Friday
December 1, 2023
6 to 8 pm
Happy New (Water) Year! A reflection on Water Year 2023 and a look ahead to 2024
Are we still in drought?
Presented by Gigi Richard, Ph.D.
The vitality of western Colorado relies on water. From growing amazing fruit to recreating on mountain snow and flowing rivers, water is the lifeblood of our communities. Recently, drought, declining reservoir levels, and the crisis on the Colorado River have been big headlines, but did the big snowpack of 2023 alleviate our crisis? Come learn more about Colorado’s water systems and current hydrologic status.
Gigi Richard is an educator, water scientist, and civil engineer who is currently the Director of the Western Colorado Research Center at Colorado State University, one of nine research centers around Colorado that make up the Agricultural Experiment Station. Her 20+ year career in academia has included teaching and inspiring students about water, rivers, and GIS at Colorado Mesa University and Fort Lewis College. Gigi’s research has focused on watershed hydrology in Colorado, from snowmelt-driven systems to intermittent desert streams, and human impacts on river systems in Colorado, New Mexico, and New Zealand. She holds a B.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an M.S. and Ph.D. from Colorado State University, all in Civil Engineering with a water focus.
Friday
December 29, 2023
6 to 8 pm
Chestnuts Not Roasting on an Open Fire: How Plant Diseases Shape our Holidays
Presented by Charlotte Oliver, Ph.D.
The holidays are a time filled with tons of activities like making decadent, chocolatey desserts, drinking cozy mulled wine, decorating with cheery poinsettia greenery, and lyrics like “chestnuts roasting on an open fire”. But, who roasted chestnuts and why don’t we now? Can we still mull our wine with citrus next year? Join us to learn how plant diseases have and continue to change our holiday traditions.
Charlotte Oliver is a plant pathologist and the current Viticulture Extension Specialist at Colorado State University. Her primary role is interacting with the Colorado grape industry and providing timely educational resources for commercial and backyard grape growers as well as evaluating the presence and control of grape diseases across the state. Charlotte received her B.S in General Biology, M.S., and Ph.D. in Plant Pathology with a focus on wine grapes from Virginia Tech.
Friday
January 26, 2024
6 pm to 8 pm
Recovery efforts for endangered fish of the upper Colorado River and an introduction to the Palisade High School Fish Hatchery
Presented by Mike Gross (U.S. Fisheries & Wildlife) & Patrick Steele (Fish Hatchery Manager)
There are four rare fish species that have been swimming around the upper Colorado River in the Grand Valley for millions of years. Come learn about the importance of these unique animals and about local recovery efforts to conserve them including the Palisade High School Fish Hatchery partnership.
Mike Gross
Fish Culturist/Outreach Coordinator- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service- Ouray National Fish Hatchery-Grand Valley Unit
Mike Gross graduated from Humboldt State University in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in Fisheries Biology specializing in aquaculture. Since then, he has been deeply involved in recovery efforts for endangered fish living in the upper Colorado River basin while working with Colorado Division of
Wildlife, the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Mike has extensive fish culture experience and a passion for teaching the youth about conservation. In 2018, he coordinated with Pat Steele from Palisade High School to create the Palisade High School Fish Hatchery partnership where students culture and release hundreds of endangered razorback sucker
yearly into the Colorado River.
Patrick Steele
Science Teacher/Fish Hatchery Manager/Football Coach- Palisade High School
Patrick Steele attended Palisade High School and then pursued a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Biology and minor in Chemistry at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. After graduating from FLC in 1998, Patrick completed his teacher’s certification at Mesa State and began his teaching career in 2000.
He has always had a passion for the preservation and conservation of the great outdoors and loves having the opportunity to pass that along to his fellow students. Patrick met Mike at the Ouray National Fish Hatchery (Grand Valley Unit) in Grand Junction while on a field trip with his River Dynamics class.
They discussed the possibility of placing a fish hatchery at a school and Palisade High School seemed to be the perfect place. After years of planning and fundraising the hatchery was built. Since the first fish release in May of 2020, many students at PHS have been involved with the learning about the
endangered species within the Colorado River and the importance of the recovery efforts of these fish.
Friday
February 23, 2024
6 pm to 8 pm
Can Bacteria Cause Cancer? Unraveling the causal link between the human gut microbiome on colorectal cancer
The human body is an ecosystem that supports multitudes of diverse microbes that both positively and negatively impact human health. Understanding how and when specific microbes impact human health is difficult due to the highly complex and dynamic interactions between microbes and their human host. As such, often only correlative and anecdotal conclusions can be made between the presence of specific microbes and the occurrence of both healthy and disease states in the human host. However, by studying the chemicals that bacteria produce and deciphering the biological impact these chemicals have in the human body we can begin to draw causal links between the human microbiome and disease sates in the human body. This talk will discuss 1) the human microbiome in general and its impact on human health and 2) a case study of how researchers discovered that a specific strain of E. coli can cause colorectal cancer in humans. The goal of this talk is to give the audience a better appreciation for the complexity and impact of the human microbiome on our health and provide an encouraging example of how collaborative and multi-disciplinary research can unravel even the most convoluted problems.
Kevin was born and raised in the Grand Valley. He attended Colorado Mesa University and earned his B.S. in Chemistry in 2016. He then went on to attend Yale University and earn a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry. During this time he synthesized genotoxic natural products derived from bacterial members of the human microbiome and studied their carcinogenic capabilities. After his graduate studies, Kevin carried out his postdoctoral research at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). In the Fall of 2023, Kevin joined the chemistry faculty at CMU. In his free time he enjoys being with friends, family, the outdoors, and making sure his mountain bike stays in shape.
Friday
March 29, 2024
6 pm to 8 pm
More tasty or more toxic? How climate change affects alpine plants and the mammals that eat them.
Presented by Johanna Varner, Ph.D.
If you’re stressed about Colorado’s hot dry summers, you’re not alone. Pikas are potato-sized rabbit relatives that live in Colorado’s mountains, and they are also feeling the heat. But climate change also affects the pika’s favorite food plants, particularly their phenolics and tannins, the same compounds found in red wine. Will changes in temperature and snowpack make the pika’s food tastier or too toxic? Join us to learn more about Colorado’s cutest mountain mammal and our recent work to understand how their food is changing.
Johanna “Pika Jo” Varner is an educator, scientist, and science communicator in the Biology department at Colorado Mesa University. Her research seeks to understand how habitat features and climate affect the stress and survival of pikas in isolated populations, with the goal of identifying better ways to protect these special animals. Johanna received her B.S. and M.Eng. in biomedical engineering from MIT before pivoting to study mountain mammals and earning a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from University of Utah.
Friday
April 26, 2024
6 pm to 8 pm
Better Living Through Chemistry
Presented by Zach Kubin
Zach Kubin will be discussing a variety of events that come from his background of living as an expat and working in education and industry abroad. His talk will begin with a comparison of the medical systems of the Unites States, Italy, and China. Then, he will discuss how energy production, storage, and distribution are changing. Finally, he will finish with what this means for you as an individual and how you can use chemistry to improve your quality of life.
Zach Kubin is an Instructor of Chemistry at Colorado Mesa University. He has experiences in human performance research, bridge component construction, biologics, and extensive experience teaching at all levels.
Friday
May 24, 2024
6 pm to 8 pm
Searching for Earth 2.0 from Western Colorado
What would it be like to live on another planet? Are there any planets out there similar to Earth? If so, how common are they? If you’ve pondered these questions, scientists are now beginning to find answers. Join us to learn how CMU astronomy students are using local telescopes to help discover and measure properties of extrasolar planets (‘exoplanets’), some of which are potentially habitable Earth-size planets in our galactic neighborhood.
Catherine Whiting is an Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Colorado Mesa University. Her students use telescopes at the Grand Mesa Observatory in Whitewater, CO as part of a network of ground-based astronomers helping to confirm the existence of exoplanet candidates whose host stars have been ‘flagged’ by telescopes such as the Transiting Exoplanet Satellite Survey (TESS) as potentially having at least one orbiting planet. Catherine received a B.S. in physics, astronomy, and mathematics, an M.S. in astronomy, and a Ph.D. in theoretical physics, all from the University of Iowa.
Friday
June 28, 2024
6 pm to 8 pm
Mesa Counties Grand Rivers: A Story of Change
Joel Sholtes, PhD, PE
Asst. Teaching Professor – CMU / UC Boulder Engineering Partnership Program
Principal, Wash Water Science and Engineering, LLC
Joel Sholtes teaches water resources engineering at CMU. His professional and academic experiences focus on physical river processes with applications to stream rehabilitation, riverine infrastructure management, and flood hazards. He is a founding member of the Grand Valley River Corridor Initiative, which works to foster collaboration and coordination of activities on the Colorado and Gunnison rivers within the Grand Valley. He also provides professional services related to river restoration and management. Prior to teaching at CMU, Joel worked for the Bureau of Reclamation, Sedimentation River Hydraulics Group.
Friday
July 12, 2024
6 pm to 8 pm
What Do People Really Want To Eat These Days?
Pairing social science with collaboration on the ground to find marketing opportunities for local produce growers and satisfy evolving and diverse consumer food preferences.
Nicole Didero is a Colorado State University Extension Regional Specialist for food and agriculture. Her background is in local food systems, Spanish, and natural resources management. She is based in Hotchkiss, CO at the Western Colorado Research Center-Rogers Mesa ag experiment station and serves 16 counties (in collaboration with county-based Extension). Her role is to help create strong regional food and agricultural networks (from producer to consumer) with and for communities on the West Slope. Most recently, Nicole has been working with local fruit growers and Food Bank of the Rockies to pilot a dehydrated fruit idea for reducing on-farm food waste and improving fresh produce offerings for hunger relief.
Friday
August 30, 2024
6 pm to 8 pm
Unique Small Mammals & Extreme Climate Adaptation: Appreciating Underappreciated Mammals Presented By Stephanie Matlock
Stephanie will talk about the unique small mammals in the world, extreme climates, and their amazing ability to adapt to their environments and add to our lives. Learn about these amazing small creatures and appreciate the underappreciated mammals.
Stephanie Matlock is an Emeritus professor from Colorado Mesa University. She taught biology for 29 years. She taught a variety of classes like Anatomy and Physiology, General Biology, Desert Ecology, and Small Mammals of the World. She did her graduate research at Montana State University by radio collaring deermice and watching their interactions with cattle grazing. She retired in 2023 and is now a garlic farmer in Hotchkiss.
Friday
October 18th, 2024
6 pm to 8 pm
Hound dogs for science: The role that hunting dogs play in predator research and management
Presented By:
Philip “Scott” Daugherty, Houndsmen of 13 years and CPW Gunnison Lion Project Employee
Anna Markey, CPW Wildlife Technician 4 and Lead Capture Technician for the Gunnison Lion Project
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) projects there are upwards of 4,000 mountain lions living in Colorado, but most Coloradans will never see one in their lifetime. These elusive apex predators play a pivotal role in the well-being of Colorado’s ecosystem and deserve our attention and respect. Since 1965, CPW has been managing Colorado’s mountain lion population successfully, with recent study data proving populations are stable to growing. How does CPW study and manage mountain lion populations? Hounds play a pivotal role.
Join us for a deep dive into what it takes to raise and train dogs, find tracks, follow hounds through variable terrain, assess lion condition and characteristics in the tree, and collect scientific data. We will talk about CPW lion management strategy, recent study findings, why management is important to preserving healthy mountain lion populations, and how hound dogs can contribute to the prevention of future human/lion conflicts.
Friday
November 22nd, 2024
6 pm to 8 pm
Snow Power: A brief exploration of the science of history of avalanches in Western Colorado
Presented By: Jamie Simpson
Jamie, a native of the Western Slope, has been a volunteer member of the Loveland Ski Patrol since 2013 and also recently joined the Powderhorn Ski Patrol after relocating to Grand Junction in 2023. Jamie was also recently one of the directors of the Colorado Mountain Club’s Alpine Climbing School and has led dozens of snow climbing classes and trips into the Colorado high country.
Friday
December 13th, 2024
6 pm to 8 pm
Mistletoe: The Story of Your Favorite Holiday Parasite and What it Does in Western Colorado’s Forests
Presented by: Ian “Trivia Champ” Reiling
Ian is a silviculturist with the US Forest Service based in Grand Junction. He has worked in forestry and forest health for the past decade. He also worked at a winery once upon a time! Ian leads the local chapter of Society of American Foresters and enjoys talking trees with anyone who will listen. Sometimes he does well at trivia too.
Friday
January 31st, 2025
6 pm to 8 pm
Save the Last Dance: Exploring Conservation and Management of Sage-Grouse in Colorado
Presented by Kathy Griffin
What bird in Colorado has a chucky, round body, small head, large tail, and an elaborate mating dance? The sage-grouse! Come learn about the Gunnison sage grouse, a species listed on the Endangered Species Act and its larger cousin the greater sage-grouse. Both species are found here in Colorado. Learn about their life history and the social and political (just a bit?) issues with their conservation and management.
Kathy Griffin is the Grouse Conservation Program Manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. For the past 13 years she has been immersed in the world of sage-grouse conservation across the west. Kathy received a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from Humboldt State University in California, a M.S. in Wildlife Management from Washington State University, and a Ph.D. from University of Montana.
Friday
February 28th, 2025
6 pm to 8 pm
Shriveling Grapes: How East coast grapes changed international viticulture forever
Presented by Charlotte Oliver, Ph.D.
Grape growing or viticulture has experienced several big changes throughout its long history. Few of these changes are as big as what followed the exports of vines from the east coast of the US to Europe. Come sip some wine and learn about a couple of plant diseases that hopped a boat, traveled the world, and came home a changed fungus!
Charlotte Oliver is a plant pathologist and the current Viticulture Extension Specialist at Colorado State University. Her primary role is interacting with the Colorado grape industry and providing timely educational resources for commercial and backyard grape growers as well as evaluating the presence and control of grape diseases across the state. Charlotte received her B.S in General Biology, M.S., and Ph.D. in Plant Pathology with a focus on wine grapes from Virginia Tech.
Friday, March 28th, 2025
6 pm to 8 pm
The Palisade High School Fish Hatchery Partnership. The Many Benefits of Partnering Directly with Communities To Achieve Long-Term Conservation Goals along the Colorado River…Ownership For All.
Presented by Patrick Steele (Palisade High School Fish Hatchery- hatchery manager, science teacher, football coach)
Kale Potter (Palisade High School 2024 alumni, USFWS Biological Science Technician, University of Colorado-Boulder student)
Kiera Stephen (Palisade High School 2024 alumni, USFWS Biological Science Technician, Colorado Mesa University student)
Mike Gross (USFWS- Fish Culturist, Science Communicator, Educational Outreach)
Initiated in 2015, Palisade High School has partnered with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program to create the Palisade High School Endangered Fish Hatchery. This collaboration is unique in that it directly involves the Palisade community with the ongoing conservation of native fishes. Motivated students and faculty from Palisade High School culture, tag and release hundreds of endangered razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus) annually, stocking them into Critical Habitat along the Colorado River (at Riverbend Park). The rare fish are grown at their student operated, on-campus, indoor-recirculating fish hatchery facility at Palisade High School. This partnership is serving as a blueprint for other similar grass-roots conservation projects in the Colorado River basin including the Uintah High School Aquaculture Lab in Vernal, Utah and if all goes well, at Fruita Monument High School next year. This program has created many opportunities for students such as: internships, federal and state agency jobs, academic scholarships, unparalleled exposure and knowledge in the fisheries field and more! This partnership also holds many benefits for faculty, local stakeholders, supporting agencies, partnership sponsors, imperiled fish species, and the next generation of Americans.
Friday, April 25th, 2025
6 pm to 8 pm
Zebra Mussels: Small organisms with a BIG impact on water as we know it
Presented by Maddie Baker, Invasive Species Specialist
Most people have heard of zebra mussels, many have seen them, but few people are aware of just what an infestation of this invasive species can mean for Colorado’s Grand Valley. Take a journey through the discovery of this species in the Grand Valley, never before attempted eradication measures, and learn how the presence of this species can impact all residents in the area, from farmers, to taxpayers, to recreators.
Maddie Baker grew up on the shoreline of Lake Erie, scraping her feet on invasive mussels, and believing that there was no place untouched by them. After gaining a Bachelor’s degree in biology and working as a naturalist and field biologist, she took the leap to join Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Invasive Species Program to prevent the spread of mussels and other invasives into the western US. She now focuses her efforts on preventing new infestations of aquatic nuisance species into Colorado, and more recently, containing and eradicating infestations that do find their way in.
Friday, May 9th, 2025
6 pm to 8 pm
Science Uncorked: Fostering Pets, Community, & Wellness
Presented By: Zebulon Miracle, Chief Executive Officer of Roice-Hurst Humane Society
Roice-Hurst leadership will join us for a fun and educational evening, diving into the science of human-pet bonds, the shelter’s mission and impact in our community, and highlighting programs that support local animal welfare and families in need throughout the Grand Valley. The Roice-Hurst team will share some of the documented, positive public health outcomes, and the many benefits of fostering, adopting and owning pets, and even ways you can get further involved!
Zebulon Miracle is the Chief Executive Officer of Roice-Hurst Humane Society. Born and raised in Grand Junction, Zebulon is passionate about the western Colorado community and strives to implement creative, innovative, impactful solutions to improve the lives of pets and their people. Prior to joining the team, he served as the Executive Director of United Way of Mesa County and previously served in high-level roles at Gateway Canyons Resort and Museums of Colorado. He holds a Master of Arts in Leadership and Administration. Outside of the office, Zebulon enjoys learning and teaching about local history, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with his wife, son, and adorable golden retriever, Zephyr.
Friday, June 13th, 2025
6 pm to 8 pm
Science Uncorked: Cognitive Aging
Presented by Rachel Thayer, PhD and Lori James, PhD
Growing older is stereotypically associated with declines in health and brain function, and there are real changes that occur during the aging process. However, there is also stability and improvement in many areas. In this presentation and discussion, we will review how cognitive processes change during typical healthy aging as well as pathological aging. We will also present research about effective ways to reduce some of the negative changes that can accompany cognitive aging.
Rachel Thayer is a clinical neuropsychologist whose research focuses on aging, substance use, and cognitive function. Rachel earned dual doctoral degrees in clinical psychology and neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder, and she completed her predoctoral clinical internship at UCSD/VA San Diego. She was a postdoctoral scholar at UC San Diego before beginning her position in the Psychology Department at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs in 2019.
Lori James is a cognitive psychologist whose research focuses on memory and language processes and how these change during healthy aging. Lori earned her MA and PhD degrees in Cognitive Psychology from the Claremont Graduate School in southern California. She was the Research Director for the Memory and Aging Lab at UCLA before beginning her position in the Psychology Department at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs in 2001.