1 hockey

Helgeson was born in Anchorage and skated for West Anchorage High School before leaving the state to pursue his hockey dreams, saying he was living out of a suitcase for a while. Last season he played for Lindenwood College— playing a half ACHA, half NCAA schedule — but now he is back in the familiar place of Anchorage under a familiar coach.

Published Mar 8, 2023 by Seismological Society of America

When a large earthquake takes place in a region with mostly broadband seismic stations that record the velocity with which the ground moves, the amplitude of seismic wave velocities can exceed what the station can record, leading to a loss of data, she explained. "In such a situation, we can include GNSS data to improve network density or spatial coverage to estimate magnitude and ground motion rapidly. This also applies to regions that have sparse strong motion coverage."

Researchers studying earthquakes increasingly use GNSS data to capture the deformation of the ground from earthquakes or to monitor slow movement along faults. One way that GNSS can be used to characterize earthquakes is by converting GNSS data into receiver velocities. Those velocities can then be used to calculate traditional earthquake measures such as magnitude and peak ground velocity.

The researchers had initially planned to study different earthquakes using GNSS-derived ground velocities, although they were also ready to compare GNSS and its seismic data counterparts.

"The 2021 Chignik earthquake provided a great data set to do this," Parameswaran explained. "The Chignik event was large enough to generate substantial ground motion even hundreds of kilometers away, had a healthy network of stations with usable data, and most importantly, co-located GNSS and seismic stations that could be used to make the actual comparisons."

Published Mar 8, 2023 by ANNA LAFFREY Daily News Staff Writer

Forty-four students enrolled in University of Alaska Southeast Ketchikan campus welding courses this spring are practicing metallurgy in the Maritime Training Center weld shop and filling out their career arcs.

The Welding Technology department offers semester-long courses for basic, intermediate and advanced level students ranging from dual-enrollment high schoolers to experienced career welders.

Published Aug 27, 2024 by Yereth Rosen

The University of Alaska Southeast will have a new top leader this summer.

Aparna Dileep-Nageswaran Palmer, a college administrator and professor in Colorado, will succeed retiring Karen Carey as the chancellor in Juneau, University of Alaska President Pat Pitney announced on Wednesday.

In a statement released by UAS, Palmer referred to that research as a contributor to her desire to work at what she called “an amazing and distinctive university.”

“Having lived in, taught about, and done research on Pacific Northwest coastal organisms and ecosystems, I’m excited to make Southeast my home. Along with the great alumni, and with the support of the Juneau, Ketchikan, and Sitka communities, we will continue leveraging UAS’ strengths and opportunities to further empower Alaska,” she said in the statement.

Pitney, in the statement, credited Palmer’s combination of teaching, governance and administrative experience for propelling her to the top of the list of candidates for the position.

“Aparna brings a passion for UAS’ mission, and a breadth of experience which make her an excellent fit for this role,” said Pitney, who chose Palmer from a group of five finalists selected by a search committee. Palmer’s experience “will be invaluable as she leads UAS in providing the programs that support Southeast Alaska, and our state’s broader workforce needs,” Pitney said in the statement.

Published Mar 9, 2023 by Katie Anastas, KTOO

University of Alaska President Pat Pitney has appointed a new chancellor for the University of Alaska Southeast.

Aparna Palmer is vice president of Front Range Community College in Colorado. She was previously the assistant vice president for academic affairs at Colorado Mesa University, where she taught biology.

At a public forum earlier this year, Palmer said her work as a marine biologist made her especially happy to be in Juneau.

“I’m really excited to be here between the mountains and the ocean, because this is the biology that excites me the most,” she said.

Palmer holds a doctorate in zoology from Washington State University and bachelor’s degrees in biology and English from Colorado State University. 

She said her priorities include student recruitment and fiscal stability, and she wants to work with local industries to connect graduates with jobs.

“We don’t grow if the region doesn’t grow,” she said at the forum.

Published Mar 8, 2023

University of Alaska President Pat Pitney announced Wednesday that she has selected Aparna Dileep-Nageswaran Palmer, Ph.D., to serve as the next chancellor of the University of Alaska Southeast. Dr. Palmer succeeds UAS Chancellor Karen Carey, who is retiring on Jun. 30.

“Aparna brings a passion for UAS’ mission, and a breadth of experience which make her an excellent fit for this role,” President Pitney said. “My decision was based on those qualities, and the feedback I received from the search committee and the broader UAS community. Her time teaching in the classroom, participating in shared governance, and leading higher education administration will be invaluable as she leads UAS in providing the programs that support Southeast Alaska, and our state’s broader workforce needs.”

Dr. Palmer’s selection comes after a rigorous recruitment process led by a search committee consisting of UAS faculty, staff, and Southeast Alaska community leaders.

Five finalists engaged with staff, students, faculty, and community members in a number of forums and visited all three UAS campuses.

Among the criteria for selecting the next chancellor was a demonstrated deep commitment to Alaska and the stability and success of the university.

Dr. Palmer was the unanimous first choice of the search committee.

Published Mar 8, 2023 by Clarise Larson

The University of Alaska President Pat Pitney announced Wednesday her selection of Aparna Dileep-Nageswaran Palmer as the new leader of the University of Alaska Southeast after a monthslong search.

Palmer will begin her new post on July 1, taking over the role from outgoing chancellor Karen Carey, who in the fall announced her plans to retire from her position at UAS at the end of the spring semester having served three years in the position.

“I am honored to be appointed as chancellor of such an amazing and distinctive university and I am committed to UAS, the UA System, and to Alaskans,” Palmer said in a new release. “I look forward to working with the incredible faculty and staff to support their work and educational mission, and creating more opportunities for students to access higher education.

Carey told the Empire Wednesday that she is excited about the announcement and to welcome Palmer, but noted it’s also a little bittersweet.

“I’ve been here since 2016, and I really love the place, and it’s hard to realize I’m not going to be doing this in a couple of months,” she said. “It’s something that needs to happen, however, I need to retire, but I am really going to miss it.”

Carey said she hopes to see Palmer get involved with the Juneau community beyond UAS upon her arrival. She said Palmer is entering the UA system at a critical time amid the university’s newfound fiscal stability and said she hopes to see her take advantage of the position and move UAS toward further growth.