UAF celebrates the tenth anniversary of the International Arctic Research Center

Photos by Tohru Saito, IARC Special Events Manager
Winter photo of the Akasofu building from the Web site of the International Arctic Research Center.

Last Friday marked the 10th anniversary of the International Arctic Research Center.

An open house was held in the Akasofu building after the unveiling of the center’s new logo and mission statement.

Founding Director Syun-Ichi Akasofu spoke at the opening ceremony, along with Vice-Chancellor for Research Buck Sharpton, Provost Susan Henrichs, chief scientist John Walsh, and Larry Hinzman, the current director of the research center.

IARC started as a cooperative venture, supported by the American and Japanese governments. It now hosts visiting scientists from around the world, and cooperates with many other countries on research projects and to provide programs for students. Work ranges from permafrost modeling to land surface monitoring of areas burned in wild fires.

Bill Hibler, a research professor, has been with IARC from the beginning, and has worked in Arctic research for 35 years. He was able to name some of the research focuses for scientists with IARC, including Arctic ice, sea ice, oceanography and hydrology. They often hire graduate students to assist with these areas of research, but apparently it can be difficult to find student research assistants.

“Most geology students don’t think as mathematically as necessary,” said Hibler, “And not many physics students are interested in geophysics.”

He also mentioned that while there are not many opportunities for undergraduate students during the fall and spring semesters, IARC has several summer programs for undergraduates, and they are always looking for new participants.

The Akasofu building houses more than offices and cubicles for the scientists. The National Weather Service has a section of the third floor, a chemistry lab on the first floor holds the center’s state of the art Mass Spectrometer, and the main floor is home to IARC’s educational outreach program office, which provides programs for grades K-12 as well as resources for teachers, the Keith B. Mather library, and the map office. The library and the map office are part of the Geophysical Institute next door, but were able to expand into new space in the Akasofu building.

“[IARC] faculty have access at any time,” said librarian Julie Triplehorn. “But we’re open to the public from eight to five, Monday through Friday.”

The map office is open to the public during the same hours.

Before sending guests on their way to explore the building, the director took a moment to thank everyone who played a part in making the research center a success.

“IARC will maintain our commitment to serve our communities by continuing to build a better understanding of the Arctic system and improving our capability to predict what the future will bring to Alaska and the circumpolar north,” said Hinzman.

Information about hours, research, faculty, and programs for students and teachers can be found on the IARC website, http://www.iarc.uaf.edu.