Western Washington University
IN-26: Innovation C

Western Washington University created a new research center, the Mountain Environments Research Institute (MERI) and named Environmental Sciences Department research faculty member John All as its founding director. The mission of MERI is to develop an inclusive and collaborative research, conservation, and education community through local and international field-based programming to facilitate innovative scientific research, improve life for mountain peoples, foster effective mountain stewardship, and to create the next generation of skilled mountain researchers. “We’re going to take Western students into alpine research environments across Washington and the world,” said All. “Mountain environments are changing quickly as the global climate warms. Fragile indicator environments like the world’s mountain environments are among the first to be impacted by climate change.” Courses offered through MERI will include Introduction to Mountain Research and Mountain Permaculture Science, which will examine long-term, small-scale sustainable production and ecosystem health in the mountains. MERI also hosted a study abroad program in the Andes in Peru’s Cordillera Blanca Mountains, featuring five weeks of backpacking and research. MERI also began laying the groundwork for a Mountain Research Skills Certificate Program. After multiple surveys revealed a strong interest among students in mountain research courses, MERI faculty will create this certificate to provide the skills to conduct research in mountain environments as well as foster stewardship within the region’s communities. Besides All, faculty in MERI come from disciplines across the Western’s campus, including the departments of Anthropology, Biology, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geology, Recreation, and the Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies. Their research interests and areas of expertise cover everything from how black carbon molecules and snow algae are helping melt glaciers in the Andes to how land use is impacting climate change in the Himalaya.