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Sharing lessons from Alaska’s microgrids

For Sigrid Miller, an interest in engineering began in an unlikely place — the engine room of an Alaska ferry.

Right after high school, she moved from Fairbanks to the southeast community of Ketchikan, where she spent a couple of years working aboard commercial vessels for the Alaska Marine Highway System, a state-run ferry service.

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UAF hosts its third Oktoberfest celebration

Last week, the UAF community brought a piece of Germany to campus for this year’s Oktoberfest celebration. Now in its third year, the celebration featured panel discussions on German history and culture, along with food and games. Local vendors and a wide array of UAF student organizations participated this year. Helga Wagenleiter, the faculty advisor for the UAF German Club, said that this spirit of collaboration was the goal from the very start.

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Camera care in the cold

As winter approaches in Fairbanks, it is essential to prepare your camera for Alaska’s climate and capture flawless photos. Whether you are a casual photographer or a professional, preparation is important for handling the cold months ahead.

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A whale, a sunken sailboat and seven hours on shore

My name is Lu. I am a student here at UAF studying art and sociology. This is my fourth year studying here, so I am used to the welcome-back routine with friends, classmates and teachers. But this year, when people ask me how my summer was, I get to make a choice. Do I say, “Overall, pretty good! A few rough patches”? Or do I say, “My boat suddenly sank in the middle of the night, my parents and I had to escape and make it to shore, where we spent seven hours until we were rescued”? Or do I just tell them to read this?

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Celebrating Alaska poetry: Two local poets worth reading

On Aug. 23, 2026, it was a particularly windy day at the Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge. I visited for the first time, interested both in the beautiful sandhill cranes and in the book fair that was happening from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day. As a poet and MFA student here at UAF, I knew what I needed to do,  I shot toward the poetry.

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Beyond the siren: On patrol with UAF police

Not everyone gets to watch a traffic stop from the passenger seat of a police car. For University Police Officer Jake Spencer, it is one of many responsibilities that comes with working in law enforcement. Spending a few hours with Spencer, however, revealed less about emergencies and arrests than about what police work looks like when nothing is going wrong. That afternoon brought two traffic stops and one emergency call. Most of the patrol, however, was spent talking about the other parts of his job.

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Vander Lugt’s next mission: Leading UAF into the Arctic century

Twenty-six years ago, Russell Vander Lugt first set foot in Alaska as a newly commissioned second lieutenant, during his honeymoon with his wife, Rebekah. Today, he is retiring from active duty to become the next Chancellor of the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

While this transition might seem abrupt, Vander Lugt sees the role as a different way of serving both the state and nation, hoping to shape the growth and future of the 49 th state. To Vander Lugt, this opportunity comes at a timely moment as Alaska sits at the dawn of what he calls “Arctic Century,” a moment in which UAF needs to capitalize on growth, opportunities, and ever-increasing geopolitical importance.

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New Indie bookstore born out of love and a need for a change

When you enter, you walk into a space with walls covered in bookshelves and a dark and moody, yet cozy vibe. A small fireplace is on the left wall, warming up the space during the winter months and velvet green couches offer comfortable places to sit and lounge in while you shop. The big front store window brings in light and bathes the entire store in sunshine. This is the experience of stepping into the Wildfire Bookstore.

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UAF Archives preserves history, makes it accessible

From century-old journals to hard drives full of digital data, the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Archives is on a mission to preserve the diverse history of the Polar North and make it accessible to the world. Located on the second floor of the Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, the archive serves global researchers while navigating the modern challenges of space limits and digital decay.

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