Alaska.com: Alaska's Travel Website

Geophysical Institute

What it is: Scientists here study subjects ranging from the center of the earth to the center of the sun.

What you'll see: Visit the Alaska Satellite Facility to learn about work performed by polar orbiting satellites and visit the Alaska Earthquake Information Center's seismology lab.

When to go: Tours take place at 2:30 p.m. Wednesdays, June 1 through Aug. 24.

Where to meet: Elvey Building lobby on the UAF campus.

For more information: Call 1-907-474-7558, or e-mail info@gi.alaska.edu. Reservations are required for groups of 10 or more.

International Arctic Research Center

What it is: Headquarters for scientists studying Arctic and global climate.

What you'll see/do: Walk through the IARC and hear about latest research.

When to go: Tours run at 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays, June 1 through Aug. 24.

Where to meet: Meet in the IARC lobby.

For more information: Call 1-907-474-7558. Reservations are required for groups of 10 or more.

Poker Flat Research Range

What it is: The only university-owned sounding rocket range in the world.

What you'll see/do: Learn how and why scientists use rockets to study the aurora.

When to go: Tours in 2005 will take place two Thursdays a month (June 9 and 23, July 7 and 21, Aug. 4 and 18) at 1:30 p.m.

Where to meet: Look for the rocket on the right-hand side of the road, 30 miles north of Fairbanks on the Steese Highway.

For more information: Call 1-907-474-7558 for more information, or e-mail info@gi.alaska.edu. Please make reservations for groups of 10 or more.

Arctic Region Computing Center

What it is: A "virtual" tour of the Arctic Region Computing Center, using supercomputers and special 3-D glasses.

When to go: June-August, 1 p.m. Wednesdays (tentative). Call to confirm.

For information: Call 1-907-450-8662. Please make reservations for groups of 10 or more.