Ravenna Koenig, Alaska's Energy Desk - Fairbanks
Two Alaska projects selected for federal marine energy innovation grant funds
The grant money comes from the Department of Energy and is part of a larger award to support innovation in marine energy generation. Listen now
At the top of the world, an international field school for research students
Earlier this month, the University of Alaska Fairbanks participated in an international field school in Utqiaġvik, giving early-career researchers a broad view of the Arctic coastal system and how it’s changing, along with some different methods for studying it. Listen now
Alaska’s northernmost town still in transition 1 1/2 years after official name change
"Barrow" is everywhere while walking around town: on the fire trucks, in the name of the high school, the local utility company, on the North Slope Borough’s official logo. But the name "Utqiaġvik" is showing up, as well. It's on City Hall and on municipal department letterhead. Listen now
As the Arctic warms, a changing landscape on the Chukchi Sea
"These ridges that we’re standing on, there would have been more of them, and they would have been bigger," ice researcher Andy Mahoney said. "The features that we now see, they’re something of a shadow from the past." Listen now
Department of Energy scientists to attend first Alaska National Lab Day
"We think we’ve got some great challenges right now for them and we hope they’ll pick some up," said Larry Hinzman, Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Listen now
This man and his yellow truck signal the arrival of spring in Fairbanks
Back in 1992, Glenn Hackney actually got hit by a car while picking up trash. It broke both his legs. That might give the average person pause about continuing. Not Hackney. Listen now
A lot of people get this pretty basic question about oil wrong
"I have had to correct school teachers in the past who have been teaching their kids that oil comes from dinosaurs." Listen now
‘How much, how fast?’ Alaska researchers ask of melting Antarctic glacier
"The report that triggered this proposal call originally had a title that I think was quite catching. It asked 'how much, how fast?' " researcher Martin Truffer said. "And that’s really the question here." Listen now
Caribou, access concerns vs. mining’s economic promise — BLM releases public input on Ambler Road
"I was impressed with the range of comments that we got," La Marr said. "Comments from the mining industry, comments from environmental groups, a lot of comments from the tribes... comments from people throughout Alaska and people in the lower 48 as well." Listen now
U.N. committee moves toward banning heavy fuel oil in the Arctic
"It is a big deal that the IMO has been looking at a ban," Kevin Harun of Pacific Environment, a conservation organization, said. "It’s a very cautious body and it normally does not act without strong support from countries." Listen now
Alaska State Legislature urges Congress to address state ivory bans
The resolution takes aim at state laws like those in New York, California, Hawaii and Washington. Those states have passed broad anti-ivory laws in an attempt to combat the poaching of African elephants. Listen now
Task force meets to discuss first draft of state climate change policy
Most of the meeting focused on the draft climate change policy the team released on April 12th. It includes recommendations to reduce carbon emissions in Alaska by 2030, diversify the state economy beyond fossil fuels and mobilize funding from government and the private sector for climate change adaptation. Listen now
How do you keep developing rural energy projects in a fiscal drought? More loans.
Cady Lister, chief economist for the Alaska Energy Authority, says that communities and rural utilities need to rely less on grants and look more to loans. Listen now
New map shows the potential future of permafrost on the North Slope
"We hope that this tool will be useful for engineers who [are] doing some projects in this area, for government thinking about what they should expect, and also for any people who live in Alaska," Vladimir Romanovsky said. Listen now
Meet the Fairbanks teen who’s suing the U.S. government over climate change
“I saw the lawsuit as kind of a last-ditch effort to give my generation a seat at the table,” Nathan Baring said. Listen now
The Cost of Cold: Staying warm near Fairbanks
“It’s something that you kind of hand down… I did it with my parents and… my grandfather. And… I guess I’m passing the torch as you would say to them,” Jeremy Eberhardt said. Listen now
New analysis adds to picture of how belugas are impacted by sea ice loss
Researchers have published a new paper that adds a little more to what we know about how beluga whales are navigating their changing habitat. Listen now
49 Voices: Fannie Akpik of Utqiaġvik
This week we're hearing from Fannie Akpik in Utqiaġvik. Akpik is the coordinator of Iñupiaq Education for the North Slope Borough. Listen now
Iñupiat leadership organizations contemplate a “unified voice”
“I definitely think it’s possible to have a unified voice but it’s never going to be truly unified unless all entities that were invited to the table take advantage of it,” Utqiaġvik Mayor Fannie Suvlu said. Listen now
Interior Department officials visit North Slope to talk ANWR
A high-profile guest from the U.S. Interior Department was in attendance at the North Slope Borough Assembly meeting in Utqiaġvik on Tuesday, March 6. Listen now