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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, 51�Թ�� 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, Nicole Lovenduski, Nancy Emery, Austin Willbern and Albert Kettner. Photo courtesy of Nicole Lovenduski.

Despite all of his experience, Mayock sees his role at CU 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.

Some clouds were starting to form, but the group decided to brave a jaunt up to the saddle anyways. 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.

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51�Թ��’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 51�Թ��, and it’s turning heads (CPR)

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

A tropical ‘snakebird’ just landed in 51�Թ��, 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 51�Թ��. 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 51�Թ�� 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 51�Թ��. 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 CU undergraduates and a 2025 CU 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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Former INSTAAR research librarian and polar climate data expert passes on

Gabe Allen — Thu, 22 May 2025 19:04:36 +0000

Former INSTAAR research librarian and polar climate data expert passes on Gabe Allen Thu, 05/22/2025 - 13:04

Martha Andrews

Martha Andrews passed away on May 5, 2025 at her home in 51�Թ�� with her husband, John Andrews by her side. Martha was an early member of the INSTAAR Directorate and served as INSTAAR’s research librarian from 1973 until she retired in 2003.

Martha was born in Schenectady, NY to Margaret and John Tuthill. She was the valedictorian of her 1956 High School class, after which she enrolled at Northwestern University. During her sophomore year, she transferred to Clark University in Worcester, MA so she could be near her mother, who had fallen ill at the new family home in Vermont. At Clark, she heard a lecture about climate research at the South Pole. Captivated, she approached the speaker and, that summer, devoted herself to entering paper temperature records into a database on an early computer.

Her interest in Polar regions led her to apply to a graduate program in the geography department at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, which at that time had major research programs in the Canadian Arctic. She arrived in Montreal in September 1960, and there met her husband-to-be, John Andrews, who had just returned from a field season on the Labrador coast. They were married in December, 1961. Martha obtained her MA from McGill University, and when John accepted a job with the Canadian government in 1962, they moved to Ottawa. Martha worked at Carleton University in Ottawa abstracting Arctic research papers for the Arctic Bibliography—a project funded by the US Library of Congress. In 1968, the couple moved to 51�Թ��, CO when John accepted a faculty position at the department of geological science and INSTAAR at the University of Colorado, 51�Թ��.

Martha continued her studies and, in 1973, obtained an MA in library science from the University of Denver and became INSTAAR's Librarian. She was a friend and essential resource for many graduate students who learned library research skills from her. During her career, she led the establishment of many international polar and environmental data bases, obtaining grants from the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation and travelling for her work to Canada, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, Denmark, the UK, and Alaska.

She will be deeply missed by her family, numerous friends, and many former students, who recall her exceptional help with literature searches and her sharp wit. A celebration of Martha's life will be held later this summer at INSTAAR in the SEEC building on east campus.

See also:

Martha Andrews (1938-2025) obituary - Dignity Memorial

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(Want to add your photo of Martha? Email it and a caption to David Lubinski)

Martha Andrews spent 30 years of her exceptional career in library science and polar environmental record-keeping at INSTAAR. She will be missed by family, friends and former students and colleagues.

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INSTAAR honors students and faculty at spring celebration luncheon

Gabe Allen — Wed, 14 May 2025 23:02:16 +0000

INSTAAR honors students and faculty at spring celebration luncheon Gabe Allen Wed, 05/14/2025 - 17:02

Gabe Allen

On the day before 51�Թ�� commencement, INSTAAR faculty and students gathered in SEEC C120 for an end-of-year celebration luncheon. The mood was jovial as scientists filtered in and loaded up plates with rice, roasted veggies, chicken and tofu. The institute has had a busy year of cutting-edge research, new collaborative initiatives and outreach efforts.

Once everyone had a chance to settle in, INSTAAR director Nicole Lovenduski got the ceremonies started. As per tradition, institute leaders took the opportunity to highlight impressive and passionate efforts from a few of its members. Here are the awardees from this year:

Sarah Crump Memorial Graduate Fellowship

Juliana Ruef is the recipient of the 2025 Sarah Crump memorial graduate fellowship. Ruef is the third annual recipient of the summer fellowship created in honor of a now-passed INSTAAR alum. She will use the funding for snow science research on the Juneau Ice Field in Alaska this summer.

Gifford Miller, Sarah Crump’s graduate advisor during her PhD at INSTAAR, and Juliana Ruef pose with the Crump Family. Left to right: Gifford Miller, Liz Anderson, Juliana Ruef, John Crump and Nodin de Saillan.

INSTAAR Summer Scholarships for Graduate Students

This year’s summer scholars are Hunter Geist-Sanchez and Harry Allbrook. The scholarships will fund their continued research efforts this summer. Geist-Sanchez is a restoration ecologist studying plant communities from a rangeland management perspective under Katharine Suding. Allbrook studies microbial communities in the ocean in Julio Sepúlveda’s lab.

Hunter Geist-Sanchez (left) and Harry Allbrook (right) pose with their awards.

Professional Research Assistant Award

Jennifer Morse poses with her award.

2025’s PRA of the year is Jennifer Morse. Morse is the climate, water and snow technician and director of the mountain climate program at the Mountain Research Station. She is also pursuing an M.S. in geography under Noah Molotch.

INSTAAR senior fellow Gifford Miller, who presented the award, read a statement written by the Mountain Research Station’s director, Scott Taylor, and principal investigator, Nancy Emery.

“Jen is an essential and critical force in the success of the MRS,” Miller read. “Jen’s tangible contributions are a combination of impressive technical skills, a fierce work ethic and an inexhaustible growth mindset.”

Graduate Student Community Awards

This year’s graduate student community awards went to Adam Odorisio and Kevin Rozmiarek. Odorisio was commended for his efforts to make his lab’s research on rare earth minerals in the Roaring Fork River available to affected communities. Rozmiarek was commended for his work as the graduate student representative on the INSTAAR directorate. He is also spearheading an effort to create a community gear closet of cold-weather gear for INSTAAR students.

Adam Odorisio poses with his award.

Gifford Miller presents the second graduate student community award to Kevin Rozmiarek.

The Commemorative Shovel

This year’s ceremony featured a final one-off award. Professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology Tim Seastedt has worked tirelessly for more than two decades to conduct research, volunteer efforts and invasive species eradication at the Spruce Gulch Wildlife Reserve. This spring, a private donor will hand over the reins of the reserve to INSTAAR, and Seastedt will take over as the acting director (more details TBA). At the end of the luncheon, Lovenduski and Suding presented Seastedt with a bright green shovel to commemorate his hard work at the site.

Tim Seastedt poses with a commemorative shovel given to him for his efforts in the formation of the Spruce Gulch Wildlife Reserve.

More luncheon highlights

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And the winner is… INSTAAR presented four awards and three summer scholarships at the annual spring celebration luncheon last week. Recipients were commended for their impactful efforts at the institute, in the scientific community and beyond.

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Grad student Josie Arcuri and other INSTAARs load up their plates.

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An apple a day? It’s the 51�Թ�� way (Colorado Arts and Sciences Magazine)

Gabe Allen — Mon, 12 May 2025 22:04:54 +0000

An apple a day? It’s the 51�Թ�� way (Colorado Arts and Sciences Magazine) Gabe Allen Mon, 05/12/2025 - 16:04

The 51�Թ�� Apple Tree Project, led by INSTAAR fellow Katharine Suding, has broken ground on a new apple orchard on 30th Street in 51�Թ��. The orchard will provide shade, fruit and a site for agroecology research. It is supported by a $90,000 sustainable CU grant.

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Community

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

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A tropical ‘snakebird’ just landed in 51�Թ��, and it’s turning heads (CPR)

Related Articles

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

Former INSTAAR research librarian and polar climate data expert passes on

Off

INSTAAR honors students and faculty at spring celebration luncheon

Sarah Crump Memorial Graduate Fellowship

INSTAAR Summer Scholarships for Graduate Students

Professional Research Assistant Award

Graduate Student Community Awards

The Commemorative Shovel

More luncheon highlights

Off

An apple a day? It’s the 51�Թ�� way (Colorado Arts and Sciences Magazine)

Related Articles

Community

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

Off

A tropical ‘snakebird’ just landed in 51�Թ���, and it’s turning heads (CPR)

Related Articles

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

Former INSTAAR research librarian and polar climate data expert passes on

Off

INSTAAR honors students and faculty at spring celebration luncheon

Sarah Crump Memorial Graduate Fellowship

INSTAAR Summer Scholarships for Graduate Students

Professional Research Assistant Award

Graduate Student Community Awards

The Commemorative Shovel

More luncheon highlights

Off

An apple a day? It’s the 51�Թ��� way (Colorado Arts and Sciences Magazine)

Related Articles

A tropical ‘snakebird’ just landed in 51�Թ��, and it’s turning heads (CPR)

An apple a day? It’s the 51�Թ�� way (Colorado Arts and Sciences Magazine)