By JASON MUI
The State News
To some MSU students, conquering the brisk cold of Alaska is no sweat.
Since 1995, several students have been conducting research in a program run by MSU’s Arctic Ecology Laboratory. While in Alaska, researchers examine the potential effects of global warming on tundra vegetation.
Patrick J. Webber, a professor in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, directs the research program, and graduate research assistant Bob Hollister runs the field operations.
While the research might sound complex, Hollister said it really isn’t.
“When it comes down to it, it’s just basic botany,” he said.
The students’ research in Alaska starts the first week of June and continues until the last week of August. The research is conducted in two communities on the North Slope of Alaska.
Barrow is a coastal town with a population of about 4,000 and Atqasuk is a small Inupiat community further inland. The two communities are roughly 50 miles apart and travel is conducted by way of small planes.
The work is hard and the conditions are sometimes grueling, program participants say.
For example, a typical day for the researchers in Atqasuk consists of waking at 7 a.m. and going on a mile-and-a-half hike to the sites.
After arriving at research areas, students perform tasks such as measuring plants and counting flowers and seeds. After breaking for lunch in the middle of the day, the researchers usually head home at about 6 p.m. to do data work.
Despite the difficulties, Steve Rewa said he wouldn’t take back the experience for the world.
“Anyone who has gone up there has said it was a really great experience,” the fisheries and wildlife senior said. “It’s rough living, but if you can deal with it for a couple of months you will really enjoy yourself, you’ll be glad you did it.”
Another obstacle the researchers have faced is adapting to a very different environment. In Alaska there are 24 hours of sunlight for most of the summer. Mosquitoes are also a problem students are forced to endure.
Rewa said many times they are forced to wear protective head nets while working on their sites.
“They’re pretty bad,” he said.
Christin Kolarchick agreed, and said the nibbling insects certainly take some getting used to.
“On a typical day it may be a thousand times worse than what you see around here,” the engineering sophomore said. “The sound of a thousand bugs buzzing, swarming around your head is bizarre.”
But despite harsh conditions and long work schedules, there are some benefits for the researchers. All expenses such as airfare, food and lodging are paid for.
The program is partially funded by the National Science Foundation and the university has at least one more year of guaranteed funding. All years and majors are invited to apply, and next summer’s plans will be finalized by winter break.
Each researcher gets a $3,000 stipend, students get experience in field research and have the opportunity to meet prominent researchers.
There are cultural benefits as well.
Students have opportunities to interact with indigenous Inupiat communities and the chance to see whales off the coast, rare looks at polar bears and rainbows during nighttime hours.
Researchers in Barrow say they can even see the Arctic Ocean from their sites.
Rewa, who has participated in the research three times, recalled an occasion when he cast a shadow nearly 70 feet long thanks to a unique positioning of the sun.
All aspects included, Kolarchick insisted the time spent researching was beneficial.
“Overall, it was a good experience, definitely hard work, I grew a lot,” she said.
For more information, visit the Arctic Ecology Laboratory Web page at www.cevl.msu.edu/ael.
Jason Mui can be reached at muijason@msu.edu.
