AKES Science Fair Awards – 2026

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Interior Alaska Science Fair (Fairbanks, AK)

Congratulations to Ren Smelter on his receipt of an AKES Science Fair Award for his project titled “The Amazing Ants of Alaska”, presented at the Interior Alaska Science Fair. Ren’s poster covers ant anatomy, behavior, taxonomy, and adaptions to Alaska’s cold winters. Additionally, he created a 3D model of a carpenter ant (Camponotus herculeanus). Great work, Ren!

Ren was awarded a certificate and a copy of the book “Adventures Among Ants: A Global Safari with a Cast of Trillions” by Mark W. Moffett. Thank you to Derek Sikes, Taylor Kane, and Jessica Rykken for attending the 2026 Interior Alaska Science Fair on behalf of AKES.

A student science fair poster on a table. The poster background is red, and titled "The Amazing Ants of Alaska" in a rainbow of colors. The poster features typed information, photographs, and hand drawings related to ants. There is a large handmade model of an ant on the table in front of the poster.
The Amazing Ants of Alaska by Ren Smelter. Science Fair poster presented at the Interior Alaska Science Fair, March 2026.
A young boy stands on stage holding up a certificate and a book titled "Adventures Among Ants".
Ren Smelter receives his AKES Science Fair Award at the 2026 Interior Alaska Science Fair.

Alaska Science & Engineering Fair (Anchorage, AK)

Congratulations to Jaxson Redmond on his receipt of an AKES Science Fair Award for his project titled “Frassonators for the Future”, presented at the Alaska Science & Engineering Fair. Jaxson tested whether mealworm weight and frass weight differed based on the composition of the container the mealworms were housed in (aka “Frassonator”). Congratulations, Jaxson! And, a thank you to Ramsey Sullivan for attending the AK Science & Engineering Fair on behalf of AKES.

A photo of a green and orange-colored science fair poster titled "Frassonators for the Future" by Jaxson Redmond.
“Frassonators for the Future” by Jaxson Redmond. Science Fair poster presented at the Alaska Science and Engineering Fair (Anchorage), March 2026.

New tool – SpellingBee: The Entomological Spellcheck Dictionary

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Adam Haberski & Caitlin Silva recently published a downloadable entomological dictionary that can be added to your word processor. The article about the tool was published in American Entomologist and can be read at the following URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/ae/tmag006

The dictionary file is available on GitHub at the following URL: https://github.com/ahaberski/SpellingBee

Nineteenth annual meeting: February 13th, 2026 in Anchorage, AK

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When: Friday February 13th, 2026, 11 am – 4 pm
Where: Room 211 at Rasmuson Hall (3416 Seawolf Dr) on the University of Anchorage campus.
A zoom link will be provided for those wishing to attend remotely.
Social gathering to follow (TBD).

If you have anything you would like to present please email a title, abstract, and the length of the talk to Joey Slowik, AKES Secretary jaslowik (at) alaska.edu. (Presentation time blocks are typically 20 or 30 minutes long.)

2025 AKES Newsletter posted

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Volume seventeen of the Newsletter of the Alaska Entomological Society has been posted to the website. The complete issue can be opened as a single pdf or you can peruse the individual articles in either pdf or html format. 

Featured articles:

Marine Intertidal Pseudoscorpions in Juneau, Alaska
Bob Armstrong & John Hudson

“No Vacancy”: Masking spruce trees from spruce beetles with semiochemicals on the Kenai Peninsula
Jackson P. Audley, Christopher J. Fettig, Jason E. Moan, Jessie Moan, Steve Swenson, Elizabeth E. Graham, & Agenor Mafra-Neto

Seed-feeding and fruit deformity of crabapple caused by the apple seed chalcid in Southcentral Alaska
Alexandria Wenninger

Community science collaboration enhances understanding of fireweed flower gall midge distribution in Alaska
Alexandria Wenninger

Review of the seventeenth annual meeting
Dana Brennan

Review of the eighteenth annual meeting
Jozef Slowik

AKES Science Fair Award – 2025

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Congratulations to Izzy Spellman, Oliver Brewer, Lief O’Regan, Piper Straub, & Severin Parks on their receipt of an AKES Science Fair Award! Their project titled “True Colors of Insect Outbreaks in the Boreal Forest – Can We Detect Forest Insect Outbreaks in 25 Years of GLOBE Green Down Leaf Color Data Collected by interior Alaska Students?” looked for patterns in 25 years of leaf color data on insect-damaged leaves collected by students in interior Alaska. They found that insect damage is associated with certain leaf colors, and that warm winters tend to precede worse birch leafminer outbreak years. Thank you to Ramsey Sullivan, Derek Sikes, Taylor Kane, and Jessica Rykken for attending the Alaska Science and Engineering Fair (Anchorage) and the Interior Science Fair (Fairbanks) on behalf of AKES!

A student science fair poster
Alaska Science & Engineering Fair – Izzy Spellman, Oliver Brewer, Lief O’Regan, Piper Straub, & Severin Parks, “True Colors of Insect Outbreaks in the Boreal Forest – Can We Detect Forest Insect Outbreaks in 25 Years of GLOBE Green Down Leaf Color Data Collected by interior Alaska Students?”