Office of Research & Economic Development
Dept. 3355, 1000 E. University Avenue
Old Main Room 308
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: (307) 766-5353
Fax: (307) 766-2608
The UW Grand Teton Task Force, initiated by the Office of Research and Economic Development, has been working to re-envision how UW faculty and collaborators work in Grand Teton National Park, at the campus of the UW-NPS Research Center facility within the Park at the historic AMK Ranch on Jackson Lake (https://uwnps.org/).
The process has aimed to develop an updated vision, mission, and strategic plan for programming to complement UW’s long-term partnership with the National Park Service and renewed UW Board of Trustee investment in the physical facilities at the AMK Ranch.
On January 22, 2020, the Task Force presented a new vision statement to the UW Board of Trustees. The vision includes three parts:
Over the next 5-10 years, make the UW-NPS Research Station, the “UW Grand Teton Campus,” into a world-class home for world-class scholarship and experiences in Wyoming’s world-class setting.
The “UW Grand Teton Campus” will promote understanding of Wyoming’s wonders and their connections to the world by:
Inspiring discoveries: Advance the frontiers of knowledge by creating unique opportunities for scholars in Wyoming’s iconic landscapes.
Elevating experiences: Enhance and expand opportunities for place-based learning for UW students, community scholars and experts, and the public.
Connecting communities: Share research and learning opportunities that cross boundaries and foster cooperation, understanding, and discourse.
Crossing Divides
To build upon this vision, the Crossing Divides Initiative was launched as a call for faculty working groups to develop long-term plans for >10-year programs of activities at the Grand Teton campus.
Crossing Divides calls for collaborative groups of 3-8 faculty to develop relevant plans for scholarship, teaching, or outreach. Groups should develop white papers that describe detailed plans for activities that they seek to pursue over the next 10 years that would use the UW-NPS facility (AMK) in line with the new vision.
White papers should specifically focus on broad programs rather than single specific projects or workshops. Individual projects and activities can be included within the program.
White papers have no specific length required, but should aim to be <10 pages. Potential topics to address in the white papers include:
Please submit white papers to Karyn Bercheni (kberchen@uwyo.edu) in the Office of Research and Economic Development and cc Bryan Shuman (bshuman@uwyo.edu) by October 15, 2020.
The white papers are intended to:
Due to the challenges associated with COVID-19, working groups have not been able to travel to the AMK Ranch, but with the support of the Office of Research and Economic Development, white papers will be used to identify groups of faculty that would benefit from 2-3 day retreats at the UW-NPS Research Station at the AMK Ranch in Grand Teton National Park during summer 2021 if the virus and ongoing construction allow.
Task Force members include:
Bryan Shuman (chair), UW-NPS Research Center, Geology and Geophysics: bshuman@uwyo.edu
Ed Synakowski, VP for Research and Economic Development: esynakow@uwyo.edu
Brad Bonner, UW Trustee
Doug Wachob, Haub School
Kelly Crane, Cooperative Extension Service: kcrane1@uwyo.edu
Brent Ewers, Botany, Biodiversity Institute, Wyoming EPSCoR: BEEwers@uwyo.edu
Daniel Dale, College of Arts and Sciences, Physics and Astronomy: DDale@uwyo.edu
Michael Dillon, Zoology & Physiology: Michael.Dillon@uwyo.edu
Andrea Graham, American Studies & History: agraha12@uwyo.edu
Sam Kalen, UW College of Law: skalen@uwyo.edu
Matt Kauffman, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: mkauffm1@uwyo.edu
Ricki Klages: Visual and Literary Arts: RLK@uwyo.edu
Frieda Knobloch, American Studies & History: Knobloch@uwyo.edu
Katrina McGee, UW Foundation: kmcgee1@uwyo.edu
Ginger Paige, Ecosystem Science and Management: GPaige@uwyo.edu
Ramesh Sivanpillai, WyGISC: Sivan@uwyo.edu
Tarissa Spoonhunter, Central Wyoming College: tspoonhu@cwc.edu
Annika Walters, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Annika.Walters@uwyo.edu
Office of Research & Economic Development
Dept. 3355, 1000 E. University Avenue
Old Main Room 308
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: (307) 766-5353
Fax: (307) 766-2608