On March 1st & 2nd, members of the public and science communities alike will gather at the Estes Park Town Hall for Rocky Mountain National Park's 2017 Biennial Research Conference - "People and Stewardship: Using Research for Management." The conference focuses on celebrating research at Rocky Mountain National Park, among other things; providing a place research and park staff can share their discoveries and creating opportunities for young scientific professionals and the public to connect with park staff and one another.

The park hosts on of the largest research programs, which keeps 0ver 100 research permits active each and every year. This year, more than 100 scientists are expected to attend the event to discuss various research projects and approaches!

If you'd like to attend, feel free - the conference is open to anyone interested and is free; no registration is required. Sessions will begin on March 1st at 8:15am, and will end by 4pm each day. Wednesday will include topics such as visitor use, youth relevancy, wetlands and rivers, and the Grand Ditch breach restoration. Attendees will see presentations on Longs Peak history, citizen sciences, streams, student projects, willow restoration and monitoring visitor use. Thursday will focus on vegetation, environmental contaminants, archaeology, wildlife, and public health. Presentations are on things like ice patch archaeology, sub-alpine forests, invasive species,, air quality, restoration, birds, ticks, elk and even toads.

For more information, call the park's Information Office at 970-586-1206.