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��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� chancellor Justin Schwartz visits the Mountain Research Station

Gabe Allen — Fri, 02 May 2025 15:48:22 +0000

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� chancellor Justin Schwartz visits the Mountain Research Station Gabe Allen Fri, 05/02/2025 - 09:48

Gabe Allen

Most of ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� campus is nestled beneath the flatirons where the plains meet the foothills, but there is one facility tucked away high in the mountains. The Mountain Research Station sits in the boreal forests of the Indian Peaks at 9,500 feet, 25 miles west of town. The station has been a launchpad for research and in alpine environments for more than a century.

Recently, ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� chancellor Justin Schwartz and senior vice chancellor for research and innovation Massimo Ruzzene visited the station and met with the INSTAAR faculty and staff that lead operations at the high-elevation outpost.

“This place is one of the pillars upon which our sustainability culture has been built over years.”
—Chancellor Justin Schwartz

After making it up the winding dirt road to the station, chancellor Schwartz and vice chancellor Ruzzene joined Mountain Research Station director and associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology Scott Taylor in the John W. Marr laboratory building for an overview of historical operations at the site. Of particular interest were the climate stations, which gather weather data autonomously at various elevations.

“D-1,” located at nearly 12,300 feet above-sea-level, has been in operation since 1957, making it the highest continuously operating, high-altitude climate station in North America. A bit lower down is “C-1,” where researchers at the Global Monitoring Division of NOAA’s Earth System Research Laboratory have maintained a record of atmospheric greenhouse gases concentrations for nearly 60 years.

Scott Taylor points to a map of Mountain Research Station operations at the John W. Marr laboratory. Patrick Campbell, 2025.

Taylor also spoke about his research at the station. In one experiment, Taylor and collaborators are training local chickadees to use computerized bird feeders that are programmed to open only when birds with specific ankle tags land on a perch. The results will yield insight into the genetic basis of memory and cognition.

Next on the agenda was a trip to Niwot Ridge, the site of the Niwot Ridge Long-Term Ecological Research Program. Before departing, the group was joined by lead aquatic research technician Sammy Yevak, who gave a safety talk before firing up the Snowcat, an all-terrain vehicle designed to travel across snow. After donning winter gear and ski goggles, they headed up the hill.

“The people here really take their work to heart and have a high level of personal conviction,”
—Massimo Ruzzene

At the end of a long and bumpy ride, Yevak pulled the snowcat into the Tundra Lab, a staging area for researchers. There, the Chancellor toured the facilities with Niwot Ridge principal investigator and associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology Nancy Emery. Emery explained that scientists have maintained records of ecological change on the ridge since the National Science Foundation first funded the project in 1980. This data has led to important insights into alpine ecology and climate change.

Back at the research station, the group was joined by INSTAAR director Nicole Lovenduski and other INSTAAR staff for lunch. The mood was jovial. The diverse group of scientists swapped stories and brainstormed future collaborations.

Chancellor Schwartz was already familiar with the station's work before his visit, but seeing it in person cemented its importance.

“The Mountain Research Station is clearly one of the jewels of our research enterprise. It dates back decades and is an example of the clear impacts of the work that we do,” he commented. “This place is one of the pillars upon which our sustainability culture has been built over years.”

Vice chancellor Ruzzene agreed, adding that Emery and Taylor’s passion for rigorous environmental science was tangible.

“The people here really take their work to heart and have a high level of personal conviction,” Ruzzene said. “This is a unique asset, nationally and world-wide. It adds to our understanding of the environment, which is key to our future and has clear societal impacts.”

This summer, the public will be invited to visit the Mountain Research Station too, during an annual summer seminar series. Each week, a rotating cast of scientists will give talks on subjects ranging from mammals to wildfire to genetics. Each talk will be preceded by a community dinner at the dining hall. You can find more information soon on our news feed and events page.

Click to zoom.

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 chancellor recently visited the Mountain Research Station, where INSTAAR faculty gave a primer on climate and ecological science at the site. The group also made a trip up to the tundra lab, a remote research station at 11,500 feet above sea level.

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��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Chancellor Justin Schwartz and senior vice chancellor for research and innovation Massimo Ruzzene pose at the Niwot Ridge Long-Term Ecological Research Program Tundra Lab. Scott Taylor, 2025.

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INSTAAR faculty among those awarded undergraduate research grants

Gabe Allen — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 20:44:19 +0000

INSTAAR faculty among those awarded undergraduate research grants Gabe Allen Wed, 04/30/2025 - 14:44

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program committed $77,000 in grants for CU undergraduates to work with INSTAAR faculty this summer and next school year. The awards will catalyze opportunities for students to contribute to critical research in earth and environmental science.

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Small bird, big trick: How a hummingbird chick acts like a caterpillar to survive (��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Today)

David J Lubinski — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 18:13:59 +0000

Small bird, big trick: How a hummingbird chick acts like a caterpillar to survive (��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Today) David J Lubinski Tue, 03/18/2025 - 12:13

When Jay Falk and Scott Taylor first saw the white-necked Jacobin hummingbird chick in Panama’s dense rainforest, the bird biologists didn’t know what they were looking at. They later realized that it was potentially mimicking a poisonous caterpillar to avoid getting eaten.

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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 ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� to other institutions.

The Mountain Research Station, located 40 minutes west of ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� 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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Scott Taylor to receive a 2025 ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Faculty Excellence Award (Boulder Faculty Assembly)

David J Lubinski — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 23:34:03 +0000

Scott Taylor to receive a 2025 ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Faculty Excellence Award (Boulder Faculty Assembly) David J Lubinski Wed, 03/05/2025 - 16:34

INSTAAR Fellow and EBIO Associate Professor Scott Taylor is just one of three faculty members to win an award for Excellence in Leadership & Service from the Boulder Faculty Assembly. The award includes a monetary prize and an awards ceremony event on April 2nd. Congratulations!

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How mountain chickadees changed their songs to stand out (��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Today)

David J Lubinski — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 21:42:43 +0000

How mountain chickadees changed their songs to stand out (��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Today) David J Lubinski Fri, 10/11/2024 - 15:42

Mountain chickadees in Boulder have evolved a different tune to avoid getting mixed up with their black-capped cousins. The results provide real-time evidence for one of Charles Darwin’s famous theories and shed light on how pressure from human activity can impact wildlife’s evolution. The study was led by members of Scott Taylor's Lab.

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Curious patterns of chickadees (How on Earth)

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 18:14:55 +0000

Curious patterns of chickadees (How on Earth) Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 07/24/2024 - 12:14

Why do black-capped chickadees mate with mountain chickadees? And how does the sharp memory of these songbirds serve them over winter? Listen to a 25-minute KGNU science show, with Scott Taylor and host Susan Moran.

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The redpoll finch saga: How two bird species just became one (��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Today)

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 21:56:01 +0000

The redpoll finch saga: How two bird species just became one (��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Today) Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 07/18/2024 - 15:56

The American Ornithological Society announced that the hoary redpoll finch, a small, plump bird commonly found in the Arctic, will be reclassified as the same species as the common redpoll finch, a smaller bird found in similar habitats. This announcement came as a direct result of a 2021 study led by the Taylor Lab which found that, despite their different looks, very few genetic differences exist between the two types of birds.

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Colorado’s chickadees may lose their good memory to adapt to climate change, researchers find (The Colorado Sun)

Anonymous — Tue, 28 May 2024 23:24:22 +0000

Colorado’s chickadees may lose their good memory to adapt to climate change, researchers find (The Colorado Sun) Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 05/28/2024 - 17:24

The common mountain bird has an excellent memory for the right perch for free seeds, and has the flexibility to handle climate change. New research from the University of Colorado and colleagues has tightened a claw around the sets of genes that make mountain chickadees some of the most remarkable return-navigators in nature.

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Mountain chickadees have remarkable memories. A new study explains why (��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Today)

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 17:34:52 +0000

Mountain chickadees have remarkable memories. A new study explains why (��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Today) Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 04/17/2024 - 11:34

A multi-university team of researchers, including four members of ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��'s Taylor Lab, have identified nearly a hundred genes associated with the birds’ spatial memory, or ability to recall the locations of objects. Their paper, published in the journal Current Biology, also suggests a potential trade-off may exist between having a solid long-term memory and being able to quickly ditch old memories to form new ones.

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Taylor

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� chancellor Justin Schwartz visits the Mountain Research Station

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