Archive

Hoyt Thomas aims to locate uncapped and improperly sealed oil and gas wells that can pose risks to the public. In order to identify these hazards and gather the necessary data for future mitigation efforts, Thomas is utilizing cutting-edge technology, including drones and artificial intelligence (AI).

On June 26, a team of UAA students and faculty watched as a Terrier-Orion sounding rocket launched into space from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The rocket’s payload included a device designed by the team that was used to measure the mass of the Earth.

This summer, a group of UAA students participated in an archaeology dig near Delta Junction. Some of the most exciting finds were complete stone tools, including one that provided a “hands-on” connection to the past — a potential left-handed stone scraper.

This past academic year, the UAA Center for Community Engagement and Learning supported 19 community partnerships across 15 projects, conducted by 17 faculty and staff through the Community-Engaged Mini-Grants program that brings university and community members together to address public issues.

In March, a group of nine students in Kenai Peninsula College’s Semester by the Bay program had the opportunity to participate in the necropsy of a fin whale and gain first-hand experience in marine biology.

Every summer in Alaska there is the threat of wildfires throughout the state. This year Mount Spur is also threatening to send volcanic ash into the air.

Archaeology may conjure images of fantastic treasures, but most artifacts uncovered by archaeologists are more mundane. This is the case with a series of artifacts uncovered this year during the UAA archaeological field school at the Carpenter Site — three tin cans.

In April, a deceased snake was discovered in a hay bale that had been shipped from Washington state to Southcentral Alaska. The remains of the snake were sent to UAA’s McLaughlin Lab for analysis.

This summer, Alaska’s Mount Spurr volcano made headlines when increased seismic and gaseous activity raised concerns that an eruption could be imminent. As scientists kept close watch, UAA geological sciences term assistant professor Skye Kushner was among the researchers venturing into the field to investigate what was going on beneath the surface.

A new graduate program will be available at the UAA College of Engineering (CoEng) in the fall 2025 semester: the Master of Science in artificial intelligence, data science and engineering.