Research in Utqiagvik
Location: 71º18’N, 156º 44’W
Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow) is the northernmost city in the United States and has a population of roughly 4,000 people. It is considered the transportation and political hub of the North Slope of Alaska. It is 360 miles north of the Arctic Circle and the average summer temperature is around 40ºF. Because of its location, and the efforts of the community to facilitate research, Utqiaġvik is a large draw for scientists from around the world.
Top 5 Best and Worst Aspects of Utqiaġvik
Best
- Networking with other researchers
- Lab space
- Wildlife
- Ocean view
- Access to store, library, gym
Worst
- Little privacy
- Cold
- Wet
- Cloudy
- Having to leave
In the Field
Pictured are both Utqiaġvik ITEX sites (closest to the front is Utqiaġvik wet, with Utqiaġvik dry in the background). We typically spend all day out here collecting data, and eat lunch in the tent to escape the sometimes harsh weather.
Lab facilities
Most of the work day is spent out in the field, but lab space in the Barrow Arctic Research Center (BARC) is used in the evening for tasks such as data entry, plant identification, and pressing and laminating plants for the herbarium.
Housing
Most researchers stay in the Ukpik Nest. The Ukpik Nest is a dormitory style housing with single and double rooms, numerous shared bathrooms, a large fully equipped shared kitchen (pans, utensils, and serving ware) and dinning area, and several shared spaces. Linens are provided and washing and drying machines are available in the Ukpik Nest to do your own laundry.
Other researchers may stay in Huts (small houses), Apartments in town, or Hotels in town.
In most cases we cook for ourselves (team members share cooking responsibilities). There are restaurants in Utqiaġvik that we will go to but it will not be the norm (restaurants are expensive and slow). There are grocery stores in Utqiaġvik and we purchase our food in town; we often ship up spices and other specialty items.
For recommendations on what you will need to bring see Field Gear for Arctic Summer.
Video tour of our research housing in Utqiaġvik, Alaska. Video Credit: Ale Martinez, PolarTrec educator.
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Around Town
For more information about locations AEP members frequent around Utqiagvik, click here:
Shipping Recommendations for Utqiaġvik
Address Summer 2024
UIC Science, LLC
Attn: Hollister 1836839 / Elizabeth Ahkivgak c/o Your Name
NARL Building 848
P.O. Box 936
Utqiaġvik, AK 99723
(907) 367-3143
Shipping takes longer and it not predictable (over night shipping is typically 2 to 10 days in reality)
Flat rate shipping boxes at the Utqiaġvik Post Office often run out so grab a few extras when they are available.
Use the US Postal Service
If given a choice always go with the US Postal Service (it is faster, more reliable, and cheaper). People take the post office seriously and it is faster than Fedex or UPS.
Save money with flat rate boxes, you are recommended to do 2 day priority, make sure you get a tracking number.
If you are ordering something and the post office is not an option and the address line will not allow a PO Box, then you can provide the address without "PO Box 936"
Never send an item ground, it will come via barrage from Seattle in the next year or two.