Innovators Hall of Fame

Now taking nominations for the

Innovators Hall of Fame 2024!

SCoR created the Alaska Innovators Hall of Fame in 2014 to celebrate and honor outstanding individuals and inventions that put Alaska on the map as leaders in innovation and to contribute to Alaska’s growing culture of ingenuity.

SCoR invites nominations of outstanding innovators or innovations from Alaskan communities and villages who have made achievements which have impacted quality of life, economic development, the environment, and/or the welfare of the people of Alaska and the globe. SCoR and the University of Alaska are committed to establishing equal educational opportunity and encourage nominations of minority and underrepresented individuals. Nominees who are selected by SCoR will be members of the class of 2024 and will be inducted at the Innovation Summit held in Juneau on February 27-29, 2024.

1. Nominees should have demonstrated innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions or lifetime achievements that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, the environment, the welfare of the people of Alaska and/or a global impact.
 
2. A nominee must have been an Alaskan resident for at least one year, or have made a significant demonstration of the innovation’s links to Alaska or have conducted research work in Alaska.

Nominations will be accepted through December 31, 2023

A nominator can nominate a person/people for election to the SCoR Alaska Innovators Hall of Fame in one of three ways:

  1. Complete the ONLINE NOMINATION FORM
  2. Or - Nomination packets can be submitted via email to sldayton2@alaska.edu, with subject line "2024 Alaska Innovators Hall of Fame Nomination Packet for [nominee's name]" 
  3. Or - In a single packet by mail to SCoR Alaska Innovators Hall of Fame Nomination Committee, c/o University of Alaska Vice President for Academics, Students & Research, P.O. Box 755000, Fairbanks, AK 99775-5000. 

Nomination packets include the following:

  • Personal letter of nomination that describes the nominee’s innovation and its  impact, using illustrations and photos as appropriate.
  • Nominee’s contact information
  • Resume or CV may be included, but not required
  • List of references or community support
  • Evidence of the nominee’s or their invention's impact
  • Supporting letters, which may be written by individuals in addition to the nominator

Alaska Innovators Hall of Fame 2023

The Juneau Economic Development Council (JEDC) with the State Committee for Research (SCoR) inducted three innovators into the Alaska Innovators Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place on March 16, 2023 at Centennial Hall in downtown Juneau. 

The celebration was part of the annual Innovation Summit sponsored by the JEDC. University of Alaska Vice President of Academics, Students and Research Dr. Paul Layer and Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer co-hosted the event.

“The Alaska Innovators Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who demonstrate innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions,” said Layer. “These nominees have made achievements in their field that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, the environment, the welfare of the people of Alaska and the globe. These are inventors and innovators in the fields of science, engineering and technology.”

The two 2023 inductees and their notable achievements were:

  • UAF professor Dr. Mary Beth Leigh – building public engagement and understanding of the science of climate and the environment. 

  • UAA professor Dr. LeeAnn Munk – exemplifying research excellence in Alaska with a profound body of work that will ultimately benefit the world through its importance for alternate energy resources in the form of lithium as well as the implications of her work to critical minerals exploration.

Dr. Mary Beth Leigh
Dr. Mary Beth Leigh

 

 

 

 

Dr. LeeAnn Munk
Dr. LeeAnn Munk

 

 

2021 Innovators Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony footage (YouTube)

Read More about this year's inductees. (PDF) by Nancy Erickson for Alaska Business Magazine.

Alaska Business digital magazine article featuring the 2022 inductees:
https://digital.akbizmag.com/issue/april-2022/#alaskainnovators

Alaska Business is a premier B2B publication that promotes economic growth through objective and thorough discussion and analysis of the issues and trends affecting Alaska's business community. Learn more at akbizmag.com

Watch Previous Induction Ceremonies