October 2010 Archives

We recently announced that RMBL will receive $1.865 million to build a new research center. Yep, you heard that right. $1.865 million. That’s a lot of money for us— it is the biggest project in RMBL’ s history. Not surprisingly, we picked up a great deal of coverage from the local newspapers. One of the items that the CB News picked up on is that the research lab will help us remain competitive. Why would RMBL need to worry about remaining competitive?

RMBL has to stay competitive because we compete for scientists and students. We don’t pay scientists to do research at RMBL. Rather, scientists pay to use our facilities. Field scientists can literally work anywhere in the world. They don’t have to come to RMBL if there is another place that is better for them.

The research lab is important because it will allow us to keep up with what is happening in field science. Scientists that need access to powerful laboratory techniques will chose RMBL because of the combination of access to field sites, the wealth of information already known about the ecosystem, and the ability to use cutting edge tools. Because it will make us a better place to do science, we’ll be able to compete more effectively in the scientific marketplace.

An increased ability to attract scientists is not just good for RMBL, but for the local community. In a very direct fashion, more activity at RMBL means more economic activity for the county. Our scientists and students shop and eat in the local towns. They attract visitors who do the same. The money they spend at RMBL gets circulated in the local community in terms of supporting local jobs, many of which have been construction jobs in recent years.

The ability to attract scientists is also good for the community because of the knowledge that it generates. Among other things, RMBL research has shed light into how to manage invasive organisms, helped protect water quality, led to the discovery of unknown species and populations, and led to cleaner air. Funding field research by a top scientist can literally run several hundred thousand dollars a year. If the community decided there was research it wanted done, and it wanted that research done by the top scientists, it could get expensive really fast if RMBL wasn’t around. Because of RMBL’s presence, however, the local community is able to attract that science for next to nothing.

As Mark Reaman’s editorial in the CB News points out, this $1.865 million in federal funding is a pretty big deal. It will generate local construction jobs over the next year. It will help maintain a stream of some of the world’s top field scientists to the valley over RMBL’s next 80+ years. The knowledge those scientists generate will be important for the world and the Gunnison Basin. We should all celebrate!