The NPS staff at the Valles Caldera and at Bandelier along with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) are signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to create a “Research Learning Center” (RLC) at the parks. RLCs are science centers where education and research programs are centered, usually in a dedicated building. For these parks where a tremendous amount of science is being conducted by the USGS, the NPS and by various universities, the RLC would create a support organization and facility to protect and encourage science.
The Jemez Mountains are some of the most researched mountains in the West other than perhaps Yellowstone and Yosemite. The USGS has maintained the New Mexico Landscapes Field Station at Bandelier under the direction of Dr. Craig Allen since the 1990s. When the Valles Caldera came under public ownership in 2000, a robust science program began under Dr. Bob Parmenter which has flourished to this day and has produced a remarkable body of scientific research on a wide range of topics.
We toured the RLC at Pt Reyes National Seashore recently and learned how the center combines a non profit organization with National Park Service science activities to create many education programs for regional kids and adults while helping scientists with support such as laboratory space.
NPS Moving Forward with Research Learning Center
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