Shaped by Colorado: 150 Years of Research and Creativity at Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder

For 150 years, Colorado’s landscapes, communities and ideas have helped shape research and creativity at Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder. Shaped by Colorado explores this relationship through stories of discovery, innovation and collaboration across the university—from groundbreaking research institutes to sustainability efforts and the collections of the Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØMuseum of Natural History. Together, these stories reveal how people and place have shaped Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder’s past and continue to inspire its future.

A trail through grass leads to the Flatirons Mountains at Chautaqua Park


Shaped by Colorado
We are shaped by our environment. Colorado’s landscapes serve as a living laboratory for Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder, inspiring research and creativity across disciplines. Celebrating the university’s 150th anniversary, Shaped by Colorado highlights the work of Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder’s research institutes, explores sustainability, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Museum Institute—revealing how Colorado has shaped Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder and how Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder is helping shape the future.

view of the University of Colorado's sandstone buildings from above


Institutes and InnovationÌý
For 150 years, Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder has brought together campus, community and diverse disciplines to tackle big questions. Today, 12 research institutes unite more than 3,000 faculty, researchers, students and staff, conducting more than half of the university’s sponsored research. From climate science and space exploration to energy and human wellness, discover how their work is shaping our world and opening new possibilities for the future.

a snowy Mt Evans in the distance with an evergreen hill in the foreground


Sustainability Begins with Place
Long before Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder, this land was shaped by natural forces and cared for by Cheyenne, Arapaho, Ute and many other Native American peoples. Today, sustainability at Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder connects people, ecosystems, science and community. Explore the people and ideas that have shaped the university’s evolving approach to creating a more sustainable future.

a sandstone building with tall windows, surrounded by trees with a sign saying Henderson in the foreground


Museum of Natural History: A Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Research Institute
Over its 124-year history, the Museum has grown through groundbreaking collections, research and the people who shaped its work. This anniversary also invites reflection on a history rooted partly in periods of colonization and a responsibility to address past harms in partnership with Tribal communities. Today, the Museum draws on its collections, new technologies and diverse perspectives to better understand—and positively shape—our changing world.