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09.12.2025 16:41
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Check out this great new storymap about some of our beaver research, created by @uafairbanks.bsky.social Geophysical Institute's Rod Boyce. Lots of great, fun arctic beaver videos and photos, and also great info about our latest publication: www.gi.alaska.edu/news/changin...
Trump has issued a compact that would allow oversight of hiring, firing and teaching decisions at higher ed institutions and restrict enrollment of int'l students. Please consider signing this petition along with UA Unions by Nov 3 at noon telling the Board to reject this compact! bit.ly/3JAAOjk
Thank goodness it stopped there! I was getting pictures of water already high so early yesterday. Hopefully this weekend's storm doesn't pose the same hazards.
Please keep Kotzebue in your thoughts. Hoping the coastal flooding isn't as bad as forecasted, and better than last year's flooding event.
A Final Message from the Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S. (ARCUS) After nearly four decades of service to the Arctic research community, the Arctic Research Consortium of the United States (ARCUS) has now reached its sunset. This will be our final message to the community. On behalf of the ARCUS Board of Directors and all ARCUS staff, we want to thank you for the many years of collaboration, support, and partnership that made ARCUS possible. We have enjoyed working with this community immensely and believe that the goal of broadening participation in Arctic-focused research, education, and policy is still an important mission to achieve.
End of an era and a sad day for those that care about Arctic work done in the best ways possible. 😢 Nonetheless "… the goal of broadening participation in Arctic-focused research, education, and policy is still an important mission to achieve." #Arctic
I'm excited to announce another publication from our lab group, with yours truly as a co-author! Tom Glass led a great study summarizing the ecophysical dynamics of beaver ponds we've been studying over the last few years. Big takeaway: beavers thaw permafrost! Take a peak:
bit.ly/3VJwQHN
Found a gorgeous spot in the Alaska Range for beavers to hang out in. This is a pretty impressive complex, and one is precariously close to what I'm guessing is a rock glacier, potentially collapsing.
Devastating news. We rely on PGC for our work identifying beaver ponds across the Arctic, and this will significantly affect our workflow. They have been great through and through to work with, thanks for all the hard work. I sincerely hope this is a quick blip of a lack of service #weneedthegovt
When you try to use facial recognition to open your phone but the face in questions looks like that...
But seriously it felt so good to be immersed in cold temperatures on the North Slope after such a mild winter in Fairbanks. Hallelujah!
Taking a break from fighting science to actually doing science! Just came back from an incredible week at #Toolik investigating talik ecosystems - areas without permafrost that includes poplar stands, perennial springs, and pingos. We even found an adult stonefly deep beneath the snow and ice!
When the world feels like it's descending into fascism and it encroaches on your community, it feels good to see the community you love fight back. And fight back with joy!
02.21.25 - UA BOR FINAL Statement + Motion The University of Alaska Board of Regents reaffirms its dedication to being an inclusive, nondiscriminatory institution, committed to offering equal opportunity and access for all individuals. We also reaffirm our commitment to maintaining a welcoming environment and honoring Alaska Native culture and heritage. We remain committed to ensuring our Universities’ learning and work environments remain open and welcoming to all. Motion: “The Board of Regents directs the President to take all necessary actions to comply with recent federal executive orders and applicable agency guidance, including, for example, the following: 1. That Board of Regents’ Policies, University Regulations, and other guidance documents are to be interpreted to be consistent with, or be amended as necessary to reflect, our continuing commitments to providing university programs and activities that comply with all federal and state nondiscrimination laws, regulations, orders, and guidance. 2. That the President delegate to the Chancellors the responsibility to review and assess the programs and operations at their respective Universities and to make changes as necessary to comply with all federal and state nondiscrimination laws, regulations, orders, and guidance, including but not limited to:
![[alt text continued]
a. That the Universities’ websites and other electronic or print material representing each
university, no longer refer to “affirmative action,
” “DEI” nor utilize the words “diversity,
” “equity,
”
“inclusion,
” or other associated terms,
b. That the System and Universities’ position titles and office titles no longer refer to “affirmative
action,
” “DEI” nor utilize the words “diversity,
” “equity,
” “inclusion,
” or other associated terms,
and
c. That in place of the cited words, the University System and each university communicates
consistent with the values of equal access and equal opportunity for all.
3. That the assessments and modifications undertaken are intended to create and promote equal
opportunity and equal access for everyone.
4. That all actions taken should be viewed through the lens and be respectful of our long-standing values
supporting freedom of expression and academic freedom, as currently outlined in Board of Regents
Policies and University Regulations
This motion is effective February 21, 2025.
"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ecdzkxerbfijtywsj3r7iepp/bafkreiefz44bcgf3tca35ir6pvloaucsvryqsjjr6xyovx6o4qpslnkoce)
[alt text continued] a. That the Universities’ websites and other electronic or print material representing each university, no longer refer to “affirmative action, ” “DEI” nor utilize the words “diversity, ” “equity, ” “inclusion, ” or other associated terms, b. That the System and Universities’ position titles and office titles no longer refer to “affirmative action, ” “DEI” nor utilize the words “diversity, ” “equity, ” “inclusion, ” or other associated terms, and c. That in place of the cited words, the University System and each university communicates consistent with the values of equal access and equal opportunity for all. 3. That the assessments and modifications undertaken are intended to create and promote equal opportunity and equal access for everyone. 4. That all actions taken should be viewed through the lens and be respectful of our long-standing values supporting freedom of expression and academic freedom, as currently outlined in Board of Regents Policies and University Regulations This motion is effective February 21, 2025. "
Incredibly disappointing response from the University of Alaska.
No university support for diversity, for equity, for inclusion is allowed.
Just disgraceful for the board of regents of an institution of higher education to make this choice.
(posted twice for complete alt text)
#alaskasky
Yes it worked out wonderfully! Thank you for organizing it! It felt really good to protest with other community members.
These firings were blamed on "poor performance," but I'm hearing that many of the people fired today have exemplary records, won director's awards, etc. I have to imagine they'll be challenged in court.
Yes you were right! I saw another person post who confirmed it was part of the 50501. I stand corrected - it was definitely organized by someone!
Wonderful turnout at Fairbanks Alaska 50501 protest rally, in front of City Hall.
It's annoying how clearly this is going to play out.
They gut the FAA.
Therefore, the FAA can't do its job well because it was gutted.
Therefore, they say "The FAA sucks, we have to privatize it." which is what Project 2025 wants to do. They're manufacturing the crises for their end goal.
It felt good to protest with a group in #Fairbanks in front of city hall today against everything that Trump and Musk stand for. But there wasn't one single group that organized this...it wasn't even organized as far as I could tell. Where is the Democratic Party?
Want to watch something fun over lunch, and learn something about beavers in the Arctic? My advisor and mine's #BeaverCon talk from October just got uploaded, check it out!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZcd...
I'm glad we got a little bit of snow, so I can see their tracks across my snowshoe trails. I'm going to be keeping close watch if their usual crossing spots form again!
While we have finally dipped below freezing, the horrors of the ice and a rotten snowpack will continue for months. Unlike ice events in the L48, we will have ice on our roads until April or May. Thinking of all the subnivean creatures whose tunnel systems hopefully stayed intact!
What does the warmest December day on record look like in Nome, AK? Ice-pocalypse. Photo credit: C. Sopow. @alaskawx.bsky.social
I would love to be added to this starter pack!
A beautiful crisp morning walk this morning, in which I heard a parent and a juvenile Great Horned Owl hooting and screeching, and a handful of pine grosbeaks and boreal chickadees calling under the last stars. None seem too fazed by -36°C. Happy Thanksgiving from Lower Tanana Dene lands!
🎉 but I hope the beavers in Beaver are ok
Coldest morning of the season so far, -25°F/-32°C at my cabin in Fairbanks. Feeling like winter with these temps and very long sunrises.
I would love to join this starter pack!
I'm glad you had such a fun time here! It's still wonderful in my eyes! I love it here.
Thank you for introducing me to this! I'm still not familiar with communities on BlueSky - how do they work? I found one example of a community I would like to join but I only have the option to follow everyone in that community. How do I become a part of a community?