October 2024 Newsletter
the power of PLACE
Philosopher's Stone
“Alchemy neither composes nor mixes: it increases and activates that which already exists in a latent state. Therefore, alchemy can be more accurately compared with botany or agriculture than with chemistry.” – Franz Hartmann (19th century theosophist)
“Love is like a tree: it grows by itself, roots itself deeply in our being and continues to flourish over a heart in ruin,” – Victor Hugo, Hunchback of Notre Dame, 1831
Join me in doing some alchemy by making an online donation to RMBL. This e-newsletter that you read now is sent out to over 5,700 recipients every month, but only 14% of these monthly readers donate to RMBL. Together, with your financial support, we can do some magic and science!
The emergence of science is intertwined with alchemy. The “great work” of European alchemists was using prime matter, the first matter that emerged from chaos, to create the philosopher’s stone. In turn, the philosopher’s stone was a mystical substance capable of providing health, everlasting life, and transforming common metals into silver and gold.
Ian Billick | PhD
Executive Director, RMBL
sciencestories
Supporting science changes the world
Rocky Mountain PBS spent the past year visiting Gothic to capture the sights, sounds, and voices of the RMBL community. It tells a story of scientific discovery, seasonal change, and connection to the natural world. Hear three of these stories by clicking on the links below.
A family of scientists puts down roots in Gothic Colorado
David Inouye first came to RMBL in 1971 as a student at Swarthmore College. He returned as a graduate student for five years, served as a faculty member for 40 years, and is now a retiree — but he still likes to work on his own projects. As Inouye has gotten older, he’s passed the project down over to another ecologist: his son, Brian Inouye.
The winter caretakers behind Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory
Five winter caretakers manage the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratories’ 55,000 snow-covered acres in almost complete isolation, teaching them more about the natural world as well as themselves.
Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory trains the next generation of scientists
Young campers learn from some of the most esteemed researchers in the state surrounded by some of the most pristine learning environments.