Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research

Its research mission is to "[develop] scientific knowledge of physical and biogeochemical environmental processes at local, regional and global scales, and appl[y] this knowledge to improve society's awareness and understanding of natural and anthropogenic environmental change.

INSTAAR's traditional research focus has been on polar and alpine regions, where effects of global change are especially pronounced.

In recent decades, research has broadened to include environmental challenges that span local, regional, and global scales and environments around the globe.

Topics include Quaternary and modern environments, human and ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry, landscape evolution, hydrology, oceanography, and climate.

Several research programs are conducted through INSTAAR, including the Niwot Ridge and McMurdo Dry Valleys sites of the Long Term Ecological Research Network and the Boulder Creek site of the Critical Zone Observatory.