Wright-Ingraham Institute

We are excited to announce the beta release of Drought Interfaces. The Colorado River—one of the most regulated and contested water sources in the world—demands new approaches to navigate uncertainty. Drawing on the Wright-Ingraham Institute’s practice of developing tools and approaches for understanding complex systems, Drought Interfaces offers a unique lens on the past, present, and possible futures of this vital resource. Drought Interfaces enables policymakers, researchers, and the public to develop an intuitive understanding of the impacts of prolonged drought on water systems, legal frameworks, and regional economies. The tool’s key features include: -> Visualizing the effects of a 20-year drought on water rights and allocations; -> Exploring potential future scenarios under changing climate conditions; -> Understanding the legal and infrastructural complexities of the Colorado River Basin. Please note that this Drought Interfaces beta tool is designed to work in a desktop browser, and does not currently support mobile devices. Launch the tool here: https://lnkd.in/e3YQkBg3

We’re bringing the Wright-Ingraham Institute Field Stations community back together! Join us for an evening of reconnection and conversation. Thursday, March 20 5:30–7:30 PM 88 Prince Street, Apt 8C New York, NY 10012 This gathering is a chance to reunite with fellow faculty, alumni, and big thinkers who have been part of the WII Field Stations programs over the years. Let’s continue building this engaged, thoughtful network while sharing ideas and exciting updates about WII’s future! Our Executive Director, Tal C. Beery, will be there to introduce upcoming projects - plus, there will be refreshments to enjoy as we catch up! Send an email to [email protected] to RSVP. We look forward to seeing you there!

?? We did it! ?? Thanks to our amazing donors, we’ve reached our year-end fundraising goal of $30,000! We also want to thank our partners at the Gale Family Foundation, Colorado Water Conservation Board, SW Water Conservation District, and National Endowment for the Arts for their support. Because of you, we’re entering the new year with the resources and momentum needed to continue our important work. Stay tuned for updates as we put your contributions into action.

The new year is just around the corner, and with it comes the opportunity to build a more adaptive and connected world. With only $2,000 left to reach our $30,000 year-end fundraising goal, we are making one final appeal for your support. Every dollar you give directly funds programs and tools that help communities adapt in uncertain times: ? Research and education in Southern Colorado exploring critical connections between land health and water resources. ? Our online Drought Interfaces tool, providing decision-makers with a vital resource to navigate water scarcity in the American Southwest. ? Events and collaborations that bring together diverse voices to uncover new pathways for sustainable futures. Your generosity fuels this work. As we reflect on more than 50 years of pioneering environmental education and research, we’re reminded of the incredible community that makes this possible. Thank you for being part of that legacy. Together, we can shape a future that honors our planet and supports thriving communities. Follow the link and give today: https://lnkd.in/ep-SAZsv Image: Interdisciplinary Problems Solvers reflecting on the Nexus of Land and Water symposium this October in Cortez, Colorado. From Left: Restoration Ecologist Linnea Spears-Lebrun, Environmental Engineer Lauren Czaplicki, and Storyteller, Poet, and Community Organizer Sunny Dooley. Photo by Tal Beery

Our world is changing rapidly. Despite stronger-than-ever storms, drought now grips 48 of 50 U.S. states, a terrible reminder of the magnitude of this moment for our planet and communities. The Wright-Ingraham Institute’s mission has never been more important, or urgent. We are developing unique methods to spark the innovative thinking, collaboration, and leadership needed to adapt and thrive in an uncertain future. We are asking for your help to raise $30,000 by year’s end to continue and build on our essential work. Thanks to our generous backers, we are already 2/3 of the way there. A gift now will help us reach our goal and will directly support: ? Groundbreaking interdisciplinary research that bridges natural and cultural systems to inform policies and solutions. ?Training adaptive leaders equipped with the tools to navigate complexity and uncertainty. ?Building collaborative networks that bridge scientists, policymakers, and communities to drive real, lasting change. This year, our Dust-on-Snow initiative in Southern Colorado brought together researchers and local stakeholders to address how land health affects critical water resources in the American Southwest. Nick Webb, a Research Physical Scientist at the Jornada Experimental Range, called the event “fantastic and invaluable.” Another participant anonymously shared: “The program challenged me to think more critically about connections and how we can build them amidst policy, economic, and ecological constraints.” We cannot do this alone. Your contribution—whether $20, $200, or $2,000—makes it possible to expand our reach and deepen our impact. Follow the link in our bio to give today. Image: Field Stations participants Morgan Vought and Homaira Siddiqui collecting data for their restoration proposals at Banded Peak, Colorado.

Thank you Jonathan P. Thompson at The Land Desk! We love when people are “enamored by our interdisciplinary approach.” We are looking forward to more collaborations in the four corners area this coming year. https://lnkd.in/ecX7FQgR

Double Your Donation: Support Ideas That Shape Our Future! We are asking for your support on this?Giving Tuesday?in the form of a one time or recurring donation to underwrite Wright-Ingraham Institute's?programs in the year ahead. Any amount helps – from $10 to $1000 – in our efforts to fundraise, as we are aiming to raise $30K by the year's end.?This week, we are excited to be able to offer a 100% matching opportunity, so any amount given, up to $1000, will have 2x the effect. Tax-deductible donations from individuals like you enable us to develop our programs, grow our resources, and broaden our impact. We thank you for considering making WII a part of your end-of-year giving! Follow the link to make your donation: https://lnkd.in/ep-SAZsv

Have you ever had an ‘aha’ moment, when an exciting new idea emerged from a set of complex problems? The Wright-Ingraham Institute is developing unique ways of sparking more of those moments—critical for navigating the pressing environmental, social, and technological issues of our time. Bringing together varied perspectives, we uncover valuable insights that help communities adapt and thrive in a complex, interconnected world. This work builds on the important legacy of our founder, Elizabeth Wright Ingraham, who understood the value of thoughtful, interdisciplinary approaches long before they became mainstream. Today, we continue this mission with initiatives like our 2024 Field Station program, Nexus of Land and Water in Southern Colorado, and our Drought Interfaces online tool—a cutting-edge resource helping communities navigate the impacts of drought in the American Southwest. Your support advances efforts like these, and furthers the Institute’s work to create new and much-needed opportunities for leaders in interdisciplinary research. In the words of a recent collaborator: “Field Stations was a life-changing experience for me—one which will inform my professional and personal trajectory for years to come. I am so thankful for the lessons I learned!” This transformational impact on future leaders is only possible because of donors like you. Our aim is to raise $30,000 by the end of the year. As we approach the year’s end, we invite you to make a gift that ensures WII can continue to lead and inspire in 2024 and beyond. Your support helps the Institute continue its work to address complex ecological challenges, and sustains our legacy of innovation and impact. Support our work by making a one-time or recurring donation through the link below. Image: Our San Luis Valley team prepares their presentation for the Nexus of Land and Water Symposium this October in Cortez, Colorado at the Center for Earth Theology. From left: Angie Mestas, Patrick O’Neill, Madeline Wilson, Seth Denizen. (Credit: Heidi Steltzer) #givingtuesday https://lnkd.in/ep-SAZsv

Thanks Shannon Mullane for this wonderful write up of our recent Dust-on-Snow conference in Colorado. We'll be sharing video and transcripts and a full report in the coming weeks, but Shannon hits many of the key takeaways here! https://lnkd.in/eHgndyT3

Join us for a one-day symposium on the critical dust-on-snow issue in the San Juan Mountains. This event is free and hosted by the Wright-Ingraham Institute in partnership with the Mountain Studies Institute. Nexus of Land and Water takes place in Southern Colorado and highlights the findings of an interdisciplinary team of researchers focused on addressing land health and water resource challenges in the Southwest. Experts from diverse fields will present innovative strategies to tackle these pressing concerns. Tickets are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Register via link. This project of the Wright-Ingraham Institute is funded by the Southwestern Water Conservation District, Colorado Water Conservation Board, the Gale Family Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. We extend our gratitude to our collaborators at the Mountain Studies Institute, Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies, New Mexico State University, USDA Soil Health Services, and the Center for Earth Theology.