Three Decades of Alaskan Science: Insights, Discoveries, and Reflections

Last week, while sipping coffee with a cab driver who’s also a writer, he said something that stuck with me: “It’s the best job in Alaska.” After thinking about it, I had to agree.

It’s been 11,000 days since I wrote my first story for the Alaska Science Forum on October 25, 1994. That piece was about little brown bats and kicked off my journey into science writing.

The Alaska Science Forum is a weekly publication produced by the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. It goes out to local news outlets and over 358 email subscribers every week. Established in the late 1940s, the institute is home to about 50 researchers who focus on fascinating topics like the aurora, earthquakes, glaciers, and the northern climate.

This weekly science forum has a rich history. It began back in 1976 when Neil Davis, a researcher at the institute, recognized a gap between scientific knowledge and public understanding. He penned the first story about the possible expansion of Fairbanks, which was published in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Since then, the forum has been a regular feature, providing readers with accessible science stories for nearly 50 years.

I entered the picture in the fall of 1994 after responding to a job ad in the same newspaper. I took over from Carla Helfferich, who inspired many with her insightful articles. Before Carla, Sue Ann Bowling, a meteorologist and one of the first female scientists at the institute, wrote the column.

For most of its history, the Geophysical Institute has funded the writer of the forum. This support has allowed us to share well-researched content with the public without any cost to news outlets. Over the years, the scientists have edited my stories, improving both the accuracy and my writing style.

During a time when many newspapers struggled and disappeared, having this steady job has been a blessing. I didn’t foresee the rise of digital media when I graduated from UAF. Answering that classified ad turned out to be a lucky decision.

My curiosity led me to turn this role into something unique. I love exploring new places with scientists. I often accompany them on trips, whether it’s digging holes or carrying equipment. This way, I ensure that their important work gets the attention it deserves in local media.

In the last 30 years, I’ve joined scientists on 86 field trips. They’ve taken me to incredible spots, like the top of Denali and the serene shores of Kiska. While some might question my objectivity, I wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything.

Although I haven’t retired yet, I wanted to share my journey for a couple of reasons: my deadline is looming, and I have a public lecture coming up.

Next week, I’ll be the first speaker in the Geophysical Institute’s “Science for Alaska” series, which has been running for longer than I have. My talk, titled “Aleutians to Arctic Coast: Covering Alaska Science for 30 Years,” will take place on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at 7 p.m. in UAF’s Schaible Auditorium and will also be available on Zoom and Facebook Live.