Geophysical Institute

The Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks conducts research into space physics and aeronomy; atmospheric sciences; snow, ice, and permafrost; seismology; volcanology; and tectonics and sedimentation.

The mission of the Geophysical Institute is to: The United States Congress established the Geophysical Institute with an act approved on July 31, 1946, to study the aurora borealis, after auroral activity disrupted military communications during World War II.

During this time, the first doctorate degree was awarded to Masahisa Sugiura who went on to become Head of the Analysis Section of the Magnetic and Electric Fields Branch at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

In 1970, the Geophysical Institute had outgrown the Chapman Building, and began to move into the newly constructed C.T.

The Geophysical Institute has seven research groups: The Geophysical Institute houses numerous facilities — from the Alaska Satellite Facility, whose radar images allow all-weather study of sea ice, earthquakes and volcanoes, to Poker Flat Research Range, the only university-owned rocket range in the world.