Peucker-Ehrenbrink Press Release

 October 2, 2012:   The Sitka Sound Science Center is pleased to announce the arrival, on October 3^th of Dr. Bernhard Peucker-Ehrenbrink, Senior Scientist from the Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.  Dr. Peucker-Ehrenbrink will spend most of the month of October in residence at the Science Center as a Scientist in Residency Fellow.  

 Dr. Peucker-Ehrenbrink’s research interest has focused on the cycling of water in order to understand the chemical evolution of Earth.  Since 2008 he has have been working to build the Global Rivers Group in collaboration with colleagues at the Woods Hole Research Center, the University of New Hampshire and partners in Russia, China, India, Bangladesh, France, the Republic of Congo and Canada.  Their aim is to  build a network of Global Rivers Observatories (globalrivers.org) to observe how environmental change and societal pressure affect river basins. Bernhard will be studying Indian River and Starrigavan River while in residence.

 There will be a number of opportunities for the community to interact with Bernhard and talk with him about his research.  He will present a talk for the Natural History Series at UAS on Tuesday October 9^th at 7:30 PM at UAS room 106. He will be working with Keet Gooshi Heen Rebecca Himshoot’s 5^th grade “Stream Team” on October 11 and 12, and Jody Smothers Marcello’s Global Issues classes at Sitka High School on October 24^th.  Bernhard will also participate in the informal German language group “ Stammtisch” that meets at 5 PM on Wednesdays at the Westmark.

 The Sitka Sound Science Center, through funding from the National Science Foundation, has established a Scientist in Residency Fellowship (SIRF) at the Center in Sitka. Matching funds were provided by the Karsh Foundation and the Skaggs Foundation. Each year fellowships are awarded to four preeminent marine scientists from across the country. The SIRF program brings scientists to Sitka for one month sabbaticals to allow scientists time to work undisturbed by their usual daily routine. The program also provides community engagement opportunities for scientists to share their research and to help improve ocean literacy in our community.

 Please see our website for information about future fellows: http://www.sitkasoundsciencecenter.org/research/fellowship-program/