Alaska Sea Grant showcases research at community event

Alaska Sea Grant participated in the annual Arctic Research Open House, held May 16 at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Troth Yeddha’ campus. The free event invites the public to engage with scientists and learn about research being done at UAF. This year over 600 community members attended. Interactive displays and activities offered fun and learning to attendees of all ages.

Alaska Sea Grant’s booth provided an opportunity to learn about a breadth of exciting coastal and marine research happening across the state, ranging from work related to fisheries management to marine mammals to addressing coastal hazards. This year’s table featured research of Alaska Sea Grant-supported graduate student Emily Reynolds, who spoke about her work investigating interactions between sea otters and oyster farms. Reynolds displayed shells of sea otter prey items and the pelts of two sea otters, inviting passerby to feel their fur. Visitors could also use a field telescope to locate a sea otter cardboard cutout and identify what it was eating.

“It’s an octopus!” exclaimed one youngster, peering through the telescope.

The Alaska Sea Grant table also included an oyster shell painting activity, in which visitors were invited to paint a shell to take home while learning about Alaska’s oyster farming industry. 

Visitors were encouraged to take the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Debris Prevention Pledge, committing to taking steps to prevent marine debris such as reducing purchase and use of single-use plastics and cleaning up litter in a local waterway. After taking the pledge, participants could select a reusable product such as a snack bag, utensil set, or to-go mug.

“Our family participated in Fairbanks Clean Up Day last weekend,” said one participant as they took the pledge, referring to the annual community-wide volunteer initiative. “The town’s roadways and waterways were so much cleaner after just a few hours. It really shows that small actions can make a difference.”