1997 Summer Internship/REU at the Geophysical Institute
University of Alaska Fairbanks

In keeping up the tradition, this page is dedicated to the 1998 Summer REU interns. It is based on the 1996 interns page, to which there is a link below. We had a great time last summer, learned a lot (some more than others), went on crazy adventures and saw incredible things. And there are plenty of stories to tell...


General Information
There are in actuality two summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs going on at UAF- Geology and Geophysics, headed by Doug Christensen and Paul Layer, and Atmospheric Science and Space Physics, headed by Roger Smith. Both programs are separate only in terms of funding and department projects, so all 20 interns were considered one big group. The majority of the students were going into their 3rd or 4th year, and were mostly in physics, geology, natural sciences and related programs.


Many of us were curious how exactly the food situation would work, but none of us had any major problems and did plenty of cooking (and baking). If you don't want to bring your own pots, pans and utensils, you can use the community wares that may be found in the kitchenettes on each floor (in Lathrop Hall anyway). If you plan on doing any camping (and you will) one of those camping cooksets would be a great thing to use in the wilderness and in the kitchen. If you'd like to buy your own set, you'll be able to get everything you want at Fred Meyer- plus, in Alaska, there's NO SALES TAX.

The main cafeteria (Loly Tilly Commons) is closed in the summer, and the small cafeteria in the Wood Student Center isn't open for dinner, and can be a pain to walk to everyday. Many of us made sandwiches, or brought leftovers or Top Ramen (there are microwave ovens abounding) for lunch, and often sat outside on picnic benches or in the seismology lab. There are vending machines and a small cafeteria room in the Arctic Health building across from the Geophysical Institute (a.k.a. the Puke 'n' Choke) if you insist on buying lunch.


These links should give you a pretty good idea about what it's like to live in Fairbanks for 3 months. It's all one great big adventure, and you won't regret for a minute deciding to be a part of it!


The Rules (revised)
Stuff to bring
Stuff to do
Stuff NOT to do
People who were cool to us
Other interesting people
Photos of our adventures
Contact us!
Test your knowledge on the summer of '97!
1996 interns' page

University of Alaska Fairbanks
Geophysical Institute
Fred Meyer
Alaska State Government Homepage
Bighuge map of Alaska



Joe Di Dio
homepage

This background (Topo map of the Denali area)