Recent news and events at ABR.
Just getting to St. Matthew and Hall islands is an adventure. Senior Scientist Aaron Wells made the journey as part of a multidisciplinary biological expedition to this most remote place in Alaska, located in the middle of the Bering Sea and over 200 miles from the nearest village. In early June 2018, Aaron flew from Fairbanks to St. Paul, Alaska. From there, he and the rest of the field crew boarded the R/V Tiglax (TEKH-lah — Aleut for eagle) for a 25-hour boat ride to the islands where they would spend the next two weeks conducting wildlife and vegetation surveys.
After more than 40 years, Bob Ritchie has decided to retire from ABR and train his binoculars on new horizons. Bob established himself as a biologist and small-business owner in Alaska in the mid-1970s. His interests focused on conservation of endangered birds, especially Peregrine Falcons. Bob received his BS (Wildlife Biology) from UC Davis in 1972, and his MS (Natural Resource Management) from UAF in 1976. That same year, Bob cofounded what was then known as Alaska Biological Research with partner Jim Curatolo. He became the sole owner in 1986. Today, ABR, Inc.—Environmental Research & Services is primarily an employee-owned company. We currently have 35 scientists and staff, the majority of whom are also shareholders, in Fairbanks and Anchorage.
For our next installment of the Field Guide to ABR, we would like to introduce you to Sue Ives. Sue is a Senior Scientist who works out of our Anchorage office.
In the 1990s, ABR began donating to Project Salvador through a Scholarship Program supporting disadvantaged, rural students in El Salvador. In the 25 years of our involvement, Project Salvador has helped provide tuition, bus fares, and school supplies for numerous students interested in completing high school and college. Importantly, these students want to stay in-country and to date about 50% of 65 college graduates have found work in their profession and all of them have remained in El Salvador.
We miss Erin's vitality, generosity, and talent every day. We were so fortunate to have walked with her in this world. Please consider honoring her memory and join us in donating to the Erin K. Johnson Memorial Fund.