Why do boreal forests matter?

Boreal forest

SNRAS faculty are teaching the popular Summer Sessions course “Why do boreal forests matter?” Professor David Valentine and Associate Professor John Fox relate the importance of Alaska’s forests environmentally and economically.

Timber resources, environmental, and industrial pressures on boreal forests, and fires and the resulting nutrient cycling will be topics of discussion. Presentations by scientists and professionals will be given. There will also be readings and first-hand observations of components and processes at work in the forest. The course is geared for non-forestry professionals and non-forestry majors.

The one-credit course is perfect for K-12 teachers seeking recertification. It will be offered June 25-27 and includes field trips. Students should be prepared to walk short distances over rough, uneven, wet terrain. The fee is $110.

Dr. Valentine is a professor of soil science whose research focuses on the role of soils in non-agricultural ecosystems in generating or consuming gases that control the earth’s climate. Dr. Fox is an associate professor of land resources, specializing in the hydrological effects of land use changes and the planning and decision making involved in forest management.

Register for course NRM F595P-F01, CRN 51428 at Summer Sessions.

Alaska Soil Geography Field Study: Soils Affected by Permafrost will be taught by Professor Chien-Lu Ping July 5-13. The class will study permafrost-affected soils along the Elliot and Dalton Highways from Fairbanks to Deadhorse. Review soil-forming factors of the subarctic and arctic regions of Alaska, including parent material, vegetation, climate, topography, and time. Soil classification, wetland delineation, and land use interpretations of cryogenic soils will be studied.

NRM F380 is a prerequisite unless permission is obtained from the instructor. Students provide their own camping gear, appropriate clothing, and foot gear. They need to be physically fit for field work, long days, and walking on uneven or rocky ground through the forest. The fee is $750. Register for NRM F489-F01 at Summer Sessions. Dr. Ping is a professor of soil sciences. His research focuses on permafrost-affected soils and carbon cycling .

Other courses of interest this summer include:

Introduction to Macro and Micro Mushrooms: Get a unique view of the world Aug. 13-15 through the lens of the fruiting body of a fungal mycelium (mushroom). Learn how to collect and prepare wild mushrooms for museum specimens. The course is taught by Gary Laursen, senior research professor with the UAF Institute of Arctic Biology. He specializes in the collection and study of nonvascular plants and fungi.

Week in the Woods: July 12-16 live in the woods and learn on-site woodworking from the masters.

Invasive Plants of Alaska: From July 23-25 teachers will learn to make invasive plant study fun for students. Join Katie Spellman and Christine Villano as they provide information and strategies for teaching Alaska-based K-12 invasive plant curriculum. The course covers biological and societal impacts of invasive species, problematic invasive species of Alaska, and methods for invasive plant control. Hands-on lesson plans are included. Fee is $140.

Introduction to Lichens in Alaska: Join Toby Spribille Aug. 13-15 for an introduction to form, function, ecology, chemistry, and diversity of lichens, with an emphasis on species present in Alaska. Learn to identify lichens through field collection, microscope, and micro-chemical techniques. Spribille, doctoral student at the University of Graz in Austria, will teach the course.

Introduction to Field Entomology: Learn how to collect and identify insects from an anthropod expert. Students will be introduced to the professional procedures and techniques used to process insects for museum acquisition. The course is taught July 30-Aug. 1.

Registration details are available at Summer Sessions.

Addendum
June 24, 2010, The boreal forests class has been canceled and the soil field study class is at maximum capacity.