A look back on 2021

It’s deep winter in Crested Butte. My early morning skis above Mt. Crested Butte bring double digit negative temperatures joined by dawns that splash warm, red glows on the surrounding peaks. The summer of 2021 is quickly fading in memory, but I thought I’d take a moment to reflect on RMBL’s 2021 accomplishments. Scientists, supporters, and scientific agencies all contribute to RMBL, and it’s important that we honor those investments by taking a good look at what we have accomplished and, just as importantly, where we are headed.

RMBL has taken a national leadership role in keeping science going through the pandemic. Curating one of the largest collections of long-term field studies means figuring out how to operate every summer, even during pandemics. In 2020, when many colleges, universities, and field stations were completely shut down, we operated at 60 percent capacity. Field research was scaled back, but the critical long-term projects kept going. And while many field facilities around the globe stayed shuttered in 2021, we didn’t just return to full capacity; we also hosted more research and training days than ever in our 90+ years.