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Local middle schoolers visit INSTAAR to make movies about Earth science

Gabe Allen — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 16:30:00 +0000

Local middle schoolers visit INSTAAR to make movies about Earth science Gabe Allen Thu, 03/13/2025 - 10:30

Gabe Allen

The ‘Dream Team’ checks out increment borers, used to gather tree core samples in the field, in the Ecohydrology lab at INSTAAR. All photos by Gabe Allen.

Since October, students at Westview Middle School in Longmont have met with INSTAAR scientists nearly every month through the Earth Explorers program. The goal of the program is to connect local kids with scientists doing impactful work. Holly Barnard, an INSTAAR faculty fellow and Earth Explorers participant, looks forward to the visits for months ahead.

“When I was in middle school, I didn’t even know that earth science was a career path that I could take,” she said. “I really like sharing my research and the story of how I became a scientist.”

INSTAAR faculty fellow Holly Barnard takes Earth Explorers participants on a tour of the Ecohydrology Lab.

This year, Barnard is sharing her science with the self-described “Dream Team” — Adriel, Everett, Noah and Ben. Each member of the quartet took part in conducting interviews, filming lab spaces and script writing for a video that they are now editing.

The Dream Team met with Barnard for the first time over Zoom back in October. A couple of weeks later they brainstormed video ideas over lunch with Barnard at the ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ Center for Community. Then, in November, they toured her lab and filmed an interview.

Noah was apprehensive about the program at first, but ended up appreciating his time at INSTAAR.

“Originally I didn’t want to do Earth Explorers, but then I found out it was about science. I was like ‘yeah, I could try that,” he said. “All the stuff we’ve done, like walking around campus and learning about trees, has been fun.”

Before leaving for the day, the Dream Team toured INSTAAR’s Stable Isotope Lab, where lab manager Bruce Vaughn showed them an ice core that traveled all the way from Greenland to Colorado. For Ben, it was a highlight.

“I thought it was really cool getting to go in the walk-in freezer and getting to see the different ice chunks and learning about how they read those,” Ben said. “It was just really cool getting to see all of the different tools.”

Now that the laboratory tours and field trips are in the rearview, it's time to get to work. This spring, 10 Earth Explorers groups, including the Dream Team, are busy cutting together mini-documentaries for a film screening in May. At the end of it all, scientists, parents, teachers and students will gather at Westview Middle School to learn about INSTAAR’s work through the lens of young minds. With any luck, some of the students might one day look back on this year as the catalyst that began a career in scientific research.

Bruce Vaughn explains how the Stable Isotope Lab processes ice cores from around the world to glean insights into the Earth’s history.

Barnard shows the Dream Team a rain gauge in the Ecohydrology Lab.

Barnard is interviewed by Dream Team member Adriel in her office.

If you have questions about this story, or would like to reach out to INSTAAR for further comment, you can contact Senior Communications Specialist Gabe Allen at gabriel.allen@colorado.edu.

The Earth Explorers program gives local kids a first-hand look at a career in scientific research. After months of lab tours and interviews, participants are editing mini documentaries for a film screening in May.

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Mountain Research Station Field Courses open for registration

David J Lubinski — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 18:34:22 +0000

Mountain Research Station Field Courses open for registration David J Lubinski Mon, 03/10/2025 - 12:34

Scott Taylor , Gabe Allen

The MRS will host seven summer courses in ecology, genetics and art.

Every summer, curious nature lovers gather at 9,500 feet above sea level in the Colorado Rockies for college-level courses in the arts and natural sciences. The 2025 Mountain Research Station field courses will open for registration on Monday, March 10. Spots fill up quickly, so be sure to start the process right away for the best chance of attending. Course credit is readily transferable from ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ to other institutions.

The Mountain Research Station, located 40 minutes west of ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ campus, is set against a patchwork of subalpine forests, wetlands and alpine tundra. It also boasts state-of-the-art indoor laboratories, making it perfect for research and learning in the natural sciences.

“The facilities and access to the Rocky Mountains are almost unparalleled,” Mountain Research Station director Scott Taylor said.

While the summer field courses cover a diverse range of topics, all courses focus on learning through experiential work in a natural setting.

“Hands-on field experiences are essential for building skills and engaging with the natural world,” Taylor said. “You'll learn field techniques that could be used in future jobs all while being surrounded by the inspiring landscape of the southern Rockies.”

This summer’s seven offerings span nature-inspired art, ecology, ornithology and genetics.

Art and Environment Field School

Instructor: Aaron Treher

The Art and Environmental Field School is a 6-week intensive course of experiential learning at the intersection of art, culture and natural science. Participants will travel through the Great Sand Dunes of the San Luis Valley and the canyonlands of the four-corners region before arriving at the Mountain Research Station for a final exhibition. Along the way, they will create original artistic work and engage with diverse topics in ecology, anthropology and philosophy.

Field Methods in Vegetation Ecology

Instructor: Elise Pendall

Calling all plant nerds! This course is an intensive 3-week primer on field methods in vegetation ecology in the American West. Participants will visit diverse ecosystems from the Eastern Plains of the Front Range to alpine tundra on the Continental Divide. To cap it off, students will design and conduct individual research projects. It’s the perfect opportunity for an aspiring botanist or ecological field technician.

Field Ornithology

Instructor: Heather Kenny-Duddela

The Mountain Research Station is situated at the nexus of three pristine bird habitats: subalpine forest, wetlands and alpine tundra. In this course, students will learn essential methods in field ornithology, including point counts, mist netting and bird banding. After two weeks of lectures and field exercises, participants will conduct group research projects.

Forest and Fire Ecology

Instructor: Teresa Chapman

In the Southern Rockies, wildfire is a part of the landscape, and many plants and animals are adapted to thrive through cycles of burn and recovery. This course will teach participants methods for understanding, tracking and mapping the role of fire in western ecosystems. Throughout the course, students will work in small groups to conduct original research.

Microbial Ecology in the Mountains

Instructor: Sierra Jech

Microbes may be invisible to the naked eye, but they form the foundation of alpine ecosystems. In this course, the Mountain Research Station will become a laboratory for the study of microbes and the role they play in environmental processes. Students will spend time in nature as well as behind a microscope. They will emerge with a better understanding of microbial ecology and emerging research tools in the field.

Lake and Stream Ecology

Instructor: Dev Niyogi

Lakes and waterways are the veins and arteries of the Rocky Mountains. They provide life-giving water and nutrients to ecosystems from the alpine tundra to the arid plains. In this course, students will study the hydrology and ecology of local watersheds. They will also investigate how these systems are shifting due to anthropogenic impacts, both local and global.

Bioinformatics in the Mountains

Instructor: Megan Frayer

A remote mountain retreat might seem like an odd premise for a course in bioinformatics, but alpine ecosystems are a rich source of genetic material. In this course, students will learn how to gather and process genetic information to produce unique insights about the natural world. It’s a perfect opportunity for aspiring biologists and computer scientists with an appreciation for natural landscapes.

If you have questions about this story, or would like to reach out to INSTAAR for further comment, you can contact Senior Communications Specialist Gabe Allen at gabriel.allen@colorado.edu.

The Mountain Research Station will host seven summer field courses in ecology, genetics and art. Registration for these college-level courses opens on Monday, March 10. Spots fill up quickly, so be sure to start the process right away for the best chance of attending.

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Chancellor Justin Schwartz’s visit to INSTAAR sparks connections and ideas

David J Lubinski — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 04:31:32 +0000

Chancellor Justin Schwartz’s visit to INSTAAR sparks connections and ideas David J Lubinski Wed, 02/05/2025 - 21:31

Gabe Allen

��ý�Ļ��Ʒ Chancellor Justin Schwartz recently dropped in on INSTAAR, where he discussed the institute’s research strengths and potential collaborations at the university level.

Left to right: ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ Chancellor Justin Schwartz, INSTAAR Director Nicole Lovenduski and Senior Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation Massimo Ruzzene.

��ý�Ļ��Ʒ Chancellor Justin Schwartz recently dropped in on INSTAAR for a tour and meet-and-greet. It’s the first time the chancellor has visited the Institute since he was appointed last summer.

After coming in from the cold, Schwartz joined INSTAAR leadership for coffee and conversation in INSTAAR Director Nicole Lovenduski’s office. The group discussed INSTAAR’s research strengths and potential collaborations at the university level.

Schwartz was affable and curious. His background as a nuclear engineer showed through his nuanced inquiries into INSTAAR’s work.

“He asked many insightful questions,” Lovenduski said. “He was a very engaged visitor.”

After coffee, the group continued on to INSTAAR’s Laboratory for AMS Radiocarbon Preparation and Research, where lab director Scott Lehman gave a presentation. Lehman focused on the lab’s innovative research carbon-14, a radioactive isotope of carbon found in the atmosphere.

Next, the group continued to the Stable Isotope Lab. There, lab manager Sylvia Michel gave a presentation on the lab’s efforts to trace carbon dioxide and methane emissions by measuring isotopes of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere.

Scott Lehman shows Schwartz a sample in the Laboratory for AMS Radiocarbon Preparation and Research.

Left to right: Sylvia Michel, Bruce Vaughn and Schwartz in the Stable Isotope Lab.

Schwartz was joined by Senior vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Massimo Ruzzene, who oversees INSTAAR as the dean of institutes. Ruzzene was glad to have the opportunity to introduce Schwartz to INSTAAR and to see some of the institute’s laboratories in-person.

“It was very informative and inspiring to see the real impact and excellence of the work at INSTAAR,” he wrote in an email following up on the visit.

Before departing, Schwartz and Ruzzene donned parkas and joined INSTAAR Faculty Fellows Bruce Vaughn and Bradley Markle in the Stable Isotope Lab’s walk-in freezer, where the researchers store ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica.

Markle, Ruzzene and Schwartz inspect an ice core in the Stable Isotope Lab.

At the end of his visit, Chancellor Schwartz brainstormed with INSTAAR leadership about potential campus-wide collaborations. In particular, he showed a keen interest in tapping the institute’s expertise in climate and earth systems research.

“His visit unearthed new ideas about how INSTAAR might connect with campus-wide sustainability initiatives,” Lovenduski said. “INSTAAR is well-positioned to plug into these efforts — from monitoring and verifying emissions reductions through trace gas measurements, to our work understanding soil carbon storage and ecological conservation.”

Lovenduski and Schwartz chat on the way to the INSTAAR front office.

If you have questions about this story, or would like to reach out to INSTAAR for further comment, you can contact Senior Communications Specialist Gabe Allen at gabriel.allen@colorado.edu.

��ý�Ļ��Ʒ Chancellor Justin Schwartz recently dropped in on INSTAAR, where he discussed the institute’s research strengths and potential collaborations at the university level.

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INSTAAR’s 2024 Sarah Crump Fellow reflects on an adventurous season in the Rockies

David J Lubinski — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 21:58:49 +0000

INSTAAR’s 2024 Sarah Crump Fellow reflects on an adventurous season in the Rockies David J Lubinski Mon, 02/03/2025 - 14:58

INSTAAR’s Sarah Crump Graduate Fellowship is now accepting applications from ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ graduate students. Last year’s recipient, Katie Gannon, recalls an eventful summer of field science.

Sarah Crump was a beloved INSTAAR alum. After a hard-fought battle with an aggressive form of cancer, she passed peacefully in November 2022. Before she passed, Sarah designed a fellowship for ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ graduate students studying earth or environmental science in high-latitude or high-altitude regions. The fellowship provides summer funding for one student each year. Women and other underrepresented groups in earth science are particularly encouraged to apply. Preference is given to applicants whose advisors are INSTAAR members. INSTAAR is accepting applications for the 2025 Sarah Crump fellowship now until February 28: Apply, donate or learn more.

Katie Gannon works on The Loch, a high altitude lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

As the applications start to roll in for 2025, INSTAAR sat down with Katie Gannon, the recipient of the 2025 Sarah Crump Graduate Fellowship, to hear about her experiences as a fellow. It turns out she had quite an adventurous summer. Sarah would have approved.

You worked on a lot of different projects this summer. Tell us about one that stood out?

At the start of the summer we worked on a research project in the Rawah Wilderness just west of Fort Collins. We were interested in how rock glaciers, which are underground ice formations in the mountains, impact lakes downstream.

We did two 4-day backpacking trips to get back there and both of them had their share of challenges. The first trip was freezing. We camped in the spring snow and had to post-hole for hours to get between study lakes

On the second trip, we were up high above the tree line when a thunderstorm blew in and it started hailing. We were at least 4 miles from camp, it was the middle of the day and we had at least one more lake to sample before we were done. So we hiked down off the ridge and huddled up in the trees to wait out the storm.

We were all cold and wet and mildly miserable. But then Bella (Gannon’s PhD advisor) started singing and dancing to Chappell Roan’s “Hot to Go!” and we started singing and jumping up and down and dancing to stay warm. I was soaked through, shivering, and laughing hysterically, along with everyone else. It was a great reminder of how important it is to support each other and enjoy the ride.

In the end those trips were a great way to get to know my lab, and the glaciers were so wild to see. The water seeping out of the rock and into the lakes is barely above freezing even in the middle of the summer and it is laden with ions and trace minerals.

You also worked on lake monitoring efforts in Rocky Mountain National Park and in Green Lakes Valley. Tell us about that.

These long-term projects feel special to me because in addition to creating useful data, repeatedly visiting these sites allows us to get to know the lakes and develop a connection with them. Last season, I watched the Loch thaw bloom in the spring. Then, in the fall, I watched as the trees lost their leaves and the lake froze over again.

We deploy buoys in the lakes that measure temperature and dissolved oxygen concentration. In the winter, the ice freezes over the top and the buoy is pushed down about a meter below the surface. Even though we carefully map out where each one is in the fall, the ice inevitably pulls them around during the colder months.

On one of my first field days this summer we hiked our boats in four miles to the Loch and then spent two more hours paddling in circles looking for our buoy. Everyone cheered when we finally found it.

Gannon's field photos (click to zoom)

Your lab collaborated with the forest service this summer. Tell us about that.

We looked at two remote mountain lakes in the San Juan Mountains that are experiencing algal blooms. This, in and of itself, is strange. You don’t usually see algal blooms in watersheds that have been minimally impacted by people.

In order to get all our gear in to collect samples, our team brought in a team of six mules and horses. They were hilarious and adorable. We would just sit in camp in the evening and watch them play around in the pasture. Having help from the pack animals and forest service amplified the project. We were able to collect much more data than we would have on our own.

You were busy this summer. Did you have time to work on your own research?

Yes. I got the first project for my PhD off the ground. I’m investigating methane and carbon dioxide accumulation in two alpine lakes. One is above the treeline while the other is below.

The fellowship allowed me to scout out lakes, order materials and find collaborators here at CU to help me run my samples. Now I have two months of data. We’re also collecting samples through the winter to see if methane and carbon dioxide build up under winter ice.

If you have questions about this story, or would like to reach out to INSTAAR for further comment, you can contact Senior Communications Specialist Gabe Allen at gabriel.allen@colorado.edu.

INSTAAR’s Sarah Crump Graduate Fellowship is now accepting applications from ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ graduate students whose research is centered on processes or climate history in high-latitude or high-altitude environments. Last year’s recipient, Katie Gannon, recalls an eventful summer of field science.

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INSTAAR’s summer scholarship is open (plus a Q&A with last-year’s cohort)

David J Lubinski — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 21:09:26 +0000

INSTAAR’s summer scholarship is open (plus a Q&A with last-year’s cohort) David J Lubinski Thu, 01/23/2025 - 14:09

Gabe Allen

INSTAAR is now accepting applications for the 2025 Summer Scholars cohort

Each year, the scholarship provides funding for two ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ graduate students to continue their research over the summer. Priority is given to INSTAAR graduate students who enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion within the institute. Recipients receive a research stipend equivalent to a 50% RA position for three summer months.

Apply, donate, or learn more
Deadline March 5th, 2025

In 2024, the award went to two ambitious PhD students hard at work on research projects on opposite ends of the world. This week, INSTAAR sat down with Natalie Aranda and Jed Lenetsky to learn more about their experience as summer scholars.

Jed Lenetsky (ATOC)

What did the scholarship enable you to work on last summer?

I was able to advance my research on two different projects in Baffin Bay.

The first project looks at how future climate scenarios might affect sea ice, marine life and other oceanographic conditions. That one is focused on the North Water Polynya, which is one of the Arctic's most productive ecosystems. Previous funding from the NSF ran out before the summer, so the scholarship was critical. It allowed me to complete revisions on a manuscript, and the resulting article is now under review for publication in the American Meteorological Society’s Journal of Climate.

The second research project examines oceanic changes in the Davis Strait in southern Baffin Bay. The Summer Scholars funding allowed me to spend time processing and analyzing data. I also used some of the funds to participate in a research cruise through the Davis Strait this fall (and gather more data).

What challenges arose in your work, and how did you respond?

It’s really difficult to process and gain meaningful insights from imperfect observational data — which is what I’m attempting to do with the Davis Strait project. I’m still working it out, but I am learning a lot through the process. I’m confident it will make me a stronger scientist once I get to the other side.

What was your proudest moment?

Definitely submitting my revised paper on the North Water Polynya for publication. We substantially improved the study by working on an assessment of relevant model processes over the summer. The assessment showed that the physical processes driving the formation of the North Water Polynya in the model were similar to the real world. The findings added rigor and boosted our confidence in the research.

Natalie Aranda (CEAE)

What did the scholarship enable you to work on?

The funding gave me time to work through an important and difficult step in my dissertation research.

I was able to devote my time and focus toward processing biological samples that I collected in Antarctica back in early 2023. The samples didn't arrive back in the U.S. until around March of that year and, up until last summer, I ran into a bunch of road blocks processing them into usable data. This scholarship allowed me to dedicate myself full time to the task, and I ended up completing the work before the start of the semester.

This fall, I was finally able to move on and begin interpreting my data. Basically, I’m looking at chloroplasts in diatoms under a microscope and counting how many of them were alive when they were collected. I’m looking for a trend that tells us where in the stream there is more likely to be live or dead cells.

What challenges arose in your work, and how did you respond?

Ha! Staring at a microscope for the entire day makes your eyes blur and your head spin, especially when you’re not finding what you are looking for. The scholarship gave me the space to come back the next day (and the next day) to try again.

What was your proudest moment?

Certainly, it was when I finished processing my last sample. It was a long time coming, and it felt great. I actually finished at the end of July, which gave me enough time to put together a poster for the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Science conference, which was held in Pucón, Chile at the end of August. I got some feedback at the conference that has been critical in my approach to data analysis this year.

If you have questions about this story, or would like to reach out to INSTAAR for further comment, you can contact Senior Communications Specialist Gabe Allen at gabriel.allen@colorado.edu.

INSTAAR is accepting applications for a summer graduate research scholarship. The 2024 recipients used the extra time and money to process and collect data, publish work and attend conferences.

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Working high up on Niwot Ridge, Colorado

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Tangier Smith Elementary School third graders virtually visit Antarctica with WFHS alumnus & researcher (William Floyd School District)

David J Lubinski — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 22:02:24 +0000

Tangier Smith Elementary School third graders virtually visit Antarctica with WFHS alumnus & researcher (William Floyd School District) David J Lubinski Fri, 12/20/2024 - 15:02

PhD student Jared Collins video called from Antarctica to a group of third graders, culminating their studies of the continent. The students previously read the bilingual book La Foca Perdida/ The Lost Seal, written by Diane McKnight. Collins's fieldwork includes being a leader of the Stream Team at McMurdo LTER.

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INSTAAR at AGU 2024

David J Lubinski — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 19:01:36 +0000

INSTAAR at AGU 2024 David J Lubinski Thu, 12/05/2024 - 12:01

Gabe Allen , David Lubinski

Each year, more than 25,000 earth and space scientists from around the world convene for the annual convention of the American Geophysical Union. This year’s conference runs for a week on 9-13 December in Washington, D.C., and will feature talks and posters from INSTAAR’s faculty fellows, faculty research associates, postdocs and students. Our Institute’s contributions will span the globe, touching on Earth systems in the oceans, alpine and polar regions.

Research highlights, from Monday to Friday

Click any image to zoom

A sea-ice free arctic

“The first ice-free day in the Arctic Ocean could occur before 2030” — it’s a stark title for faculty fellow Alexandra Jahn’s latest paper, which was published in Nature on December 3rd. Jahn will give an invited talk about her research during a Monday session. In it, she will detail her work to model the climatic conditions that could lead to an ice-free arctic in the near future. Her collaborator on this project was the Swedish earth scientist Céline Heuzé. Read more about this project in ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ Today. [ Monday a.m. talk ]

Woody encroachment into alpine tundra

Although woody encroachment has been well-studied in the arctic, less is known about its effects in alpine tundra. Katya Jay (INSTAAR affiliate and alum, now at NEON and ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ ESIL) and her co-authors have combined multiple imagery datasets with many other measurement types to try to understand how encroachment happens over time. The team included Katharine Suding, Will Wieder, and two ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ colleagues. Jay will present their findings in a poster session on Tuesday. For more about her recent research, watch her talk at ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ's Earth Lab this spring. [ Tuesday a.m. poster ]

Alpine lake biomarkers in Wyoming

Lipid biomarkers preserved in lake sediment provide valuable information about past climate and environmental changes. One such class of biomarkers, brGDGTs, has proven its value as a paleothermometer and has promise for reconstructing other key environmental variables as well. INSTAAR research scientist Jonathan Raberg (also with University of Wyoming) will present his collaborative work to compare sediment brGDGTs with other environmental proxies in Wyoming alpine lakes. [ Tuesday a.m. talk ]

Warming and sediment on the Canning River

Faculty fellow Irina Overeem - with a team of mostly INSTAAR researchers, alums, and affiliates - spent the past two field seasons documenting changes on the Canning River in Alaska. She will speak about their research on Tuesday. The project investigates the transport of sediment and nutrients from the Alaskan permafrost out to the Arctic Ocean. Overeem and PhD student Josie Arcuri are also the stars of a new film about the project titled “Icy River” by Boulder-based documentarian Ryan Vachon. INSTAAR will host a screening and a Q&A on January 30th. [ Tuesday a.m. talk ]

Carbon cycling in cold regions

Arctic rivers move, process and store an immense amount of organic carbon — carbon that has built up in the surrounding permafrost over millennia. Faculty fellow Suzanne Anderson will present a poster on Tuesday detailing her work to elucidate the carbon cycles, sources and sinks of these icy waterways. Her research sheds light on these poorly-understood systems during a time when climate change is impacting them on every level. Her collaborators include Irina Overeem, Robert Anderson, Marisa Repasch and Josie Arcuri. [ Tuesday p.m. poster ]

Snowmelt and subalpine forests

As the climate warms, subalpine forests experience longer growing seasons and more variable winter snow. In an invited talk on Thursday, faculty fellow Noah Molotch will detail his investigation into these important ecosystems over the past quarter-century. His work draws on decades of remote sensing data that shows the importance of snowmelt on ecosystem productivity. His collaborators include Eric Kennedy, John Knowles, Sean Burns and Peter Blanken. [ Thursday a.m. talk ]

Marine heatwaves and ocean acidity extremes

PhD student Samuel Mogen, Nikki Lovenduski and collaborators take aim at predicting marine heatwaves and ocean acidity extremes in a new paper in Nature Geoscience. Their new model is adept at forecasting these acute events from months to a year in advance, with varying degrees of certainty based on the event type and location. Mogen will present the team's poster on Thursday in a session on climate variability and predictability. Read more about the forecasts in a recent INSTAAR news story. [ Thursday p.m. poster ]

Flooding in the 21st Century

Faculty fellow Albert Kettner will give an invited tallk on Thursday during AGU’s “Changing Climate: Associated Natural Hazards and Impacts” session. He will focus on his recent work to simulate flooding on a global scale at the end of the 21st century. His research documents changes in the magnitude and frequency of flooding under a specific climate scenario, in which emissions are reduced slowly. His collaborators include Sagy Cohen, Irina Overeem, Balazs Fekete, Robert Brakenridge and Jaia Syvitski. Read more about Kettner’s work in a recent INSTAAR news story. [ Thursday p.m. talk ]

Microbes and methane growth 2020-2022

A new analysis from Sylvia Michel, Pieter Tans, Reid Clark, Jianghanyang (Ben) Li, and collaborators investigates the root cause of a recent atmospheric methane spike. Their finding suggests microbes have been emitting more methane than fossil fuels in recent years. Nonetheless, reducing fossil fuel consumption remains key to addressing climate change. Their work was recently published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Michel will give an invited talk on Friday in a session on Isotopes of the Atmospheric Components. Read more about this study in ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ Today [ Friday a.m. talk ]

Mountain hydrology and biogeochemistry

Presentations on 'Mountain hydrology and biogeochemistry in a changing world' are being held in honor of Mark “SnoBear” Williams (INSTAAR Fellow Emeritus and Geography Professor Emeritus), who passed away in 2023. Presenters are invited to build on Mark's diverse contributions and address the question: What’s next for mountain hydrology? A total of 25 presentations will be made. Noah Molotch is the primary convener, assisted by Diane McKnight and Jennifer Morse, plus INSTAAR alums Paul Brooks (University of Utah) and Alia Khan (Western Washington University). [ Friday a.m. posters ] [ Friday p.m. talks ]

Special events

Click any image to zoom

Monday 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Exhibit Hall booth #328

Meet the editors of INSTAAR's journal AAAR

INSTAAR's peer-reviewed, open-access journal Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research will be represented in booth #328 in the Exhibit Hall during the meeting. Stop by on Monday late afternoon to meet with our journal editors Anne Jennings and Diane McKnight as well as the staff at Taylor & Francis who publish and host the journal. AAAR primarily covers environmental science from modern to paleo timescales, with an emphasis on climate change in mountain and high latitude regions.

Monday 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Dacha Beer Garden

Attend the INSTAAR happy hour

Our NewSTAAR committee is hosting an informal INSTAAR happy hour on Monday evening. All INSTAARs are invited, both current folks and alumni. Grad students and postdocs are especially encouraged to attend. The event will be held at the Dacha Beer Garden (Shaw, 1600 7th St NW #7), which has a variety of drink/food options and is within walking distance to the convention center. Committee members will be there until about 7:00 p.m., so drop by when you can.

Wednesday 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Hall E

Celebrate INSTAAR's latest AGU Fellow

Michael Gooseff is among 54 scholars in the 2024 cohort of AGU Fellows. All have made exceptional contributions to their fields and will be celebrated at the Honors Ceremony on Wednesday evening in Hall E of the Convention Center (subsequent banquet requires a ticket and is in a different location). The honor is bestowed annually on less than one tenth of one percent of AGU members. Gooseff was selected for his exemplary leadership and for advancing our understanding of how a changing climate affects ecosystems and freshwater supply. Read more about Mike and his recognition in an INSTAAR news story.

Additional presentations

More than 85 INSTAARs are participating in AGU 2024. Click an author name below to see their abstracts on the AGU website. For questions, email David Lubinski.

INSTAAR authors

[#] = Number of abstracts per author

Lane Allen [1] B
Bob Anderson [10] C, EP
Suzanne Anderson [6] C, EP
John Andrews [1] PP
Natalie Aranda [1] H
Josie Arcuri [3] EP
Holly Barnard [17] B, EP, H, NS
Laurel Bayless [2] C, PP
Dylan Blaskey (alum) [5] GC, H, SY, TH
G Robert Brakenridge [1]
Cassandra Brooks [2] B, SY
Brooke Chase [1] C
Reid Clark [1] A
Cole Cochran [2] EP
Jared Collins [1] H
Carisa DeSantos [1] OS
Abby Eckland [3] EP
Alan Fried [2] A, SY
Tina Geller [2] C, OS
Michael Gooseff [7] GC, H, SY
Jason Hanania [1] H
David Harning (alum) [2] PP
Annika Horlings [1] C
Nicole Hornslein [1] H
Eric Hutton [1] EP
Alexandra Jahn [4] GC, PP
Karla Jarecke [4] H, NS
Katya Jay [2] GC, SY
Anne Jennings [8] C, GP, PP
Tyler Jones [2] B, C
Adeline Kelly [1] H
Eric Kennedy [1] U
Albert Kettner + more [5] ED, EP, NH
Theo Kuhn [1] H
Rose Leeger [1] C
Scott Lehman [2] SY
Sebastien Lenard [3] C, H
Jianghanyang (Ben) Li [6] A
Rhys-Jasper León [2] C
Nikki Lovenduski [4] A, B,
Lauren Magliozzi [1] B
Thomas Marchitto + more [4] B, PP
Bradley Markle [10] C, ED, PP
Diane McKnight [6] B, H,
Sylvia Michel [8] A, B, SY
Giff Miller [1] PP
Samuel Mogen [4] A, OS,
Noah Molotch [9] C, GC, H, U
Julia Moriarty [4] C, OS
Valerie Morris [1] B
Jennifer Morse + more [3] H
Keith Musselman [11] A, B, C, GC, H, NS, SY
Cynthia Nevison [1] B
Isabella Oleksy [3] H
Irina Overeem [10] C, ED, EP
Ross Palomaki [7] C, H
Eric Parrish [1] H
Scott Peckham [3] H
Jennifer Pensky + more [2] H
Ethan Pierce [3] C, EP
Jonathan Raberg [2] PP
Shaily Rahman [4] EP, PP
Marisa Repasch + more (alum) [13] B, EP, H
Dirk Richter [1] SY
Karl Rittger [14] C, GC, H
Katie Rocci [5] B
Kevin Rozmiarek [2] B, C
Juliana Ruef [2] C
Maria Luisa Sánchez Montes (alum) [1] PP
Maggie Scholer [1] A
Julio Sepúlveda [3] GC, PP
Millie Spencer [1] C
Sharon Stammerjohn [5] B, OS
Katharine Suding [2] B, GC
Zephyr Sylvester [1] B
Pieter Tans [3] A, SY
Nicolas Tarasewicz [3] B, H, NS
Peyton Thomas [2] SY
Emma Tyrrell [1] C
Bruce Vaughn [1] B
James Walega [1] SY
Petter Weibring [1] SY
Will Wieder [10] B, GC, H
Anna Wright [2] H
Rahila Yilangai [2] B, NS

If you have questions about this story, or would like to reach out to INSTAAR for further comment, you can contact Senior Communications Specialist Gabe Allen at gabriel.allen@colorado.edu.

America’s largest annual earth sciences conference starts on Monday December 9th and will feature presentations from INSTAAR’s faculty fellows, faculty research associates, postdocs and students. More than 85 INSTAARs contributed to at least one abstract, with 37 of us involved in 3 or more abstracts. The most abstracts for one person is 17! It will be a busy week.

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Irina Overeem scopes out how to cross the frozen Canning River to a field site (see below highlight).

Shifting Horizons (The Poetry of Science)

David J Lubinski — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 04:23:27 +0000

Shifting Horizons (The Poetry of Science) David J Lubinski Mon, 12/02/2024 - 21:23

Inspired by Matthias Troch et al.'s recent research on the health of glaciers in Southern Patagonia, Professor Sam Illingworth of Edinburgh Napier University has written a poem for his poetry blog and podcast. Listen to his poem, a summary of the research behind it, and a related poem (9 minutes total).

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Finding clean water near Mount Everest might be harder than summiting it (The Xylom)

David J Lubinski — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 18:56:32 +0000

Finding clean water near Mount Everest might be harder than summiting it (The Xylom) David J Lubinski Fri, 11/01/2024 - 12:56

INSTAAR research scientist Alton Byers discusses modernization in the Everest region and its impact on groundwater contamination as part of a larger story on water pollution of Nepal's Khumbu Valley. Even in this relatively untouched part of the world, communities lack sufficient access to clean drinking water.

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In memoriam: Jack D. Ives

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 22:45:21 +0000

In memoriam: Jack D. Ives Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 10/08/2024 - 16:45

Jack D. Ives passed away on September 15, 2024 at the age of 92. He served as the director of the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research from 1967 to 1979.

Jack taking photographs in the Pamirs with his medium format Hasselblad, September 1993. Photo: Hortonio, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Jack also founded INSTAAR’s interdisciplinary journal Arctic and Alpine Research in 1969, which later expanded to Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research. He was a Professor of Geography at ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ (1967–1989) until his departure for UC Davis. His research was foundational to future scientist’s understanding of glacial movement, arctic permafrost, and alpine geography.

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Community

Local middle schoolers visit INSTAAR to make movies about Earth science

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Mountain Research Station Field Courses open for registration

Art and Environment Field School

Field Methods in Vegetation Ecology

Field Ornithology

Forest and Fire Ecology

Microbial Ecology in the Mountains

Lake and Stream Ecology

Bioinformatics in the Mountains

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Chancellor Justin Schwartz’s visit to INSTAAR sparks connections and ideas

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INSTAAR’s 2024 Sarah Crump Fellow reflects on an adventurous season in the Rockies

You worked on a lot of different projects this summer. Tell us about one that stood out?

You also worked on lake monitoring efforts in Rocky Mountain National Park and in Green Lakes Valley. Tell us about that.

Your lab collaborated with the forest service this summer. Tell us about that.

You were busy this summer. Did you have time to work on your own research?

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INSTAAR’s summer scholarship is open (plus a Q&A with last-year’s cohort)

INSTAAR is now accepting applications for the 2025 Summer Scholars cohort

Jed Lenetsky (ATOC)

What did the scholarship enable you to work on last summer?

What challenges arose in your work, and how did you respond?

What was your proudest moment?

Natalie Aranda (CEAE)

What did the scholarship enable you to work on?

What challenges arose in your work, and how did you respond?

What was your proudest moment?

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Tangier Smith Elementary School third graders virtually visit Antarctica with WFHS alumnus & researcher (William Floyd School District)

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INSTAAR at AGU 2024

Research highlights, from Monday to Friday

A sea-ice free arctic

Woody encroachment into alpine tundra

Alpine lake biomarkers in Wyoming

Warming and sediment on the Canning River

Carbon cycling in cold regions

Snowmelt and subalpine forests

Marine heatwaves and ocean acidity extremes

Flooding in the 21st Century

Microbes and methane growth 2020-2022

Mountain hydrology and biogeochemistry

Special events

Meet the editors of INSTAAR's journal AAAR

Attend the INSTAAR happy hour

Celebrate INSTAAR's latest AGU Fellow

Additional presentations

Categories

INSTAAR authors

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Shifting Horizons (The Poetry of Science)

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Finding clean water near Mount Everest might be harder than summiting it (The Xylom)

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In memoriam: Jack D. Ives

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