Aurora fall 2020
Aurora fall 2020 issue
![Aurora fall 2020 header](/aurora/images/fall2020/Aurora_web_header_text.png)
Feature stories
Professor recounts Walter Harper’s short life full of living
By Sam Bishop
While writing about the first man to stand atop Denali, Mary Ehrlander rekindled an old friendship.
Why not do it with some style?
By Jeff Richardson
Rob Prince went to the Lower 48 and back in search of his personal time machine — a DeLorean.
As gardening booms, ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ× gives well-researched advice
By Debbie Carter
The Cooperative Extension Service responds to resurgent interest in local food production.
Alumni profiles
Taking on virus testing: Jayme Parker '19
By Theresa Bakker
Jayme Parker found herself at the forefront as Alaska ramped up coronavirus testing.
Caught in the epicenter: Qian Li ’12
By JR Ancheta
When the coronavirus hit China, Qian Li was one of the first documentary filmmakers on scene.
Plus
Research roundup
For decades, ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ×'s research has focused on challenges faced by people in the North.
Nanook Nook: One alum’s powerfully sunny outlook
Jim White keeps inventing ways to go solar. He wants Alaskans to join him.
Class notes and in memoriam
See what ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ×'s alumni have been doing, and remember those no longer with us.
![PRSA Alaska Award of Excellance 2020 1st place badge](/aurora/images/fall2020/PRSA_AA_badge_1st.png)
Letters
Sept. 16, 2020
Dear editor:
I'm attaching a photo taken recently at the corner of Tanana Drive and North Tanana Drive. It shows a sweet little mushroom pushing her head upward through set asphalt. I hope you can publish it because it is obviously a symbol of so many things all over our campus that are tenaciously moving forward despite overwhelming obstacles.
Warm and friendly regards.
John Gimbel, professor
Department of Math and Statistics
![Mushroom peeking up through asphalt on the corner of Tanana Drive and North Tanana Drive on the ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ× campus. Photo courtesy of John Gimbel.](/aurora/images/fall2020/preview-full-mushroom.jpeg)