ÌÇÐÄVlog

From internship to publication: Undergraduate interns publish first-author papers

February 18, 2026

Publishing a paper in a peer-reviewed journal as first author while an undergrad is a monumental achievement indicating the dedication of the student and support of the mentor. In this story, Magnus de Witt describes the journey of the two 2025 ACEP summer interns he mentored, from summer projects to peer-reviewed publications and discusses the impacts on the students and future possibilities.

From planting seeds to installing solar panels: Sean McDonald's journey into Alaska's energy future

February 11, 2026

When Sean McDonald joined Upward Bound and Teaching Through Technology Alaska in 2020 as a freshman in Wrangell, Alaska, he had no idea that a virtual summer program during COVID-19 would help launch him toward a future in renewable energy. Four years later, Sean is an electrical engineering college student spending his summers helping build solar arrays across rural Alaska -- proof that hands-on learning can change a young person's entire trajectory.

Future investment critical for continued energy data access in Alaska

January 20, 2026

Alaska's energy systems are complex, serving large industrial users, military bases and remote rural communities. As demand grows and infrastructure ages, long-term, costly decisions are unavoidable, yet gaps and inconsistencies in energy data have hindered effective planning. The Alaska Energy Data Gateway addresses this challenge by providing a centralized, public platform with validated energy and socioeconomic data for communities statewide. Rebuilt through legislative investment and led by the University of Alaska, AEDG integrates millions of data points into accessible dashboards. The platform empowers policymakers, planners, researchers and residents to guide investments, assess policy impacts and plan Alaska's energy future. Continued investment is needed to keep the data current.