Colorado State House Science Committee meets around the table with CU science leaders

U.S. House committee, Colorado congressional delegation visit campus (CU Â鶹¹ÙÍø Today)

May 4, 2022

On May 3, members of the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and Colorado congressional delegation joined leaders and scientists from CU Â鶹¹ÙÍø, including INSTAAR Director Merritt Turetsky, to showcase university research and federal partnerships.

Frozen branch begins to melt

Eye on Earth: What happens when mountain snow melts too fast in the spring? (CBS Denver)

April 26, 2022

Keith Musselman was interviewed for this CBS Denver news story on the effects of climate change on deep snowpack.

Partially burned forest, still smoking

After wildfires, scorched trees could disrupt water supplies (AP News)

April 22, 2022

As climate change fuels the spread of wildfires across the West, researchers want to know how the dual effect might disrupt water supplies. Noah Molotch is among those interviewed.

Four 8th graders touching, smelling, and learning about permafrost.

Angevine Middle School students visit INSTAAR for hands-on science

April 21, 2022

200 students from Angevine Middle School criss-crossed INSTAAR space this morning, engaging in hands-on science activities. Students touched and smelled permafrost, looked at algae through microscopes, tested water pollution in local streams, investigated soil texture, learned about chickadees, and checked out weather and climate measurements in fast-paced, hands-on activities.

Seedlings sprouting

Lovenduski, Rahman, and Suding garner seed grants from CU Research & Innovation Office

April 18, 2022

Algae in the ocean, water on Mars, and supercharged apple orchards are research topics for three INSTAAR scientists awarded RIO seed grants. The grants are designed to foster new areas of research with high impact and future funding potential.

Scientist works on equipment while on sea ice

New Polar Science Early Career Community Office launches at CU Â鶹¹ÙÍø (CIRES)

April 13, 2022

The Polar Science Early Career Community Office, funded by the NSF and housed by CIRES and INSTAAR, will provide training opportunities, resources and funding to support and help build a community of polar early-career scientists in the United States.

Logo for the For Pete's Sake podcast

Permafrost peatlands and mental health with Dr. Merritt Turetsky (For Peat's Sake podcast)

March 18, 2022

Merritt Turetsky joins the For Peat's Sake podcast on Spotify to talk about permafrost peatlands. We talk about the unique qualities of permafrost peatlands and the sad reality that many of them are disappearing due to anthropogenic (aka human-caused) climate change. Merritt explains the state of the science and we also chat about mental health, the importance of self-care, and setting boundaries.

Burned neighborhood with Front Range behind

Participate in the Marshall Fire soils project (CU Â鶹¹ÙÍø Today)

March 2, 2022

Researchers across campus are launching a project to assess whether the Marshall Fire resulted in the contamination of soils—an important question for residents looking to rebuild, as well as those in areas that may be affected by future fires. Eve-Lyn Hinckley is one of the co-principal investigators.

Infrastructure in London

London produces a third more methane than estimates suggest (Imperial College London)

Feb. 18, 2022

Researchers from Imperial College London have performed new measurements using data from INSTAAR's Stable Isotope Lab (Sylvia Englund Michel). They found London produces 30-35% more methane than previously thought. Previous estimates suggested 25% of London's methane is from natural gas leaks, but the new study says it's up to 85%.

Snow covers Deer Creek, near the the headwaters of the Snake River on Jan. 29, 2022, in Summit County. (Hugh Carey, The Colorado Sun)

Climate change is eroding work to clean up the Snake River. Is snowmaking making it worse? (Colorado Sun)

Feb. 16, 2022

A warmer, drier alpine is impeding water quality for streams and rivers used for snowmaking, like the Snake River that runs through Keystone. Diane McKnight is interviewed in this Colorado Sun story.

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