Over the course of humanity’s time on earth we have learned much from nature. In modern history science and adventure have had a symbiotic relationship. Adventurers use science to justify their trips, and scientists take risks to collect data in extreme environments. On this show we’ll be talking to Dr. Caroline Van Hemert, who travelled from Bellingham to Kotzebue by row boat, skis, packraft, canoe, and on foot; and has just published a book about the trip titled “The Compass is a Sun.” In the 2nd half of the show we’ll be talking with Dr. Kathy Kuletz, who has studied seabirds in Prince William Sound and the North Gulf of Alaska since 1978, a very relevant topic as we approach the 30th anniversary of the Exxon Oil Spill.
HOST: Paul Twardock
GUESTS:
- Segment 1: “Book: The Sun is my Compass.” Caroline Van Hemert, bird biologist and author.
- Segment 2: “The Birds of Prince William Sound, 30 years post spill.” Kathy Kuletz, has been studying sea birds.
LINKS:
- Home page for Caroline Van Hemert, with dates for her speaking events
- Museum event for Caroline Van Hemert
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Migratory Bird Program
BROADCAST: Thursday, March 21st, 2019. 2:00 pm – 3:00 p.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Thursday, March 21st, 2019. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
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Eric Bork, or you can just call him “Bork” because everybody else does, is the FM Operations Manager for KSKA-FM. He oversees the day-to-day operations of the FM broadcast. He produces and edits episodes of Outdoor Explorer, the Alaska-focused outdoors program. He also maintains the web posts for that show. You may have heard him filling in for Morning Edition or hosting All Things Considered and can still find him operating the soundboard for any of the live broadcast programs.
After escaping the Detroit area when he was 18, Bork made it up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where he earned a degree in Communications/Radio Broadcasting from Northern Michigan University. He spent time managing the college radio station, working for the local NPR affiliate, and then in top 40 radio in Michigan before coming to Alaska to work his first few summers. After then moving to Chicago, it only took five years to convince him to move back to Alaska in 2010. When not involved in great radio programming he’s probably riding a bicycle, thinking about riding bicycles, dreaming about bikes, reading a book, or planning the next place he’ll travel to. Only two continents left to conquer!
