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In February, many INSTAARs stopped by the front office for a fun meet-and-greet. It was a chance to have some light refreshments, say hello to support staff, and come together as a community. The staff answered some questions too... so, a little work happened ;)

CU ��«����Ƶ postdoctoral researcher Peyton Thomas, who fuses running with a commitment to environmental causes, to compete in U.S. Olympic women’s marathon trials in February.

Thanks to the CU Museum of Natural History, the lobby of our SEEC building on East campus has a new guest: a full-sized skeletal reconstruction of a Triceratops dinosaur. The skeleton is a testament to the sheer size of Triceratops, an herbivore that roamed Colorado during the Cretaceous Period around 68 to 66 million years ago. Students, staff and members of the public can view the exhibit for free on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (SEEC is closed on weekends and holidays).

Scott Taylor (INSTAAR Fellow, EBIO Associate Professor, MRS Director) gave a short TED-style talk at the ��«����Ƶ Dairy Arts Center on October 18, 2023 as part of the 2023 Faculty Fellows program for CU ��«����Ƶ's Research & Innovation Office (RIO). In his talk, Scott tells the story of his personal journey to a deeper understanding of his work as a scientist and his own place in the world.

For decades, the Mountain Research Station has been a stepping-off point for researchers studying plant and animal ecology, biogeochemistry, hydrology, geomorphology and atmospheric science. Much of that research takes place on rugged, nearby Niwot Ridge. Within that area lies every type of alpine and montane ecosystem that exists in the southern Rocky Mountains. That abundance has made Niwot Ridge a rare and important ‘living laboratory.’

INSTAAR and ENVS Postdoc Peyton Thomas not only does great science, she's an activist runner sponsored by Patagonia. Earlier this year, she and a group of volunteers organized Patagonia's first EARTH running event (Equitable Action Run Towards Health) to help a Mississippi community discuss and address impacts of the wood pellet industry on health and environmental justice.

A “Reverse Science Fair” in Northglenn is flipping the traditional format, challenging ��«����Ƶ grad students and postdocs to present their research to high school student evaluators. Organizer Alex Rose is interviewed, with cameos by INSTAAR postdocs Kristýna Kantnerová and Edgart Flores.

INSTAAR's first storytelling night was a smashing success! A number of INSTAARs (in person and online) heard amazing stories at Sanitas Brewing Company on a Thursday evening in late October. Thanks to all the storytellers and attendees. And kudos to organizers Katie Rocci, Sylvia Michel, and Tina Geller.

A team of researchers that included several INSTAAR scientists received the prestigious Kirk Bryan Award from the Quaternary Geology & Geomorphology Division of the Geological Society of America (GSA). The prestigious award honors the authors of a recent paper that advances the science of geomorphology.

Diane McKnight has been an integral figure in the Long-Term Ecological Research Program for decades. She was instrumental in launching the McMurdo LTER, spearheaded restructuring network coordination, and served as Chair of the LTER Network Executive Board. She’s mentored dozens of students and developed too many projects to count. The LTER Network Office sat down with Diane to chat about her life in the Network and her dreams for the LTER moving forward.