Dear Friends of RMBL,

March is Women’s History Month, and we are proud to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary women who have shaped, advanced, and sustained science and education at RMBL for nearly a century. 

The Bean Pod Sprouts a Century of Women in Science article in this newsletter beautifully highlights this legacy and RMBL’s longstanding role in supporting women scientists whose work has transformed how we understand the natural world. From pioneering field researchers in the late 1920s breaking ground under challenging conditions to today’s scholars pushing scientific boundaries, our community has long been strengthened by women whose curiosity, rigor, and determination guide their work. 

Today, more than 50 percent of our current principal investigators are women — a testament to both the opportunity and the leadership that RMBL fosters. These scientists are advancing knowledge across disciplines, from biodiversity and climate systems to ecosystem processes and environmental sensing, while mentoring and inspiring the next generation of researchers. 

One such scientist is Dr. Rosemary Carroll. Just last month, as part of RMBL 365’s winter public programming, she presented her models of declining mountain snowpack and streamflow amid rising temperatures — a talk that felt eerily relevant on an unseasonably warm and rainy February day. Among the audience were many early-career community members, several of whom stayed afterward to discuss hydrology and career paths with Rosemary, clearly awed by both the science and the scientist.

Moments like these illustrate RMBL’s enduring influence. Our students and alumni share powerful stories about how their time at RMBL shaped their academic and professional journeys. Many women who began their scientific paths in Gothic have gone on to impactful careers in research, academia, government, and industry, carrying forward lessons learned through field research, collaboration, and community.

Their accomplishments, including groundbreaking publications such as a recent PNAS article led by women faculty affiliated with RMBL (two of whom are pictured), demonstrate the importance of equitable access to mentorship, opportunity, and immersive research experiences. At a time when women in STEM continue to reshape scientific discovery and innovation, RMBL remains deeply committed to supporting transformative educational experiences.

Each year, we engage more than 750 K–12 students and 40 undergraduates through our programs.  More than 60 graduate students and 190 professional scientists pass through our doors annually. With the launch of RMBL 365 and expanded year-round capabilities, we will deepen that impact even further. Through hands–on research, immersive learning, and dedicated mentorship, we ensure that women are not only participants in science, but also leaders. 

Since our founding in 1928, women have strengthened RMBL’s independence and vitality by bringing new ways of knowing, expanding scientific inquiry, and nurturing community. As we look toward our centennial and the next 100 years, we honor this legacy by continuing to elevate women in science, expand opportunity, and foster an environment where all scholars can thrive. 

Thank you for your continued support of RMBL and for championing science that is inclusive, impactful, and rooted in community. 

With gratitude,

Jeni Blacklock
Executive Director
Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory 

Photo: Jennifer Rudgers (left) and Stephanie Kivlin harvesting soil at the RMBL ‘warming meadow’ research site, established by ecologist John Harte in 1990. Along with Lara Souza, Aimée Classen, Harte, and others, the scientists published their results in PNAS last month. Read the press release and learn more about their research in The Conversation.