Step Aboard R/V Sikuliaq: New Anchorage Museum Exhibition Explores Changing Arctic Waters

On view May 15, 2026 | First Floor, Patricia B. Wolf Family Galleries

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA — 

Arctic waters around Alaska are changing, from diminished sea ice to shifting animal migrations that affect the marine ecosystem and the coastal communities that rely on the ocean. Beginning May 15, visitors to the Anchorage Museum can step into the world of Arctic marine research through Arctic Marine Science: Sikuliaq to Shore, an immersive exhibition that reveals how scientists and coastal communities are working together to better understand environmental shifts in northern seas.

Presented in partnership with the North Pacific Research Board (NPRB), the exhibition transforms the Patricia B. Wolf Family Galleries into an immersive exploration of Arctic marine science, where visitors encounter the people, technologies, and knowledge systems shaping our understanding of Alaska’s northern seas.

“The Arctic marine environment is a vital cultural, ecological, economic, and strategic region for Alaska and the United States,” said Ryan Kenny, deputy director and chief operating officer of the Anchorage Museum. “This exhibition tells a powerful narrative of what is happening in the Arctic waters surrounding Alaska and how scientists and coastal communities are responding to rapid changes.”

“Featuring our Arctic research program in a setting like the Anchorage Museum is a natural next step,” said NPRB Executive Director Lynn Palensky. “It allows us to share the importance of the Arctic marine ecosystem with Alaskans and highlight the collaborative work happening across the region.”

“R/V Sikuliaq is one of the most sophisticated ships in the world, and her homeport resides in Seward, Alaska,” said Bradley Moran, PhD, dean of the University of Alaska Fairbanks College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. “Featuring Sikuliaq in this exhibition provides Alaskans an opportunity to grasp the seagoing science and technology operations based in our state and how scientists are working to better understand some of the most pressing marine environmental issues.”

At the center of the exhibition is R/V Sikuliaq, a 261-foot ice-capable oceanographic research vessel owned by the National Science Foundation and operated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. Since 2016, the vessel has supported research across Alaska’s northern waters, helping scientists study how changing ocean conditions affect marine life in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas.

By weaving together science, art, and community knowledge, Arctic Marine Science: Sikuliaq to Shore presents a holistic view of the Arctic marine ecosystem and invites visitors to consider how observation, research, and collaboration contribute to understanding a rapidly changing environment.

Visitors to Arctic Marine Science: Sikuliaq to Shore will encounter:

• A recreated section of the research vessel R/V Sikuliaq, placing visitors inside the working environment of Alaska’s ice-capable marine research ship.
• Scientific instruments and equipment used to study the ocean, including an oceanographic glider, CTD rosette water sampler, ring nets for collecting plankton, and equipment used to gather seafloor sediment samples.
• An immersive Arctic soundscape installation, where visitors hear recordings of bowhead whales, bearded seals, shifting sea ice, and ship traffic while exploring how scientists study underwater sound.
• Hands-on microscope and interactive stations that reveal microscopic life, such as phytoplankton and zooplankton, that form the foundation of the Arctic marine food web.
• Scientific illustrations, nature journals, and infographics showing how artists and researchers collaborate to translate complex marine science into visual storytelling.
• Stories and community monitoring initiatives from Alaska’s coastal communities, highlighting collaborations that combine Indigenous knowledge and scientific research to better understand changes in Arctic waters.

The exhibition opens May 15, 2026, and runs through April 4, 2027, in the Patricia B. Wolf Family Galleries at the Anchorage Museum.

Presented with support from the North Pacific Research Board.

For more information, visit anchoragemuseum.org.

The North Pacific Research Board is an independent nonprofit organization that supports marine research in the North Pacific and Arctic oceans to better understand marine ecosystems and inform stewardship of ocean resources.

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PRESS PREVIEW