FAIRBANKS, Alaska -- University of Alaska Fairbanks zoophysiologist Brian Barnes has been named a 2011 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the world's largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science.
Barnes was recognized for distinguished contributions to leadership in arctic science and research in hibernation and cryobiology: the study of the effects of low temperatures on living things. Barnes is the director of the UAF Institute of Arctic Biology and the science director at Toolik Field Station.
An internationally recognized expert in hibernation, Barnes' research focuses on physiological ecology and thermoregulation of hibernating mammals – especially black bears and arctic ground squirrels.
Barnes divides his research time between laboratory work on the UAF campus and fieldwork at Toolik Field Station, an international research facility located on Alaska's North Slope. As director of IAB, Barnes supports the life sciences research of about 50 faculty members and 100 associated postdoctoral fellows, researchers and staff members.
Barnes is among 539 new fellows chosen nationwide for 2011. He will receive a certificate and a blue and gold rosette—representing science and engineering—at the AAAS annual meeting in Vancouver Feb. 18. He joins the ranks of more than a dozen Alaskans chosen as fellows over the years.
The tradition of AAAS Fellows, who are chosen by their peers, began in 1874. Members can be considered if nominated by the steering groups of the association's 24 sections, by any three fellows who are current AAAS members or by the AAAS chief executive officer.
ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Brian Barnes at 907-474-7648 or bmbarnes@alaska.edu.
ON THE WEB: http://www.aaas.org/aboutaaas/fellows/2011.shtml