Friday Focus: Meet me at the UAF booth under the aurora
Shown here setting up the booth are Lillian Anderson-Misel, Kelly Eagan, Jami Warrick, and Becky Lindsey.
Dec. 13, 2024
— By Nettie La Belle-Hamer, vice chancellor for research
For many of the business-suit types in Washington, D.C., jeans, t-shirts, and backpacks camouflage science rockstars as they scurried between sessions at the American Geophysical Union meeting this week. Every year over 25,000 geoscientists assemble to discuss their results, discover new collaborators, and learn what is happening at the cutting edge of their field. And hopefully, due to the hard work of the UAF Research AGU booth committee and many others, more are enticed to join us here, in ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø, as new faculty or new students.
UAF was well represented with more than 170 faculty, students, and staff participating in AGU24 giving roughly 180 presentations during the week. While old hat for many faculty, presenting at AGU is a rite of passage for students as they advance to their degrees. Due to that, the booth committee worked with the R1 planning committee, along with the Graduate School, to promote Ph.D. opportunities to potential students at AGU. Funding for this year’s AGU activities came from the VCR’s Office, along with 11 research units, the UAF Alumni Association, and the UAF Chancellor's Office. By consolidating our resources we were able to really make an impact on the target audience of scientists at all stages of their careers. We are better together, to quote Jack Johnson.
One of the key advantages of having a research booth focused on UAF Research is that it serves as a meeting place for UAF participants throughout the conference. ‘Meet me at the UAF Research booth’ was heard many times a day as we made our way through the crowded rooms! With chairs and tables, it served as a comfortable place to meet new people as well as established collaborators while surrounded by a wide variety of UAF outreach materials.
Promotion of UAF research this year included our signature DC-based, UAF Arctic Research Reception with over 300 RSVPs from our invited guests. Scientists, students, funding agency representatives, and elected officials participated in the reception that was funded as part of the UAF Research booth activities. It proved once again to be a great way to meet people and enhance relationships.
The UAF booth is filled with visitors during the opening rush as attendees explored the AGU24 Exhibit Hall on the afternoon of Dec. 9.
I want to take a moment to thank all the people who made this week’s booth and reception such a success! Namely, the organizing committee for the booth and the reception: from the VCR’s Office – Alanna Greenwell and Helena Buurman; from the GI – Becky Lindsey, Kelly Eagan, Vicki Daniels, Molly Putman, Bryan Whitten, Eric Marshall, Sam Wiser, Rod Boyce, Sara Wilbur, Holly Dean, Mariah McNamara, and Lillian Anderson-Misel; from ASF – Nicole Houseweart, Jessica Ramos, Suzy Nicolai; from CEM/INE – Katelin Avery; from IARC – Chynna Lockett, Emily Lescak, Christian Thorsberg, and Heather McFarland; from CNSM – Gracie Banister and Jami Warrick; from CIS – Kelsey Nicholson, Lena Thompson, and Hudson Boldoc; from UAF University Advancement – Theresa Bakker, Felicia Burud, and Marmian Grimes; from UAF Graduate School – Maddie Chetty and Rich Collins; from Alaska EPSCoR – Joey Hogenson; and from UA Federal Relations – John Latini.
As you can see, it takes a village! Come join us next year as we prepare for AGU25 and together we will make UAF shine through innovative booth design and activities that augment our science presentations and collaboration activities. If you are interested in participating next year, reach out to lead coordinators Becky Lindsey and Kelly Eagan at the GI. I cannot wait to meet you at the UAF Research Booth in New Orleans!
Friday Focus is a column written by a different member of UAF's leadership team every week.