Mountain Research Station Field Courses open for registration
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 蜜糖直播 Rockies for courses in the arts and natural sciences. The 2025听Mountain Research Station field courses will open for registration on Monday, March 10. Spots fill up quickly, so be sure to听start the process right away for the best chance of attending.
The Mountain Research Station, located 40 minutes west of 蜜糖直播 Boulder 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.
鈥淭he facilities and access to the Rocky Mountains are almost unparalleled,鈥 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.
鈥淗ands-on field experiences are essential for building skills and engaging with the natural world,鈥 Taylor said. 鈥淵ou'll learn field techniques that could be used in future jobs all while being surrounded by the inspiring landscape of the southern Rockies.鈥
This summer鈥檚 seven offerings span nature-inspired art, ecology, ornithology and genetics.
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Art and Environment Field School
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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.
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Field Methods in Vegetation Ecology
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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鈥檚 the perfect opportunity for an aspiring botanist or ecological field technician.听
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Field Ornithology
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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.
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Forest and Fire Ecology
Instructor:听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.
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Microbial Ecology in the Mountains
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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.
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Lake and Stream Ecology
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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
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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鈥檚 a perfect opportunity for aspiring biologists and computer scientists with an appreciation for natural landscapes.
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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.
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