Field Stations 2024 Application

ROLE:	Interdisciplinary Problem Solver
TERMS:	Independent Contractor / Remote / Stipend of $3,000
TIMELINE:	June 2024 to November 2024
DEADLINE:	June 1, 2024
LOCATION:	The project is hybrid, with virtual listening sessions in June, online/virtual bi-weekly working sessions from July-September, and a three day in-person symposium in Colorado in October 2024 (travel expenses will be covered), dates TBC.
APPLICATION:	Electronic submission only. Required: cover letter (sharing your interest in the project, and what you hope to bring to the working groups). Additional: resume/CV, a short narrative bio, links to relevant research/projects, two professional references. Please combine the above in a single PDF and submit your application via: https://form.jotform.com/240284820065048

A core team for this project, made up of collaborators from the Wright-Ingraham Institute, Mountain Studies Institute, the Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies, New Mexico State University, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Haven (Cortez, CO), are soliciting scholars, professionals, researchers, post-graduates, master’s and doctoral students to join the project as interdisciplinary problem solvers.

The Wright-Ingraham Institute, in partnership with Mountain Studies Institute is organizing an interdisciplinary, solutions-based project to generate creative solutions addressing the issue of Dust on Snow in the San Juan Mountains, and communities and ecosystems that depend on them.

Dust is produced from a multitude of anthropogenic and natural sources in arid lands, transported through the atmosphere, and eventually deposited onto the snowpack. This dust deposition on snow changes the reflectivity of the snowpack, leading to early and higher snowmelt rates. This, in turn, places stress on water storage, heightens the risk of floods and impacts drought. Although the project is centered around a specific geographic area, the issue is of global relevance.

This interdisciplinary project brings together experts in hydrology, agronomy, soil science, agriculture, range management, education and design fields including architecture and media arts to develop pilot projects to begin to address and find solutions to this complex problem.

Project Objectives

• Organize and summarize available cultural, scientific, and community based understandings of the issues and mechanisms of dust on snow.
• Identify key areas of focus to generate solutions to dust on snow.
• Propose innovative interpretation, education, and visualization tools to broaden understanding and expand public discourse around the issue.
• Develop collaborative pilot projects to address the issue.

Project Timeline

June 1, 2024	Interdisciplinary Problem Solver Application Deadline
June 8, 2024	Notification Sent to Applicants
June – July 2024	Listening Sessions – Virtual
July – Sept 2024	Project Development – Virtual
Oct 2024	Symposium – In person – Cortez, CO, dates TBC
Nov 2024	Evaluation / Final Report

Expectations

• Participation in listening sessions
• Development of key areas of focus (examples include agriculture, storytelling, atmospheric modeling, soil science, environmental health)
• Development of implementable pilot projects. This includes methodologies, expected outcomes, resources needed, stakeholders, etc.
• Virtual / online meetings twice a month with sub-focus groups generated based on key areas of focus identified
• Three day in person workshop held in Cortez CO, to visit field sites, present project ideas, and create a prioritization of projects
• Final reporting and reflection

Qualifications

We are committed to forming a diverse group of scholars, professionals, researchers, post-graduates, master’s and doctoral students that bring an interdisciplinary approach to the issue of dust on snow. We are seeking individuals with a variety of skill sets, including expertise in:

Stipend

Interdisciplinary Problem Solvers will be offered a stipend of $3,000. Travel, room and board for the 3-day in person workshop in Cortez, CO will be covered.

Deadline

The deadline for Interdisciplinary Problem Solvers is June 1st, and notifications will be sent out by June 8th.

More information

For more information about the project visit Field Stations.

Organized by Wright-Ingraham Institute in partnership with Mountain Studies Institute, in collaboration with the Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies, New Mexico State University, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Haven.

Wright-Ingraham Institute

Today, more than ever, our understanding of interfaces (nexi) between ecological/environmental systems and human cultures requires integrated inquiry and new problem solving techniques. To meet these challenges, the Wright-Ingraham Institute conducts and applies multifaceted research to site specific field study programs that engage with and benefit graduate students, leading academic thinkers, scientists, professionals, policy makers and stakeholders. Our goal is to model ways of understanding and interpreting complex systems that contribute to meaningful solutions in the service of society. Read more at https://wright-ingraham.org

Mountain Studies Institute

Mountain Studies Institute builds collaborations that enable resilient mountain communities to articulate issues, develop initiatives, and ignite collaborations that sustain the social, cultural, natural, and economic resources of the San Juan Mountains and mountain systems worldwide. For more information, visit: https://www.mountainstudies.org

The Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies

The Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies serves the mountain science community and regional resource managers by hosting and conducting interdisciplinary research and sustaining integrative 24/7/365 monitoring that captures weather, snowpack, radiation, soils, plant communities and hydrologic signals of regional climate trends. For more information, visit: https://snowstudies.org

Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, New Mexico State University

Agricultural Science Center at Farmington conducts research, demonstration, and educational programs that will best fill the needs of the agricultural community of San Juan County and the Navajo Nation in particular, and the State of New Mexico, Four Corners Region, and United States in general. For more information, visit: https://farmingtonsc.nmsu.edu/

The Jornada Experimental Range, New Mexico State University / U.S. Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Research Service

The Rangeland Research Programs at Jornada Experimental Range aims to increase sustainability and resilience of multiple land uses in rangelands through collaborative research on ecosystem change, innovative livestock production systems, ecological restoration, and climate adaptation alongside national and global research on land health monitoring and decision support tools. For more information, visit: https://jornada.nmsu.edu

Soil Health Services

The Mission of Soil Health Services, PBC is to: Grow healthy soil. Produce an abundance of nutrient dense foods and forages. Build resiliency in farms and ranches and their communities. Cause no unnecessary harm.

The Haven

The Haven is a Colorado science field station and learning center in the making. The Haven is envisioned as a hub for people to basecamp, prepare, and connect before descending into interpersonal landscapes on guided retreats and workshops. For more information, visit: https://www.heidisteltzer.com/portfolio_page/the-haven