INSTAAR

Our researchers discover the mechanisms that drive environmental change -- a pursuit that is becoming more urgent as changes in climate and land use are felt worldwide.

As the University of Colorado's oldest institute, INSTAAR has a long history of responding to pressing environmental issues. Our traditional focus has been on polar and alpine regions, where effects of global change are especially pronounced. In recent decades, our research has broadened to include environmental challenges that span local, regional, and global scales.

Travel with us to the far corners of the globe and our own Colorado backyard to explore our changing and past climates, ecosystems, biogeochemistry, landscape evolution, hydrology, and oceanography.