Archive

From reducing volcanic risk for the densely populated slopes of Vesuvius to harnessing the energy potential of Alaska volcanoes, Assistant Professor of Geological Sciences Claudia Cannatelli's approach to volcanology is all about helping people.

“We are fortunate to know a lot about sea otter behavior, but there’s also a lot that we don’t know,” said Ana Velasquez, a master’s candidate in biological sciences at UAA. For her thesis project, Velasquez used old data to make new discoveries about otters.

Over 12 weeks, students in this online, interdisciplinary class explore topics ranging from immigration and labor history to colonialism, health disparities and cultural expression, featuring guest lectures from national and local Filipino American scholars, writers and artists.

This summer, a group of UAA students participated in an archaeological excavation at the Carpenter Site. The lowest layers of the site date back to the last “Ice Age" and provide valuable clues about what life was like more than 12,000 years ago.

Recent studies from the Pacific Northwest show that the chemical 6PPD-quinone is lethal to silver salmon. The extent to which the chemical poses a threat to Alaska’s silver salmon remains an open question. Brian DiMento is determined to find out.

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.