More than a Century of Mountain Research

A Few Courses:

A Few Courses:

Art and Environment
Forest and Fire Ecology
Field Ornithology
Field Methods in Vegetation Ecology

Research Examples:

Microplastics in Mountain Ecosystems of the Colorado Front Range
Temporal dynamics of plant-pollinator networks
Scaling the consequences of extended summers to arthropod communities at Niwot Ridge
Causes for the hybridization of black-capped and mountain chickadees in areas disturbed by humans
Spectroscopic measurements of chemical composition of organic aerosol particles collected at urban and rural locations

Just over eight miles north of Nederland, Colorado, and nestled off the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway lies a serene area dotted with tiny cabins, peaceful walking trails and ample forest land. And while the setting is very different from the bustle of CU Boulder’s main campus, the amount of groundbreaking work happening there is the same.

CU Boulder’s Mountain Research Station, located 25 miles from campus, is an interdisciplinary facility associated with the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, which serves students and scientists interested in mountain-based study. The scope of projects is wide — ranging from arthropods to microplastics to weather — and as many as 80 people can be studying at the station at once.

“The Mountain Research Station is a place where,for over 100 years, scientists, students and the public have come together to advance our understanding and appreciation for mountains, which are inspiring, formidable and increasingly at risk,” said Scott Taylor, director of the station.

Key Dates:

1920

Mountain Research Station established in its current location

1945

Five professors taught 80 students.

1953

Former director John Marr founded the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), now the oldest institute at CU Boulder.

1980

National Science Foundation starts its Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network, which funded the Niwot Ridge LTER.