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Tahoe avalanche: What causes snow slopes to collapse? A physicist and skier explains, with tips for surviving (The Conversation)

David J Lubinski — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 04:13:09 +0000

Tahoe avalanche: What causes snow slopes to collapse? A physicist and skier explains, with tips for surviving (The Conversation) David J Lubinski Wed, 02/18/2026 - 21:13

Nathalie Vriend updated an article for The Conversation that explains what happens in an avalanche, techniques for surviving one, and how they are impacted by climate change.

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What Olympic athletes see that viewers don't (The Conversation)

David J Lubinski — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 23:48:18 +0000

What Olympic athletes see that viewers don't (The Conversation) David J Lubinski Fri, 02/13/2026 - 16:48

Machine-made snow makes ski racing faster and riskier—and it's widespread at the 2026 Games. Hear from Keith Musselman, Agnes Macy, and U.S. Olympic skiers on The Conversation.

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Faculty Affairs welcomes Warren Sconiers as Faculty Fellow for Teaching & Clinical Faculty Development (Faculty Affairs)

David J Lubinski — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 11:04:13 +0000

Faculty Affairs welcomes Warren Sconiers as Faculty Fellow for Teaching & Clinical Faculty Development (Faculty Affairs) David J Lubinski Fri, 09/26/2025 - 05:04

Warren Sconiers (EBIO & INSTAAR) has started a three-year term of service as a �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder faculty fellow creating programming to support teaching and clinical professors through the unique challenges that characterize their careers.

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Embracing excellence: �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder honors postdocs and mentors during National Postdoc Appreciation Week (Postdoctoral Affairs)

David J Lubinski — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 17:55:06 +0000

Embracing excellence: �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder honors postdocs and mentors during National Postdoc Appreciation Week (Postdoctoral Affairs) David J Lubinski Mon, 09/22/2025 - 11:55

Among a select group to receive awards were two INSTAARs: Nathalie Vriend was selected as a �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Outstanding Postdoc Mentor of the Year and Edgart Flores won an honorable mention as an Outstanding Postdoc. Congratulations to both of them!

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The shape-shifting science of sand dunes (Science Friday)

David J Lubinski — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 21:54:54 +0000

The shape-shifting science of sand dunes (Science Friday) David J Lubinski Thu, 09/04/2025 - 15:54

A sand dune is much more than just a big pile of sand. But how do they work? And what else do scientists want to know about sand? Listen to Nathalie Vriend discuss dunes with a host of Science Friday.

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476 acres of possibility near Boulder for science, sustainability and the arts (Boulder Reporting Lab)

Gabe Allen — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 17:00:13 +0000

476 acres of possibility near Boulder for science, sustainability and the arts (Boulder Reporting Lab) Gabe Allen Tue, 08/12/2025 - 11:00

Katherine Suding explores the future of the Spruce Gulch Wildlife and Research Reserve in an op-ed for the Boulder reporting lab. The new reserve will host research, outreach and education programs.

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Spruce Gulch land gift enhances future ecological and academic studies at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Today)

Gabe Allen — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Spruce Gulch land gift enhances future ecological and academic studies at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Today) Gabe Allen Tue, 08/12/2025 - 07:00

Linda Holubar Sanabria has donated a 476-acre wildlife and research reserve to �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder. INSTAAR will manage research and education programs at the site, with Timothy Seastedt stepping up as director.

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Vice chancellor for sustainability visits the Mountain Research Station and Niwot Ridge

Gabe Allen — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 16:30:00 +0000

Vice chancellor for sustainability visits the Mountain Research Station and Niwot Ridge Gabe Allen Tue, 07/15/2025 - 10:30

Gabe Allen

Recently, �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder vice chancellor for sustainability Andrew Mayock joined INSTAAR faculty for an excursion to the Mountain Research Station and the Tundra Lab, essential field sites for environmental research at CU.

Chancellor Justin Schwartz appointed Mayock to his role earlier this year, citing his long track record implementing sustainable infrastructure and business practices. Mayock led the Biden administration's efforts to green up the federal government — just one of many senior positions he has held over the past three decades.

INSTAAR members pose with the vice chancellor. Left to right: Andrew Mayock, INSTAAR director Nicole Lovenduski, Nancy Emery, Austin Willbern and INSTAAR associate director Albert Kettner. Photo courtesy of Nicole Lovenduski.

Despite all of his experience, Mayock sees his role at �鶹��Ѱ��as the chance to dive into something new. While his career has mostly focused on sustainability as an operational goal, he is new to supporting the scientific research that underpins these efforts. Fortunately, his visit to the Mountain Research Station provided an up-close look at some of the longest-running climate and ecological monitoring efforts in the country.

“Thank you all for an extraordinary day. It provided a real opportunity to appreciate the great work you do.” Mayock told INSTAAR leadership after his visit. “I look forward to supporting and amplifying your efforts, and all we can do together.”

After touring the station, Mayock and the rest of the group hopped into vehicles and drove up past the C1 climate station. Located at nearly 10,000 feet, the station has gathered climate data continuously since 1953. Its counterpart, dubbed D1, is located at more than 12,000 feet, making it the highest continuously operating weather station in North America.

At 10,500 feet above sea level, the group parked at the “cable gate” and continued on foot. The next stop was “T-van” , a climate station located just below the saddle of Niwot Ridge. Here, Niwot Ridge field technician Austin Willbern helped Mayock take an air sample for later analysis. INSTAAR scientists in the stable isotope lab plan to present the vice chancellor with a readout of the sample’s contents the next time he comes to visit the institute.

The afternoon thunderstorms hadn't materialized yet, and the group decided to brave a jaunt up to the saddle. After reaching the ridge, Niwot Ridge program director and professor of ecology and evolutionary biology Nancy Emery talked about the diversity of research projects underway at the site this summer. Mayock was also curious about the long-term ecological monitoring project on Niwot Ridge, which has gone uninterrupted for more than 40 years.

As the clouds darkened, the group began to hike back toward the cars. They made it just in time — thunder boomed in the distance.

On their way back to the station, the group discussed further collaborative efforts between INSTAAR and the chancellor’s office. Both the vice chancellor and faculty were eager to explore ways that INSTAAR’s environmental research can complement campus efforts toward sustainability.

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.

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s Andrew Mayock recently toured the Mountain Research Station, a high-altitude climate station and the Tundra Lab at Niwot Ridge. INSTAAR faculty were eager to meet the vice chancellor and discuss future collaborations.

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Nancy Emery (closest) and Andrew Mayock (next closest) hike toward the tundra lab on Niwot Ridge.

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A tropical ‘snakebird’ just landed in Boulder, and it’s turning heads (CPR)

Gabe Allen — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 17:00:00 +0000

A tropical ‘snakebird’ just landed in Boulder, and it’s turning heads (CPR) Gabe Allen Thu, 06/19/2025 - 11:00

Ornithologists and amateur birders alike are flocking to a pond on 95th street to catch a rare glimpse of a tropical anhinga in Boulder. INSTAAR fellow and Mountain Research Station director Scott Taylor was interviewed for this piece in CPR News.

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Get to know INSTAAR’s 2025 summer scholars

Gabe Allen — Thu, 29 May 2025 20:04:37 +0000

Get to know INSTAAR’s 2025 summer scholars Gabe Allen Thu, 05/29/2025 - 14:04

Gabe Allen

INSTAAR 2025 summer scholars Harry Allbrook (left) and Hunter Geist-Sanchez. Photos courtesy of Harry Allbrook and Hunter Geist-Sanchez.

Each year, INSTAAR selects two graduate students for the INSTAAR summer scholarship, which provides funding for ongoing research over the summer months. These scholars are engaged in multi-year research efforts in the Earth sciences, and the scholarship amplifies their ability to produce high-impact, rigorous work.

In 2025, PhD student Harry Allbrook and MS student Hunter Geist-Sanchez were awarded the scholarship. Allbrook studies marine microbial communities in Julio Sepúlveda’s lab. Geist-Sanchez is a restoration ecologist studying plant communities from a rangeland management perspective under Katharine Suding.

This week, INSTAAR sat down with Allbrook and Geist-Sanchez to discuss their summer plans.

What are you working on this summer?

Harry Allbrook: I’m analyzing data from semi-controlled mesocosm experiments, where we simulate marine environments within an enclosed space. In particular, I’m exposing marine microbial communities to environmental stressors by manipulating oxygen, PH and nutrient levels, and seeing how they respond.

This summer, I will transform raw measurements (from liquid chromatography mass spectrometry analyses) into lists of molecular identities using open-source analytical methods. This will allow me to investigate the phenomenon of “lipid remodeling” in these mesocosms, whereby microbes adapt their cell membranes in response to environmental stress.

Microbial membranes serve as a source of nutrition for higher trophic organisms, like the fish essential to marine fisheries and indigenous communities. They also serve as fingerprints of ecosystem health, which are preserved in geologic sediments for thousands of years.

Hunter Geist-Sanchez: I’m managing two research projects. In the first, I’m hoping to identify plant species that can improve rangeland restoration efforts. Specifically, I’m testing whether certain species are more successful in bare ground interspaces within semi-arid and arid rangelands along the Front Range. If we can identify species with traits that promote establishment in these bare areas, we may be able to reverse ongoing degradation in these systems and instead promote vegetation recovery.

The second project is a long-term drought study, now in its eighth year, which stems from a partnership with the international Drought-Net network and Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks. In this study, we are manipulating precipitation to simulate extreme drought and excess rainfall, respectively. We also incorporate seasonal livestock grazing. The goal is to better understand the interactions between drought, excess precipitation and grazing on plant life.

Rangelands make up about one-third of terrestrial ecosystems in the U.S. and provide vital services, such as food, clean water and outdoor recreation. Climate change is increasing temperature and precipitation variability, which makes understanding these dynamics critical to preserving the ecological, cultural, and economic value of these systems.

Suding lab members set up equipment at a research site for Drought-Net in South Boulder. From left: Hunter Geist-Sanchez, Sam Ahler, Sarah Elizabeth Stockman and Tom Merchant. Photo courtesy of Hunter Geist-Sanchez.

Harry Allbrook loads equipment aboard the German research vessel RV Sonne in the Port of Talcahuano in Chile. Photo courtesy of Harry Allbrook.

How will the summer scholarship support this work?

Harry Allbrook: The scholarship will enable me to complete a vital step in my thesis project. I’m also looking forward to developing educational outreach tools (“microcosm in a mason jar”) that enhance ocean literacy and share my team's work with middle-school students.

Hunter Geist Sanchez: With my summer funding covered by the scholarship, I’m able to use other grant funds to hire undergraduate research assistants and purchase essential equipment. This includes soil temperature and moisture sensors as well as soil nutrient testing tools to assess how drought conditions affect nutrients in the soil.

I’ve hired two current �鶹��Ѱ��undergraduates and a 2025 �鶹��Ѱ��graduate to assist with both projects. They will get hands-on experience in ecological research, preparing them for a career in rangeland health and management.

What do you like to do when you’re not doing research?

Harry Allbrook: When I'm not doing research, I love to rock climb, cook, collect vinyl records (particularly electronic music) and paint with watercolors!

Hunter Geist-Sanchez: Outside of research, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, hiking and doing other outdoor activities, cooking, and traveling!

To support INSTAAR's summer scholarship for graduate students, you can make a donation to our general fund here.

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.

A Q&A with PhD students Harry Allbrook and Hunter Geist-Sanchez, INSTAAR’s 2025 summer scholarship recipients. The scholarship will go toward the students’ continued research in marine biology and grassland restoration throughout the summer.

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Community

Tahoe avalanche: What causes snow slopes to collapse? A physicist and skier explains, with tips for surviving (The Conversation)

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Get to know INSTAAR’s 2025 summer scholars

What are you working on this summer?

How will the summer scholarship support this work?

What do you like to do when you’re not doing research?

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Tahoe avalanche: What causes snow slopes to collapse? A physicist and skier explains, with tips for surviving (The Conversation)

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Get to know INSTAAR’s 2025 summer scholars

What are you working on this summer?

How will the summer scholarship support this work?

What do you like to do when you’re not doing research?

Off

Embracing excellence: �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder honors postdocs and mentors during National Postdoc Appreciation Week (Postdoctoral Affairs)

Spruce Gulch land gift enhances future ecological and academic studies at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Today)