Toolik Field Station, US
Toolik Field Station, US
Research station (TFS) is operated and managed by the Institute of Arctic Biology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) with cooperative agreement support from the Division of Polar Programs, Directorate for Geosciences at the US National Science Foundation (NSF).
Contact
Station manager Syndonia Bret-Harte: msbretharte[at]alaska.edu
Location
TFS is located 210 km south of Deadhorse and 600 km north of Fairbanks in arctic Alaska. The field station is situated north of Gates of the Arctic National Park, and its location allows scientists to access the Brooks Range, the arctic foothills and the arctic coastal plain.
Website
https://www.uaf.edu/toolik/
https://interact-gis.org/Home/Station/54
Facilities
TFS was first established in 1975 to support an aquatic research program. The field station evolved from a 10-person tent camp into a premier arctic research laboratory and science support facility capable of supporting up to 150 researchers. The field station includes several laboratory trailers and tents, a lecture hall, various dormitory accommodation styles, a kitchen and dining hall, shower and laundry facilities, and a tool shop. TFS is open year-round and provides transportation to and from the station, basic science support, high-speed internet, GIS services, general-use laboratory and field equipment, herbarium, and baseline environmental and meteorological data.
Availability for access
Time frame for access preparation
Time frame to receive the documentation from RI users (after access is granted):
TFS’s (soft) deadline for summer reservations is March 31. However, there are always people who make reservations after this point. They prefer RI users to fill out their project description and make reservations by March 31, but can accommodate later reservations on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Time frame for logistic arrangements to access the RI:
RI users will need to book airline tickets to fly to Fairbanks, then truck reservations to ride from Fairbanks to Toolik Field Station. It is worth noting that truck reservations can fill up fast, and that trucks only go north and south on some days of the week. Therefore, it would be best to arrange these reservations by March 31, though it is not impossible to get these reservations later (but the most favored dates may not be available).Â
Permits, licenses and training
Depending on the study design and where it is located, it may be required to get a permit from the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the State of Alaska. Because getting a permit from BLM can be a very slow process, it is best if the research can fall under BLM’s “casual use†designation, which is much faster. RI users should consult with Toolik Field Station’s GIS office for help with site selection (a map will be required for the application), and should tailor their study to the casual use requirements, if possible. Even for a casual use determination, it is still necessary to contact BLM and obtain a casual use letter, so this is also a process that should be started as soon as possible.
All RI users must take Code of Conduct training online (accessed through their myToolik profile), and pass the quiz, prior to arrival at Toolik Field Station (TFS). To drive a TFS vehicle requires an international driver’s license (if the RI user does not have a driver’s license from one of the U.S. states) and to fill out the driving history form. RI users must also go through our truck orientation prior to driving. If RI users desire to use one of the TFS boats, they must take our boat training prior to using the boat, and wear a personal floatation device while on the water. RI users planning to do laboratory work should take our online lab safety course.
Medical guidelines
At present, their only requirement is for pre-trip and on-site COVID testing a few days after arrival. It is likely that this requirement will disappear before the next field season.Â
