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INSTAAR conducts interdisciplinary research and education on the past, present, and future of Earth systems in service of a just and thriving world.

With deep roots in polar regions, alpine environments, and Quaternary history, today we embrace a global perspective on bellwethers of environmental change.

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INSTAAR in the field
Featured faculty position

INSTAAR seeks applications for a faculty position in climate-related extreme events and hazards, and their environmental impacts. Researchers who study hazards on human time scales (e.g. days to decades) and with direct societal impact are of particular interest.

Specific foci of applicants may include floods, droughts, wildfires, glacial failure, and/or landslides. The new hire will be a joint appointment with 1 of these CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ departments: ATOC, CEAE, ENVS, GEOG, or GEOL.

Apply by December 15th, 2024.

News

Microbes, not fossil fuels, drove methane growth between 2020–22

A new analysis from Sylvia Michel, Pieter Tans, J. Reed Clark, Jianghanyang (Ben) Li, and collaborators investigates the root cause of a recent atmospheric methane spike. While their finding suggests microbes have been emitting more methane than fossil fuels in recent years, reducing fossil fuel consumption remains key to addressing climate change.

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The Arctic could become ‘sea-ice free’ within a decade

The Arctic could see summer days with practically no sea ice as early as the next couple of years, according to a new study led by Alexandra Jahn.

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Events

Sarah Crump Graduate Fellowship 

Sarah Crump, in purple coat, stands in front of a dramatic Baffin Island landscape of colorful tundra suddenly broken by towering cliffs.

Thanks to the efforts of Sarah's family and 1200+ generous donors, we met our first funding goal in May 2023 and created an endowment that supports a CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ grad student every summer. Sarah's summer fellowship gives a boost to their study of Earth or environmental science in Arctic, Antarctic, or alpine regions. It also acts as a lever for equity and underserved communities. Our next goal is to extend summer support into the school year. Please consider contributing.

Learn about Sarah & her fellowship   

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