The NGEE Arctic team had a strong presence at the recent AGU
meetings in San Francisco. While our team was busy throughout the week with
posters, presentations, special sessions, and Town Halls, it was great to see
that UMIAQ, our logistical provider in Barrow was also enjoying a great time
over in the exhibition hall. Their booth was well-positioned and staffed by
people we have come to know and respect over the last few years including Karl
Newyear (Chief Scientist), Dominique Fox (Project Coordinator), Brower Frantz
(Field Logistics Supervisor), Cindy Shake (Marketing and Communications
Manager), and Nagruk Harcharek (Science Logistics Manager). Karl, Brower, and
Dominique have helped us with permitting, lodging, vehicles, laboratory space, and
technical support in Barrow for the last three years and have played a big part
in getting our science off to a strong start. We have always felt safe and
well-supplied thanks to their involvement with our NGEE Arctic team. Cindy and
Nagruk are relatively new to UMIAQ but we look forward to working with them in
the coming year. As the pictures kindly provided by UMIAQ show, the booth was
well designed to engage those walking through the exhibition hall, and all the
staff were welcome to talk about science and logistical support in Alaska and
the North Slope. Everyone enjoyed seeing a glimpse of the Arctic in San
Francisco. I saw numerous UMIAQ backpacks, brochures, and Barrow snow globes
throughout the week. I visited the booth
several times just to say “hi” and get a head start with some of our planning
for the upcoming field season that will begin for us in April.
