Above: Aerial view of the Mexican Cut Preserve in the Elk Mountains. Photo by Eric Phillips

Dear RMBL community, 

Every discovery begins with an observation.

At RMBL, those observations have been accumulating for nearly a century. Across almost 4,000 research sites in the Gunnison Valley, scientists and students return year after year to observe, measure, wonder, and learn.

Why does that matter? Because knowing where we’ve been allows us to recognize what is changing, understand why, and make better decisions about what comes next.

Mexican Cut is a powerful example. Recognizing the scientific value of this alpine ecosystem, RMBL scientists helped inspire The Nature Conservancy to protect it in 1966 as its first preserve in Colorado. Sixty years later, the Conservancy and RMBL continue to work together to protect this extraordinary place and sustain the long-term research it makes possible.

For more than three decades, scientists have studied the same population of Arizona tiger salamanders at Mexican Cut, documenting changes in breeding, development, and responses to declining snowpack. Yet decades into the research, scientists observed something entirely unexpected: The salamanders biofluoresce, opening a new window into how they may experience and respond to their environment — an environment that is changing.

Even after decades of study, there is more to discover. That is the power of long-term science and curiosity.

A single season gives us a snapshot. Decades of science allow us to see patterns, recognize change, and begin to understand what that change means for our community. What we learn in the mountains can also help us understand changes occurring downstream.

We saw that connection at our final Explorer Sips & Science of the summer, where scientists and community members explored the future of water in the West and the health of our forests. Increasingly, RMBL is connecting long-term scientific knowledge with communities, partners, and decision-makers so that what we learn here can help inform the choices we face today.

But discovery requires more than time. It requires curious people.

At RMBL, students learn alongside scientists, bringing new perspectives, tools, and ideas to questions that may span generations. An observation sparks curiosity. Curiosity drives inquiry. Inquiry creates collaboration. And each discovery becomes the foundation for what comes next.

This continuity cannot be taken for granted. As research funding tightens across the country, RMBL continues to invest in scholarships, fellowships, and subsidized fees. Gifts to the RMBL 365 Home Stretch Campaign help retire the mortgage on our Crested Butte “front porch,” freeing resources to advance science and education, grow philanthropic support, and bring people together year-round. Your support strengthens RMBL’s long-term financial footing and local presence, creating a lasting home for discovery, learning, and community for the next century.

Together, these investments keep scientists returning, open doors for the next generation, and ensure that today’s observations have the opportunity to become tomorrow’s discoveries.

You’ll see that story throughout this newsletter — from long-term science at Mexican Cut and Carol Boggs’ butterfly research to the journey of RMBL alumna Diane Thomson.

For nearly 100 years, RMBL has created the conditions for discovery across generations. Because understanding a changing world — and preparing for what comes next — depends on the places we protect, the knowledge we sustain, and the curious people who keep asking what we have yet to discover.

With gratitude,

Jeni Blacklock, PhD
Executive Director
Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory