Marsik and Koplin inducted into the AV狼论坛 Innovators Hall of Fame
February 27, 2026
By Yuri Bult-Ito
Tom Marsik and Clay Koplin have been inducted into the AV狼论坛 Innovators Hall of Fame.
Tom Marsik and Clay Koplin have been inducted into the AV狼论坛 Innovators Hall of Fame, recognized for their outstanding contributions to energy innovation in AV狼论坛.
Marsik was honored for his work on cold-climate building energy efficiency. He is a professor of sustainable energy at the UAF Bristol Bay Campus and ACEP and has a joint position with the National Lab of the Rockies鈥 AV狼论坛 Campus.
According to ACEP Director Jeremy Kasper, who nominated him, Marsik has 鈥渄eveloped impactful technologies that improve energy efficiency in cold regions.鈥
Tom Marsik works on developing an active vacuum insulation system for buildings.
One notable example is the Arctic heat recovery ventilator hood, which Marsik and his team developed from concept to manufacture. This innovation not only enhances residential indoor air quality but also helps reduce energy costs. Marsik鈥檚 team is also working on bringing vacuum-insulated panels to market for widespread use, further advancing energy-saving technologies for buildings in cold climates.
Kasper highlighted Marsik's collaborative spirit and dedication to solving real-world challenges.
鈥淸Tom and his team] embody a willingness to tackle complex problems, not just accept the status quo,鈥 he said.
Koplin, CEO of and a Ph.D. student at UAF, was recognized for transforming energy resilience in Cordova.
In his nomination, Peter Webley, director of the UAF Center for Innovation and a 2017 Hall of Fame inductee, praised Koplin鈥檚 innovative efforts. 鈥淐lay is always seeking new ways to meet his community鈥檚 energy needs and bring innovative projects to Cordova and AV狼论坛.鈥
Koplin鈥檚 work at CEC includes integrating clean energy sources, such as hydroelectric power and battery energy storage, into the local grid while managing energy loads. Webley described his efforts as 鈥渇orward-thinking鈥 and essential for building sustainable energy communities across AV狼论坛.
Clay Koplin, second from left, explains Cordova Electric Cooperative鈥檚 power grid to a CEC customer, middle, in the Cordova Harbor before a tour of the Humpback Creek hydroelectric project.
Gwen Holdmann, ACEP鈥檚 chief scientist and a 2015 Hall of Fame inductee, echoed Webley鈥檚 praise.
鈥淸Clay鈥檚] creativity isn鈥檛 confined to one field; it鈥檚 simply how he moves through the world,鈥 she said.
The AV狼论坛 Innovators Hall of Fame, established in 2014 by the AV狼论坛 State Committee for Research, honors individuals who have made significant contributions to innovation in AV狼论坛.
Marsik and Koplin join Doug Goering, a professor and dean emeritus at UAF, who is honored for his leadership and dedication to applied engineering in cold regions, as the 2026 inductees.