User Forum Summary for 2024
Toolik hosted three User Forums in the 2024 field season – in late June, July and August. At least 39 people attended at least one forum, including 21 staff and 18 users. More were in attendance but not recorded by notetakers.
First Forum held on June 27, 2024
Attendees (19 total): (10 users) Jason Dobkowski, Ali Malik, Nathan LaFramboise, Kyoko Okano, Bjorn Larson, Jessie Motes, Frances Cohen, Tori Hebert + more
(9 staff & management) Amanda Young, Chad Diesinger, Scott Filippone, Matt Hadley, Brian Tamm, Mayra Meléndez, Haley Dunleavy (virtual), Faye Ethridge (virtual), Syndonia Bret-Harte (virtual)
Second Forum held on July 22, 2024
Attendees (22+ total): (9+ users) Luca Keon, Adam Hensley, Jessie Motes, Ali Malik, Calvin Heslop, Kyoko Okano, Steve Oberbauer, Diego Sanchez, Max Grensted
(13 staff & management) Amanda Young, Justin Johnson, Haley Dunleavy, Scout Wise, Brian Tamm, Lalo Morales, Randy Fulweber, Abby Jackson, Matt Hadley, Rachel de Sobrino, Joseph Keeling, Syndonia Bret-Harte (virtual), Faye Ethridge (virtual)
Third Forum held on August 23, 2024
Attendees (21+ total): (9+ users) Jason Dobkowski, Brandon Yokeley, Jesse Palmer, Tori Hebert, Adam Hensley, Ali Malik, Ruby An, Andrew Johnson, Jessie Motes,
(12 staff & management) Amanda Young, Chad Diesinger, Marin Kuizenga, Brian Tamm, Seth Beaudreault, Matt Hadley, Tyler Krul, Rachel Ferry, Mayra Melendez Gonzalez, Ben Larson, Scott Filippone, Faye Ethridge (virtual)
Summary
The forums provided space for TFS to communicate updates on past requests and reminders of policies like quiet hours, or upcoming efforts like the fall construction work. There were no major concerns communicated from residents at the forums in 2023-2024. While the internet has improved from last year, there were still some minor issues with wifi access in the WeatherPorts. UAF Nanook Technology Services visited TFS midway through the summer, and users reported being pleased with the improvements.
There was also an anonymous written comment about the helicopter operations in the first forum (below), but no reported issues with the helicopter in later forums:
“The recent mechanical problems with the single aircraft at Toolik have revealed significant weakness in this summer’s helicopter plan. Communications received from NSF prior to this season implied that use of a single R44 would be fine if scientists simply used the helicopter more “efficiently”. Ignoring the implication that this was not the case in the past, I would like to focus on the issue that NSF ignored: The reality of weather related issues, the capacity of the available helicopter(s), safety concerns regarding stranding of crews, actual flight time costs, and the balance between efficiency of helicopter use versus the efficiency of meeting the goals of funded work, AND mechanical problems (of which there have been two separate events already this season). The crew that was in the field the day before the latest problem was out at Sadlerochit Spring, about 140 miles ENE of Toolik. What would have happened if the helicopter didn’t start while at that field site?? I do not want to belabor the obvious issues here. But I do want to comment on the history of using 2 R44s for summer research at Toolik. My recollection is that the switch from a single Bell Long Ranger that was provided by a contract awarded to Bristol to a contract awarded to Pollux back in the day was in recognition on the efficiency and safety (redundancy) of having two helicopters at TFS (basically a wash in terms of the budget where the cost of a single Long Ranger = two R44s). Seems like NSF forgot about this logic and is willing to overlook really important issues regarding helicopter efficiency and safety in the support of science at Toolik.”
Users also requested fans for WeatherPorts and dorm rooms when temperatures are hot, boot pullers, balances/scales, better microwaves for heating leftovers, and new bikes. The kitchen also received a few minor suggestions about food choices amongst mostly praise.