Winter Ecology 2024 (registration opens Oct 30th)

Course Dates: 17 Jan – 2 Mar 2024

Wed – 5:00-6:00p, seven lectures at Boulder campus starting 17 Jan
Sat & Sun – 8:30a-1:00p, 1:30-5:00p at Mountain Research Station (Nederland), (overnight at MRS Saturday nights)
Sat – 7:30-8.30pm, at Mountain Research Station (Nederland)

Mountain Research Station – six weekends.  Jan 27/28 & Feb 3/4, 10/11, 17/18, 24/25, Mar 2(Sat only)

Winter Ecology StudentsWintertime offers insights into the natural history of organisms and function of ecosystems that are not often appreciated in summer visits to the field. Winter Ecology is a survey of physical and biological processes and their interaction in wintertime snow-covered environments.  Through classwork, fieldwork, and individual projects, we will focus on the dynamics of high-elevation ecosystems in the western US.  Based from the CU Mountain Research Station's year-round Moores-Collins Science Lodge, we will spend 6 weekends exploring the ecology of upper montane, subalpine, and alpine landscapes in winter. We will study plant, vertebrate, and microbial adaptations to winter and the dynamics of terrestrial, aquatic, and snowpack environments.  We will consider how winter processes play a role in “growing season” dynamics, shape landscapes, and are important factors in conservation and management of natural resources of the Rocky Mountains.

Course web page

Course syllabus

Instructors:  Dr. Timothy Kittel, University of Colorado and Lecturer Derek Sweeney, University of Colorado
Location:  CU Boulder campus (Wed), Mountain Research Station (weekends), learn about lodging at the MRS here: https://www.colorado.edu/mrs/general-info/setting-and-facilities

Credit:  3 credit hours in biology (EBIO 4100)
Tuition: $1950 (Includes a bed in a shared room in the Mountain Research Station Lodge on Saturday nights only)
Prerequisite: One year course work in general biology or environmental science

Questions about staying at the Mountain Research Station during your course?  See our Guide to Visiting and Living at the Station.

REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS: To register for a class at the CU Mountain Research Station simply sign up like you would for any other course.  Go to https://classes.colorado.edu/ and search for the course name.  Add the class to your cart and proceed to check out.