A newsletter from the Prince William Sound Science Center

April 9, 2021

Featured Photo: A double rainbow greets a hiker at the top of Mt. Eyak ski hill trail, September 1, 2020. Credit: Signe Fritsch

You can also check the latest information on local herring populations on our Prince William Sound Herring Watch Facebook page!

These Cordova students are amazing! This team, The Pterosquad, represented Cordova in the virtual Alaska Tsunami Bowl competition at the end of March. The competition, Alaska's regional bowl of the larger National Ocean Sciences Bowl, is a buzzer-style, academic quiz bowl focused on all-things marine science. Competing teams also complete a Research Project on a themed topic. The15-page research paper and 15-minute oral presentation that comprise the Research Project are unique to Alaska's regional bowl.

Participating students dedicate a lot of time to all aspects of this competition and The Pterosquad's efforts paid off. Months of studying, research, writing, and practice led The Pterosquad team to achieve:

3rd place in the Tsunami Bowl

3rd place Research Paper

4th place Research Project (combined paper and presentation)

1st place in the Science Challenge

We are so proud of everything these students have accomplished this year and their stellar representation of Cordova in this statewide competition. Congratulations to The Pterosquad!

Pictured L-R: Leo Craig, Mia Siebenmorgen, Maya Russin (Captain), and Lauren Bien (Coach).

Robyn McGhee is a lifelong Alaskan, having grown up in Big Lake, Alaska and a graduate of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Robyn lived in Valdez for several years but calls Anchorage home now. Robyn, her husband, and teenage son have been recreating for years in Prince William Sound, and consider a certain beach on Perry Island to be the world’s most beautiful.

Robyn’s role at ConocoPhillips Alaska includes management of the environmental sustainability efforts for the company, and she’s excited to be on the Board for PWSSC. She’s committed to good science and the long-term sustainability of this important ecosystem, and knows the PWSSC is critical to these goals. 

Hello! We are Huckleberry & Pippin, two GIANT cats that have been helping our human companion stay happy and (relatively) sane while working from home this past year.

PWSSC Human: Anne Schaefer, Avian Research Assistant

Age/Breed: Huck: 7 years old/Domestic Shorthair Tabby; Pip: 5 years old/off-brand Russian Blue Favorite Activities: galloping up and down the stairs, watching and chittering at birds and squirrels, napping, making biscuits.

Favorite games: Huck: playing chase & rolling in catnip; Pip: playing fetch & attacking feathers attached to string

Favorite Foods: Huck: licorice, shortbread cookies, water straight from the tap; Pip: yogurt, pepperonis Biggest Fear: Huckleberry is a bold and curious chap; Pippin lives in constant fear of dogs, strangers, loud noises, sudden movements, and novel household items.