Polaris Lecture Series Focus on Alaska's National Parks

By: Chris Hall  Sep 22, 2005

Four free public lectures will be presented at the University of Alaska Anchorage this fall focusing on topics relevant to national parks and public lands. Part of the Polaris Lecture Series, the Thursday evening presentations are sponsored by the University’s Democracy Forum and the National Park Service.

Each lecture and media presentation runs from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the Social Sciences Building (SSB), Room 118, on the UAA campus.

September 22: “ANILCA and Conservation History in Alaska’s National Parks” focuses on the establishment of a National Park System in Alaska nearly a century ago. Lecturers are Ingrid Nixon, interpretive specialist, Denali National Park, and Frank Norris, historian, Alaska Regional Office.

October 6: “National Parks as Homes to Ancient Alaskans” looks at the parks of Northwest Alaska and covers archeological research that has taken place there. The area’s research story includes pioneering work by J. Louis Giddings and David Hopkins, with more recent work has been carried out by National Park Service archeologists and others, including Jeanne Schaaf and Bob Gal. The lecturer is Bob Gal, archeologist for Western Arctic Parklands.

October 27: “Preserving Alaska’s History” describes the significant role national parks have in preserving Alaska’s history. Sitka and Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Parks will be featured, along with quick looks at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, and other historical restoration work. Lecturers are Steve Peterson, senior historic architect, Alaska Region; Jim Corless, superintendent, Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park; and Ted Birkedal, chief of cultural resources, Alaska Region.

November 10: “Dynamic Landscapes in Alaska’s National Parks” focuses on Glacier Bay National Park and the dramatic change in landscape that has taken place over the past 200 years. The rapid retreat of glaciers is well documented, and the changing landscape is reflected in a variety of ways, with retreating ice, new marine habitat, rapidly evolving coastal habitat, and changing marine and terrestrial wildlife patterns. Lecturer is Chris Nemeth, Chief of Interpretation, Glacier Bay National Park.

A one-credit course associated with the fall National Parks Polaris Lecture series and including an outing to an Alaska National Park Service site is available for undergraduate or graduate credit.

For information about the course, Political Science A490/A690, Studies in Politics: National Park Issues, contact the instructor, Ralph Tingey, at 644-3507, or The UAA Department of Political Science, at 786-4896.