CU-Boulder Research Facilities

Environmental Studies students at the University of Colorado at Boulder are fortunate to be studying in a rich research environment. Field work opportunities and research activities are enhanced by faculty affiliation with various research facilities, including the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, the Institute for Arctic and Alpine Research, the Mountain Research Station, and the Institute for Behavioral Science (IBS). Many of the institutes are involved in interdisciplinary research and activities related to the environment. Prospective undergraduate student researchers should contact individual ENVS faculty and graduate students to inquire about research opportunities. Qualifications vary depending on the help needed.

Departments
Faculty

UROP - Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) offers students a chance to work alongside a faculty sponsor on original research. UROP was designed to create research partnerships between faculty and undergraduate students. "Research" in this context is interpreted as any scholarly or creative activity ranging from traditional scientific experimentation to the creation of new artistic works. Students participating in UROP might learn to write proposals, conduct research, pursue creative work, analyze data, and present the results. Undergraduates at all academic levels--freshmen through senior--can participate in UROP because of the broad range of initiatives that are offered. UROP is a campus-wide program, supporting students from all schools and colleges in all academic disciplines.

Additional Support

Additional programs may offer support, including those sponsored by the university, industry (e.g., Mobil), and agencies such as the National Science Foundation. They include SURE (Summer Undergraduate Research Program), SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships), SMART (Summer Minority Access Research Training), UMP (University Mentoring Program), and REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates).

Honors Theses

See information on the Honors Program.

Class Projects

Additionally, undergraduates participate in individual and group research projects in their courses. These class projects bring together the interdisciplinary knowledge and skills students gain through their undergraduate environmental studies education. Examples of the integrative types of work students do in their upper-division courses include:

• Campus and the Biosphere (ENVS 3001), students enrolled in this class use environmental auditing to analyze aspects of CU-Boulder campus such as the food purchases of Dining Services. The class is taught by Professor Lisa Barlow.
• Genetically Engineered Organisms in the Environment. (0.7 mb PDF). A report created by students in Critical Thinking (ENVS 4800), taught by Professor Diana Nemergut (Spring 2006).

Undergrad Program:

- Faculty Focus -

Lori Hunter

Enviromental Sociology, population dynamics and environmental context, rural livelihoods and natural resources in sub-Saharan Africa, climate and migration.

- Featured Image -

NGRIP ice core drilling crew