Current Projects

 

Contents

• Current Projects

• Past Projects

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Current Projects

1. Ionizing Radiation Sources:

The purpose of the project is to compare observed gamma radiation spikes with various possible sources. Student interns download radiological data from the Fairbanks tower. The data is imported into matlab for filtering and analyzing. Currently, the radiation spikes are compared to long and short wave x-rays retried via the internet from NOAA. The project introduces students to the program Matlab and enables them to research various sources of radiation.

2. Lichen Radionuclide Baseline Research:

The purpose of the project is to determine current concentrations of various radionuclides in lichen and monitor them. The data will be used in conjunction with published data to determine caribou bioaccumulation. Conducting research is a requirement for many students within their degree program. By working on this project, students are not only able to meet this requirement but more importantly learn how to plan and approach problems scientifically.

3. Sensor Rotation:

 

 

Sensor rotations occur each summer on the NEWNET towers in Alaska. Larry Sanders (LANL) will be conducting station manager training for the towers, June 27-28 in Kotzebue and July 2-3 in Fairbanks. Newly calibrated sensors are shipped from LANL to each of the six sites for rotation. The sensors are anemometer (wind speed), wind vane, hygrometer (relative humidity), barometric pressure, and gamma radiation (PIC - pressurized ionization chamber).

 

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Past Projects

1. Science Potpourri:

Each year, the Scienc Potpourri is held at the Natural Science Building at the Unviversity of Alaska Fairbanks. The different departments at the university present displays or experiment for children.
ORION has had the opportunity to participate in the Science Potpourri the last three years (2000-2002) and with many other outreach efforts in collaboration with the American Chemical Society (ACS) student chapter at the university. Through the Science Potpourri, ORION has had was able to introduce various sources of natural radiation in the environment. The display contained various rocks (Uranium) loaned out from the geology deparment, table salt (Potassium), smoke dectector (Americium), old Coleman lantern mantles (Thorium), dried banana chips (Potassium), and a water filter, along with 3 different types of detectors. The children moved the sensors over the differnt items to determine the individual radiation levels.
Outreach efforts have been made to both local and rural schools in Fairbanks, Central, Kotzebue, and Nome. ORION hopes to continue to support local and rural schools through educational hands on experiments and demonstrations in the sciences.

1. USCG Icebreaker Science of Opportunity:

Participate in a transect of opportunity on USCG Icebreaker from Barrow region to Chukotka region summer 2001 to make shallow CTD measurements (60 meters) with own CTD, water/ice samples where possible for Mercury analysis and carry onboard a NEWNET climatological/atmospheric radioactivity autonomous station which will send data via satellite.