Dear RMBL Members, Friends, and Community,
Space and Time: A Legacy of Discovery and Innovation Space. RMBL has preserved an extraordinary place — Gothic. dimensional space across the time continuum.
RMBL Board of Trustees Dan Blumstein, PhD Board President Jennifer Darnell, PhD Board Chair Brian Wildes Treasurer Ken Williams, PhD Secretary Susan Avery, PhD Jim Brogan Berry Brosi, PhD Hamish Greig, PhD John Haley, MD
RMBL Year-Round Staff billy barr Accountant Katherine Beard* Freelance Photographer/Videographer Brett Biebuyck Chief Operating Officer Ian Billick, PhD Outgoing Executive Director Jeni Blacklock, PhD Executive Director Ian Breckheimer, PhD Research Scientist Ericka Bremer Development Manager Brian Brown Information Technology Ben Calvin Finance Director Cheryl Cwelich Development Assistant Jess Dauchy Consulting Chief Financial Officer Brooke Desposato Administration & Operations Assistant Steve Gibbs* Communications Consultant Katie Harper Administration & Operations Manager Amanda Henderson Research Support Specialist Rick Horn Visitor Center Manager John Hausdoerffer Consulting Director of Science Communications & Storytelling Erik Hulm Director of Institutional Advancement
Jennifer Reithel, PhD Science Director Paul Ribich Advancement Manager Benn Schmatz Facilities Manager Rosemary Smith, PhD Education Programs Manager
Robin Koval Visitor Center Staff & Youth Programs Instructor Lisa Lucas Billing & Reservations Specialist Katy Marshall Youth Programs Instructor Coulter Mooney
Space and time — two fundamental concepts that have taken on profound meaning for me in recent months as I step into the role of Executive Director at RMBL. These words encapsulate not only the foundation of our work but also the vision for RMBL’s future.
A research hub supporting conservation efforts, it is one of the most intensely studied basins in the world. This space has provided scientists with the opportunity to track environmental changes from drought and wildfires to broader ecological shifts that define our rapidly evolving planet. Time. The depth of research conducted at RMBL is staggering. Long-term studies spanning 50+ years have laid the groundwork for understanding ecological transformations. As David Inouye eloquently stated in To Know a Place, “Ten more data points,” meaning ten more years of observation, equates to ten more years of critical knowledge. This concept resonated with me deeply — understanding environmental change requires not just data but time. At RMBL, we have both. As we look ahead to the next 100 years, RMBL will continue to preserve this vital space and advance through time. However, our approach to space and time is evolving. No longer limited to singular moments or locations, we are expanding our capabilities to analyze
Dining Hall Staff Javier Navarro Dining Hall Staff Shawn Pickworth Dining Hall Staff Farrar Ransom
Carol St. George* Editor & Copywriter Sophia Todorov Winter Caretaker & Drone Technician *Staff that RMBL collaborates with on a contracted basis
New advancements in data collection and analytics are revolutionizing our ability to predict and model environmental changes. The Spatial Data Platform, developed by Ian Breckheimer and his team, is transforming
Signatures from the community of scientists at RMBL in1934
Seasonal Operations & Administration Assistant Margaret Reavis Visitor Center Staff Marley Santos Youth Programs Instructor
RMBL manages these employees funded by federal awards secured by RMBL Principal Investigators
Amy Iler, PhD Carol Johnson
how we collect, visualize, and interpret ecological
Curtis Beutler Austin Shirley
Kate Maher, PhD Lara Souza, PhD
data. Our collaboration with Western Colorado University’s Engineering Partnership Program
Marla Schanck Dining Hall Staff Greta Schoonover Visitor Center Staff Tyler Tegtmeier
RMBL Seasonal Staff Kaysee Arrowsmith, PhD Summer Course Instructor Jo Ann Beine Visitor Center Staff Julia Brown Visitor Center Staff Dick Davis Docent Coordinator Robin DeLong Dining Hall Manager Diego Escalante Youth Programs Instructor Dylan Futrell Fire Mitigation & Landscape Specialist Jacob Gasser Youth Programs Instructor Grace Glover Custodian Travis Guy
is harnessing the power of machine learning, enabling
Facilities Work Crew Savannah Troy, PhD Summer Course Instructor Kyle Voss Work Crew Foreman Susan Washko, PhD
recent engineering and computer science graduates to accelerate the analysis of environmental patterns, mapping changes more efficiently than ever before. By honoring the past and embracing the future, RMBL remains steadfast in its commitment to preserving Gothic and its scientific legacy. Through innovation in space and time, we will continue to push the boundaries of discovery, deepening our understanding of an ever-changing world.
Undergraduate Education Program Coordinator & Community Liaison Rebecca White Docent Coordinator Rick Williams, PhD Curator of Natural History Collections Elizabeth Vachon Youth Programs High School Course Instructor Sam Yanik Dining Hall Head Chef
Steve Jennison Facilities Director Katie Lawn Youth Programs Manager
Winter Caretaker Matthew Hadley Facilities Work Crew Henry Hodde GIS Technician Elisha Kayser Winter Caretaker
Jen Pierson Bookkeeper Rick Reavis Visitor Center Staff
cover One of the most studied ecosystems in the world, the East River Valley, home to RMBL
Jeni Blacklock
photo by Jeremy Snyder (LBNL)
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