Coal at Sunset: A Colorado Town in Transition: Recent Episodes
The Institute for Science & Policy
In rural northwestern Colorado, the town of Craig is at a crossroads. Coal has long been the primary employer and economic driver in this small, tight-knit community, which takes pride in providing energy to the surrounding region. Here, coal is an identity. A duty. A way of life. But something is about to change.
In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Colorado is moving on from fossil fuels. And in 2020, Tri-State, the local electrical utility, announced that it would close the Craig coal-fired power plant and coal mines by the end of the decade. Now, residents face an uncertain future. Some business owners and local officials are seeking to reinvent Craig’s economy. Others still hold out hope of a coal revival.
This is a story about the energy we use every day. But it's also a story about values and resilience in the face of change. Craig is only the latest American coal town to face a transition. It won't be the last. Can it succeed where others have failed?
Coal at Sunset: A Colorado Town in Transition was created by the Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and is produced in partnership with House of Pod.
This whole series started with a vote.
That vote not only revealed the ongoing debate about reintroducing the gray wolf to Colorado, but also who gets to make decisions and what the best way to do that is. In this interview with direct democracy expert Dr. John Matsusaka, we break down how this system of government functions more broadly, when it is most effective, and the philosophy behind it. The discussion illuminated that what happened in Colorado in 2020 wasn't just a wildlife story; it was a democracy story too.
Learn more about the podcast at institute.dmns.org/gray-territory and lawsofnotion.org.
Sign up for the Institute for Science & Policy's mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society's greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Editing, production, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Editing, fact-checking, production: Jordan Marks
Sound design: Seth Samuel
Original music: Composed and performed by Brett Kretzer. Fiddle played by Andy Reiner. Banjo and backing vocals by Dr. Joy Adams.
Additional music: Epidemic Sound
David Mech has been researching wolves since 1958 and has authored hundreds of articles and 13 books on wolf behavior and ecology. From his decades of studying wolves across the globe, including Isle Royale, Minnesota, Canada, Italy, Alaska, Yellowstone, Ellesmere Island, and elsewhere, to modern wolf management and conservation, David has witnessed and helped shape decades of evolving scientific understanding. In our deep dive interview with David, hear some of his key learnings, from the now-debunked "alpha wolf" concept to the nuanced realities of predator-prey dynamics and trophic cascades, along with his views on the complexities of managing wolves in human-dominated landscapes.
Learn more about the podcast at institute.dmns.org/gray-territory and lawsofnotion.org.
Sign up for the Institute for Science & Policy's mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions for society's greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Editing, production, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Editing, fact-checking, production: Jordan Marks
Additional research: Kate Long
Sound design: Seth Samuel
Original music: Composed and performed by Brett Kretzer. Fiddle played by Andy Reiner. Banjo and backing vocals by Dr. Joy Adams.
Additional music: Epidemic Sound
In our final episode, we examine what the future might hold for wolves, ranchers, advocates, and the people working every day to move us beyond conflict and simplified narratives. From museum specimens that document our shared history to voices on the ground navigating life with the gray wolf, we explore whether Colorado can move beyond the mistrust and pendulum swings toward something sustainable. Because the wolf story is just beginning, and coexistence isn't a destination, but an ongoing practice of adaptation, humility, and seeing the humanity in those with whom we disagree.
Learn more about the podcast at institute.dmns.org/gray-territory and lawsofnotion.org.
Sign up for the Institute for Science & Policy's mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society's greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Editing, production, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Editing, fact-checking, production: Jordan Marks
Sound design: Seth Samuel
Original music: Composed and performed by Brett Kretzer. Fiddle played by Andy Reiner. Banjo and backing vocals by Dr. Joy Adams.
Additional research: Kate Long and Max Neumeyer
Additional music: Epidemic Sound
Recording Studio: Denver Community Media
There are many tools being tested and deployed to help make coexistence with wolves a reality. Range riders provide a human presence on the landscape night after night to keep wolves at bay. Ongoing conversations between wolf advocates and ranchers to build understanding. Raising money across the state to support non-lethal deterrents for the people who need them most. Testing modern-day technologies like AI alongside traditional ones out in the field to give ranchers a toolbox of options to protect their livestock. In this episode, we learn about the range of solutions being used on the ground to reduce conflict with wolves -- and each other.
Learn more about the podcast at institute.dmns.org/gray-territory and lawsofnotion.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy's mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society's greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Editing, production, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Editing, fact-checking, production: Jordan Marks
Sound design: Seth Samuel
Original music: Composed and performed by Brett Kretzer. Fiddle played by Andy Reiner. Banjo and backing vocals by Dr. Joy Adams.
Additional music: Epidemic Sound
Recording Studio: Denver Community Media
The reintroduction of wolves has created a new reality for many ranchers. While many expected challenges when reintroducing a large predator, the experience on the ground has proven to be both more complex and emotional than they anticipated. The story of the Copper Creek wolf pack brought this to the forefront and has dominated Colorado news headlines. Not only were they some of the first wolves born from the reintroduction effort, but also because of their threat to livestock. In this episode, we grapple with the early years of wolf reintroduction. What's working and what's not? And how do we balance what we owe nature with what we owe each other?
Learn more about the podcast at institute.dmns.org/gray-territory and lawsofnotion.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy's mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society's greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Editing, production, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Editing, fact-checking, production: Jordan Marks
Sound design: Seth Samuel
Original music: Composed and performed by Brett Kretzer. Fiddle played by Andy Reiner. Banjo and backing vocals by Dr. Joy Adams.
Additional music: Epidemic Sound
Recording Studio: Denver Community Media
How does the diversity of society's values and perspectives get incorporated into wildlife decisions? In this episode, we explore the gap between democratic ideals and messy reality, how a vote becomes policy and then becomes lived experience, and who gets heard along the way. We examine how the vote for wolf reintroduction became politicized along partisan lines and whether ballot initiatives undermine scientific expertise in wildlife management. And as the vote evolved into a reintroduction plan, hear both the excitement for the first reintroduced wolves on the ground and the frustration of not having all the pieces in place to support frontline communities.
Learn more about the podcast at institute.dmns.org/gray-territory and lawsofnotion.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy's mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation. The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society's greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Editing, production, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Editing, fact-checking, production: Jordan Marks
Sound design: Seth Samuel
Original music: Composed and performed by Brett Kretzer. Fiddle played by Andy Reiner. Banjo and backing vocals by Dr. Joy Adams.
Additional music: Epidemic Sound
Recording Studio: Denver Community Media
By a razor-thin margin in 2020, Colorado voters decided to bring gray wolves back to the landscape. Now, paws are on the ground, and real work is just beginning. For some, wolves returning to the landscape feels like tightening the vice on the already challenging profession of ranching. Yet for others, wolves mean the restoration of an ecosystem that humans deliberately interfered with. What is really behind the tension over wolf reintroduction? Why did it get on the ballot in the first place, and how did this become such a polarizing issue?
Learn more about the podcast at institute.dmns.org/gray-territory and lawsofnotion.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy's mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society's greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Editing, production, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Editing, fact-checking, production: Jordan Marks
Sound design: Seth Samuel
Original music: Composed and performed by Brett Kretzer. Fiddle played by Andy Reiner. Banjo and backing vocals by Dr. Joy Adams.
Additional music: Epidemic Sound
Studio recording: Postmodern Company
Colorado is the first state to intentionally bring back wolves by popular vote. But voting was just the beginning. From the ballot box to paws on the ground, join us for Gray Territory: The Return of Wolves to Colorado, a new limited series that takes a deeper look at wolf reintroduction and explores the complicated reality of coexistence. Season five of the award-winning podcast Laws of Notion starts Oct. 29.
Learn more about the podcast at institute.dmns.org/gray-territory and lawsofnotion.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy's mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society's greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Editing, production, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Editing, fact-checking, production: Jordan Marks
Sound design: Seth Samuel
Additional support: Kate Long & Max Neumeyer
Original music: Composed and performed by Brett Kretzer. Fiddle played by Andy Reiner. Banjo and backing vocals by Dr. Joy Adams.
Additional music: Epidemic Sound
Studio recording: Denver Community Media
We are excited to share an episode from our friends at Wyoming Public Media, who produce the The Modern West, a podcast documenting the evolving identity of the American West.
Hop in a pickup as we head out into the National Elk Refuge outside Jackson, WY, to hear all about the debate over whether to wean elk off winter feeding before chronic wasting disease strikes. This is a story about science, politics, and the messy reality of managing wildlife in the American West.
Check out this episode, titled “Wasting Away”, and listen and subscribe to the podcast The Modern West on all platforms or visit themodernwest.org. Learn more about the Laws of Notion podcast at lawsofnotion.org.
Sign up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions for society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. https://institute.dmns.org/
The Compass Series: Navigating Our Complex State of Affairs is a short mini-series exploring the critical topics at the intersection of science, policy, and human behavior.
In Episode 5: Building Trust, we interview Dr. Cary Funk, Senior Advisor for Public Engagement with Science for the Aspen Institute Science & Society Program. Cary brings us deep insight to help us understand the current landscape of trust in science, as well as practical approaches to strengthening it.
Learn more about Cary's work at the Aspen Institute at https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/cary-funk/
Get additional resources on our webpage, Building Trust and Charting a Path Forward.
Host: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Marketing: Tricia Waddell
Produced by The Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science: https://institute.dmns.org/
Learn more about the Laws of Notion podcast at lawsofnotion.org.
Sign up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions for society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
The Compass Series: Navigating Our Complex State of Affairs is a short mini-series exploring the critical topics at the intersection of science, policy, and human behavior.
In Episode 4: The Value of Scientific Research, we discuss critical role of federally funded research in Colorado with Dan Powers, Executive Director of CO-LABS, a Colorado non-profit consortium of over 30 federally funded research labs, joint research university institutes, technology companies, and economic development organizations that nurture and champion Colorado as a global leader in scientific research and technology. Learn more about CO-LABS at https://www.co-labs.org/.
Get additional resources on our webpage, The Value of Scientific Research.
Host: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Marketing: Tricia Waddell
Produced by The Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science: https://institute.dmns.org/
Learn more about the Laws of Notion podcast at lawsofnotion.org.
Sign up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions for society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
The Compass Series: Navigating Our Complex State of Affairs is a short mini-series exploring the critical topics at the intersection of science, policy, and human behavior.
In Episode 3: Tackling Misinformation, we discuss the critical role of fact-checking in our media ecosystem with Lori Robertson, Director of the nonpartisan, nonprofit FactCheck.org. In this interview with Lori, we talk about monitoring the factual accuracy of statements made by politicians, determining fact from fiction, and how we can all do a better job of thinking before sharing.
Learn more about Lori’s work at https://www.factcheck.org/
Get additional resources on our website page, The Misinformation Maze: Finding Truth in a Fractured Information Landscape.
Host: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Marketing: Tricia Waddell
Produced by The Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science: https://institute.dmns.org/
Learn more about the Laws of Notion podcast at lawsofnotion.org.
Sign up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions for society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
The Compass Series: Navigating Our Complex State of Affairs is a short mini-series exploring the critical topics at the intersection of science, policy, and human behavior.
In Episode 2: Embracing Uncertainty, we discuss the critical role of uncertainty in science and our everyday lives with Christie Aschwanden, an award-winning author, journalist, and the host and producer of Uncertain, a podcast from Scientific American. In this interview with Christie, we talk about the ways uncertainty drives our scientific curiosity and innovation, how embracing uncertainty means embracing creativity, and the downsides of uncertainty being weaponized.
Learn more about Christie’s work at https://christieaschwanden.com/
And listen to the Uncertain podcast at scientificamerican.com/uncertain
Get additional resources on Navigating Uncertainty in Science and Policy on our website.
Host: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Marketing: Tricia Waddell
Produced by The Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science: https://institute.dmns.org/
Learn more about the Laws of Notion podcast at lawsofnotion.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions for society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
The Compass Series: Navigating Our Complex State of Affairs is a short mini-series exploring the critical topics at the intersection of science, policy, and human behavior.
In Episode 1: Bridging Divides, we discuss political polarization and conflict with Stephen Hawkins, Global Director of Research for More in Common. In this interview with Stephen, we talk about the roots of political polarization, the perception gap that exists about division in our society, how we should be rethinking our media diet, and a few things we could all do to find greater unity.
Learn more about Stephen and More in Common at moreincommonus.com.
Get additional resources on this topic on our website at Bridging Divides: Polarization and Conflict.
Host: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Marketing: Tricia Waddell
Produced by The Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science: https://institute.dmns.org/
Learn more about the Laws of Notion podcast at lawsofnotion.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions for society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
As our landscapes face unprecedented challenges, Indigenous practices offer crucial lessons about living with fire rather than fighting against it. Yet any true co-stewardship approach requires agencies to share power they’ve historically held tightly and commit to the long process of reconciliation between Tribes and the US government. What is the path forward to developing frameworks and equitable collaborations where traditional ecological knowledge and Western land management work together?
Learn more about the podcast at institute.dmns.org/united-by-fire and lawsofnotion.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions for society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Reporting: Carson Frame
Editing, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Production support: Jordan Marks
Fact-checking: Kate Long
Sound design: Seth Samuel
Original music: Ryan Flores
Additional music: Epidemic Sound
Studio recording: Denver Community Media
In an era when megafires are becoming the norm rather than the exception, our communities need wildland firefighters now more than ever. However, recruitment and retention is a serious and growing challenge in the wildland fire community. As firefighters cope with physical and mental health challenges, low pay and unprecedented pressure from longer fire seasons, we not only have to figure out how we fight these fires – but how to support the people who fight them.
Learn more about the podcast at institute.dmns.org/united-by-fire and lawsofnotion.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions to society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Episode Credits:
eporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Reporting: Carson Frame
Editing, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Production support: Jordan Marks
Fact-checking: Kate Long
Sound design: Seth Samuel
Original music: Ryan Flores
Additional music: Epidemic Sound
Studio recording: Denver Community Media
How do we take our connection to the landscape and learn how to steward it in a time of change? Wildfire defines our era, but it doesn’t have to shape our future. From examining our relationship to risk and responsibility to making difficult choices about what to protect, our closing episode explores the choices we must make to support the forests of tomorrow. With individual action and collaboration, we can build a fire-resilient future.
Learn more about the podcast at institute.dmns.org/united-by-fire and lawsofnotion.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions to society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Reporting, writing, editing: Carson Frame
Editing, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Production support: Jordan Marks
Fact-checking: Kate Long
Sound design: Seth Samuel
Original music: Ryan Flores
Additional music: Epidemic Sound
Studio recording: Denver Community Media
As wildfires transform Colorado's landscapes, this episode explores the loss of cherished ecosystems and the tough realities of forest recovery. Discover the strategies, science and choices shaping the forests of the future.
Learn more about the podcast at institute.dmns.org/united-by-fire and lawsofnotion.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions to society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Reporting, writing, editing: Carson Frame
Editing, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Production support: Jordan Marks
Fact-checking: Kate Long
Sound design: Seth Samuel
Original music: Ryan Flores
Additional music: Epidemic Sound
Studio recording: Denver Community Media
With wildfires intensifying, every dollar spent on mitigation and resilience matters more than ever. This episode explores the tough choices and bold solutions shaping Colorado’s future: training a new generation of workers, leveraging new technology, and balancing suppression with prevention. With resources stretched thin, how do we decide what will make the most impact?
Learn more about the podcast at institute.dmns.org/united-by-fire and lawsofnotion.org.
Sign up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions to society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Reporting, writing, editing: Carson Frame
Editing, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Production support: Nicole Delaney and Jordan Marks
Fact-checking: Kate Long
Sound design: Seth Samuel
Original music: Ryan Flores
Additional music: Epidemic Sound
Studio recording: Side 3 Studios
Explore Colorado’s changing relationship with wildfire as we follow the people working to manage its risks and tap into its ecological benefits. Through prescribed burns, forest thinning and community partnerships, land managers, scientists and residents are rethinking fire as a tool to keep both forests and communities strong.
Learn more about the podcast at institute.dmns.org/united-by-fire and lawsofnotion.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions to society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Reporting, writing, editing: Carson Frame
Editing, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Production support: Nicole Delaney
Fact-checking: Kate Long
Sound design: Seth Samuel
Original music: Ryan Flores
Additional music: Epidemic Sound
Studio recording: Denver Community Media
This episode explores how the Cameron Peak and East Troublesome Fires of 2020 created a far-reaching crisis in Colorado's watersheds, impacting both mountain communities and those downstream along the Front Range. Discover the intersection of fire, water, and policy - and the surprising ways wildfire continues to shape the state’s landscapes long after the flames go out.
Learn more about the podcast at institute.dmns.org/united-by-fire and lawsofnotion.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation. The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions for society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Reporting, writing, editing: Carson Frame
Editing, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Production support: Nicole Delaney
Fact-checking: Kate Long
Sound design: Seth Samuel
Original music: Ryan Flores
Additional music: Epidemic Sound
Studio recording: Denver Community Media
Four years after the East Troublesome Fire, many Grand County residents are still grappling with the aftermath, from insurance disputes to the emotional toll of loss. We explore the long-term impact of the fire on individuals and the broader community as they strive to recover and rebuild.
Learn more about the podcast at institute.dmns.org/united-by-fire and lawsofnotion.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Reporting, writing, editing: Carson Frame
Editing, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Production support: Nicole Delaney
Fact-checking: Kate Long
Sound design: Seth Samuel
Original music: Ryan Flores
Additional music: Epidemic Sound
Studio recording: Denver Community Media
In October 2020, the East Troublesome Fire exploded, forcing a mass evacuation of Estes Park as ash rained from the sky. In this episode, we explore how the town responded to the dual threats of a wildfire and a pandemic, and the hard choices they faced in order to protect their community.
Learn more about the podcast at institute.dmns.org/united-by-fire and lawsofnotion.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Reporting, writing, editing: Carson Frame
Editing, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Production support: Nicole Delaney
Fact-checking: Kate Long
Sound design: Seth Samuel
Original music: Ryan Flores
Additional music: Epidemic Sound
Studio recording: Denver Community Media
The summer of 2020 was one of Colorado’s hottest and driest on record, setting the stage for a devastating series of megafires. The Cameron Peak Fire ignited in the Roosevelt National Forest and burned for nearly four months, consuming almost 209,000 acres.
In this episode, we’ll hear from people who stared into the Cameron Peak fire and the difficult choices they faced. What should we try to protect? And what risks are we willing to accept?
Learn more about the podcast at institute.dmns.org/united-by-fire and lawsofnotion.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions to society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Reporting, writing, editing: Carson Frame
Editing, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Production support: Nicole Delaney
Fact-checking: Kate Long
Sound design: Seth Samuel
Original music: Ryan Flores
Additional music: Epidemic Sound
Studio recording: Denver Community Media
Today’s megafires raise questions about how we manage our forests and where we choose to live. In 2020, Colorado experienced the two largest wildfires in the state’s history: Cameron Peak and East Troublesome. Together, these high-intensity blazes ripped through communities and challenged what we thought we knew about how wildfires behave.
Fire has devastating power, but it’s also a necessary part of our ecosystems. Can we learn to live with it?
In this episode, we begin to explore that question through the eyes of wildfire survivors, researchers, and policymakers navigating this uncertain future.
Learn more about the podcast at institute.dmns.org/united-by-fire and lawsofnotion.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions to society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Reporting, writing, editing: Carson Frame
Editing, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Production support: Nicole Delaney
Fact-checking: Kate Long
Sound design: Seth Samuel
Original music: Ryan Flores
Additional music: Epidemic Sound
Audio recording: Denver Community Media
Wildfire is here to stay, but on whose terms will it burn? Join us for United by Fire, a new series where we investigate the two biggest wildfires in Colorado’s history and explore hard truths about our landscapes and ourselves. Season four of the award-winning podcast Laws of Notion starts Oct. 9.
Learn more about the podcast at institute.dmns.org/united-by-fire and lawsofnotion.org.
Sign up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions to society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Reporting, writing: Carson Frame
Editing, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Production support: Nicole Delaney
Fact-checking: Kate Long
Sound design: Seth Samuels
Original music: Ryan Flores
Additional music: Epidemic Sound
Studio recording: Denver Community Media
In this special bonus episode, we talk with Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, founder and director of The Ella Roberta Foundation based in South London, UK. We first met Rosamund in episode 4, The Road to Change. She and her legal team made history when a coroner found a direct link between her nine-year-old daughter Ella Roberta's death from a fatal asthma attack due to the air quality near her home along one of London’s busiest roads. Ella then became the first person in the world to have air pollution appear on a death certificate as a cause of death.
Eleven years after this tragic life-changing event, Rosamund reflects on her journey to becoming a global clean air advocate in honor of her daughter's legacy. From her calls for greater government accountability to raising awareness of air pollution as a critical health issue, we discuss where she has seen progress and where there is still work to be done.
This episode also features the song "Air" from the Hope 4 Justice EP. The EP was created and produced by the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in collaboration with leading artists and local young people. Learn more about this project here.
Learn more about the podcast at clearingtheair.org.
Sign up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions to society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Producing, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Additional reporting and fact-checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate Long
Sound design: Seth Samuel with tracks from Epidemic Sounds
The San Luis Valley has always had dust storms, for as long as humans have been there. The problem now is that as water dwindles, temperatures warm, a multi-decade drought rages on, and people continue altering the landscape, dust is increasing. Dust and sand storms impact farming economies by reducing valuable topsoil, and breathing in dust can have immediate and long-term respiratory and health impacts. We talk with farmer and rancher Kyler Brown and Dr. Lisa Cicutto about the impact of dust on public health and the state of farming in the Valley, along with the constant challenge of embracing change and uncertainty amid climate change.
Learn more about the podcast at clearingtheair.org.
Sign up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions to society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Producing, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Additional reporting and fact-checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate Long
Sound design: Seth Samuel with tracks from Epidemic Sounds
Audio engineering: Jesse Boynton
From supporting the wickedly smart and engaged next generation to learning how to work together in new and more meaningful ways, our last episode explores what it means to truly empower people to solve our air quality issues. Change has been slow and incremental, but change is happening. And while bad air affects us all, no matter where we live, the burden is not equal. Since our air is often invisible, it can be easy to ignore. But as we gain knowledge, it just might be harder to look away.
Learn more about the podcast at clearingtheair.org.
Sign up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Producing, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Additional writing: Meredith Sell
Additional reporting and fact-checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate Long
Sound design: Seth Samuel with tracks from Epidemic Sounds
Audio engineering: Jesse Boynton
Often there is a cultural catalyst that sparks change. And that catalyst can come from people being empowered with data, knowledge, and opportunity. From Pueblo to Aurora to other parts of Colorado, communities are finding traditional and new ways to engage in the change they want for their future. This could be things like a closer collaboration with the government to install a community air monitoring network, training individuals on how to engage in policy, or pushing for large-scale change, such as the energy transition, which can have the co-benefits of helping with both climate change and local air pollution.
Learn more about the podcast at clearingtheair.org.
Sign up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions to society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Producing, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Additional writing: Meredith Sell
Additional reporting and fact-checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate Long
Sound design: Seth Samuels with tracks from Epidemic Sounds
Audio engineering: Jesse Boynton
Colorado is the fifth largest oil-producing state in the country, and the state’s economy benefits from keeping the industry running. But oil and gas are also a major source of emissions to local air quality and climate change. And we all have a vested interest in reducing emissions, which has economic and social costs to our health and environment. So how do we balance the demand for energy with the realities on the ground? What does the dance look like between the speed to clean up operations, the transition to new innovation, the limitations of business models, the standardization of data, and the need to protect the health of each other and our planet?
Learn more about the podcast at clearingtheair.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Producing, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Additional writing: Meredith Sell
Additional reporting and fact-checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate Long
Sound design: Seth Samuels with tracks from Epidemic Sounds
Audio engineering: Jesse Boynton
Whether you’ve had a direct experience with bad air, followed the air quality index on your phone, or formally learned about the importance of clean air, awareness can be a key driver for change. But once we know how poor air quality can impact our health, what does it take to change our behaviors — either to reduce our exposure or how we contribute to it?
Learn more about the podcast at clearingtheair.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions to society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Producing, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Additional writing: Meredith Sell
Additional reporting and fact-checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate Long
Sound design: Seth Samuels with tracks from Epidemic Sounds
Audio engineering: Jesse Boynton
An estimated 4.2 million premature deaths are associated with outdoor air pollution each year. And traffic emissions are one of the leading contributors, with those living within a quarter mile or so of a busy road at greatest risk. But statistics and facts will only get you so far. To change perceptions and policy, the issue must be brought to a human level. And while our air quality has improved over the years, there is still work to be done, especially with communities most at risk.
Learn more about the podcast at clearingtheair.org.
Sign up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Producing, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Additional writing: Meredith Sell
Additional reporting and fact-checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate Long
Sound design: Seth Samuels with tracks from Epidemic Sounds
Audio engineering: Jesse Boynton
There is a long history of disproportionately impacted neighborhoods, which are predominately communities of color and low income, experiencing the unequal impact of pollution. This has been the case for many communities in Colorado when it comes to air quality. And while there are competing interests, values, and needs when it comes to deciding what to do, it’s critical to consider who gets represented and heard. Do the policies truly address the issue? And who bears the cost?
We all have the right to clean air, no matter where we live. But safeguarding our air is about making hard decisions. It’s about changing our thinking and our behaviors. It’s about looking at the issues from multiple angles. People often want there to be a single source or single industry to blame for air pollution, but unfortunately, the air doesn’t work that way.
Learn more about the podcast at clearingtheair.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Writing, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Additional reporting and fact checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate Long
Sound design: Seth Samuels with tracks from Epidemic Sounds
Audio engineering: Jesse Boynton
For years Colorado’s Front Range has repeatedly failed to meet the EPA’s national air quality standards, putting local policymakers and regulators under pressure to fix the air pollution affecting us all. Now air monitoring and data gathering are slowly starting to catch up to the reality that many communities experience living in proximity to industries, highways, railroads, and other sources of pollutants.
But what made us care about air quality in the first place? From the Brown Cloud that hung over Denver in the ’70s and ’80s to the landmark Clean Air Act, we break down the science and policies that propelled us to start to clean up our air.
Learn more about the podcast at clearingtheair.org.
Sign up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions to society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Writing, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Additional reporting and fact-checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate Long
Sound design: Seth Samuels with tracks from Epidemic Sounds
Audio engineering: Jesse Boynton
Our air is a complex soup of ingredients – which impacts the health of all of us, our economy, and our climate. But those health burdens are not shared equally. They disproportionately impact children, the elderly, and lower-income or historically marginalized communities.
What does it mean to have equal and fair access to clean air? And when emotions are high, people’s health is at risk, and tradeoffs need to be made, how do we solve this complex problem? This is episode one of Clearing the Air, a podcast about air pollution in Colorado and beyond, and how we are navigating this complex problem that knows no borders.
Learn more about this season of Laws of Notion at clearingtheair.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Writing, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Additional writing: Shel Evergreen
Additional reporting and fact-checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate Long
Sound design: Seth Samuels with tracks from Epidemic Sounds
Audio engineering: Jesse Boynton
From our first breath to our last exhale, air is a vital shared resource. But what’s really in the air we breathe? Stay tuned for Clearing the Air: The Hazy Future of Our Skies, a new eight-part series about air pollution in Colorado and how we are navigating this complex problem that knows no borders. Season 3 of the award-winning podcast, Laws of Notion, launches September 27, 2023.
Learn more about the podcast at clearingtheair.org and lawsofnotion.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
The closure of the coal plant and mine in Craig, Colorado will greatly impact the economy and result in the loss of jobs. However, there are conversations about the potential to repurpose the plant and existing infrastructure. From geothermal to hydrogen to nuclear, what could happen with the Craig station remains to be decided.
In this bonus episode of Coal at Sunset: A Colorado Town in Transition, we’ll talk about what’s next. What could happen with all the infrastructure and workforce? And is nuclear energy a potential option?
Featuring Christine King, GAIN, Idaho National Lab, and Tim Osborn, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association.
Learn more about our podcast at lawsofnotion.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Episode Credits:
Writer, Reporter, Host: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Producer and Marketing: Tricia Waddell
Additional Production: Nicole Delaney
Fact Checker: Kate Long
Sound Design: Jesse Boynton with tracks from Epidemic Sounds
It's been almost two years since we shared the story of Craig, Colorado, and the forthcoming closures of the coal power plant. In this epilogue to Coal at Sunset, you'll hear from some of our former guests reflecting on what's changed, what hasn't, and what the road ahead looks like. We’re coming back to this story to provide a firsthand glimpse into how Colorado's energy transition will ultimately affect us all.
Learn more about our podcast at lawsofnotion.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Episode Credits:
Writer, Reporter, Host: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Producer and Marketing: Tricia Waddell
Additional Production: Nicole Delaney
Fact Checker: Kate Long
Sound Design: Jesse Boynton with tracks from Epidemic Sounds
The history of soil degradation is not new. Humans have been altering the landscape for thousands of years. But what does it mean to have healthy and functional soils and how is this critical to a productive and sustainable agriculture system? In this bonus episode, we spend time with Gene Kelley, a professor of Pedology and the Deputy Director of the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station at Colorado State University. We had a wide-ranging conversation talking about the innovation happening in agriculture, soil health and the impacts on water, and even the difficulties of behavior change.
Water, Under Pressure is a podcast about the increasing demands on water in Colorado. And how the choices we make now could tear us apart or help us to navigate our uncertain future.
Learn more about the podcast and people featured at waterunderpressure.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The podcast was produced in partnership with House of Pod.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Producing and marketing: Tricia Waddell
Additional reporting and fact-checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate Long
Theme music: Alex Paul, Birds of Play
Sound design: Jesse Boynton with tracks from Epidemic Sounds
In January 2023, a new Colorado Water Plan was released. This document evokes hope and caution as the scarcity of water looms over our state. It’s a guide for how to bring people together and prioritize water projects across Colorado that serve the most uses and benefits. In this bonus episode, we talk with Lauren Ris, Deputy Director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, to learn more about how this plan came together and its significance to our state.
Water, Under Pressure is a podcast about the increasing demands on water in Colorado. And how the choices we make now could tear us apart or help us to navigate our uncertain future.
Learn more about the podcast and people featured at waterunderpressure.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The podcast was produced in partnership with House of Pod.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Producing and marketing: Tricia Waddell
Additional reporting and fact-checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate Long
Theme music: Alex Paul, Birds of Play
Sound design: Jesse Boynton with tracks from Epidemic Sounds
Control of water. Who has it, who doesn’t? How was water historically used? What is it being used for today? And what about future uses? In this first bonus episode, we are talking about power and decision-making, including the controversial topic of water speculation, with James Eklund, a prominent Colorado water lawyer. The conflict over water speculation goes deeper than just dollars. It’s sometimes about values.
Water, Under Pressure is a podcast about the increasing demands on water in Colorado. And how the choices we make now could tear us apart or help us to navigate our uncertain future.
Learn more about the podcast and people featured at waterunderpressure.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The podcast was produced in partnership with House of Pod.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Producing and marketing: Tricia Waddell
Additional reporting and fact-checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate Long
Theme music: Alex Paul, Birds of Play
Sound design: Jesse Boynton with tracks from Epidemic Sounds
Laws of Notion Listeners! More on our state's water issues with our friends at City Cast Denver.
Ever since Denver Water was founded in 1918, the agency has demonstrated enviable foresight, building out a massive infrastructure across 4,000 square miles to ensure Denver’s population (and economy) can continue to grow. But now that reservoirs and rivers are drying up across the West, is it time for Denver to share the wealth? Colorado’s top water reporter, Luke Runyon of KUNC, joins producer Paul Karolyi, City Cast Denver, to explain where Denver fits into the recent conflict over the Colorado River and offer an outsider’s perspective on Denver Water’s ambitious growth. This episode originally aired on August 29, 2022.
Learn more about City Cast Denver and subscribe to their daily morning newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ or follow them on Twitter @citycastdenver.
Learn more about the Institute for Science & Policy at institute.dmns.org and follow us on Twitter @institutescipol.
In this series, we’ve investigated the pressures around water in Colorado – from climate change to population growth to different values – and how they shape the management of this vital resource. But where do we go from here? And how do we change the relationship we’ve had with water historically, to better reflect the realities of our future? Because we should all care about where our water comes from, where it goes, what it’s used for, and the true cost to use it.
Water, Under Pressure is a podcast about the increasing demands on water in Colorado. And how the choices we make now could tear us apart or help us to navigate our uncertain future.
Learn more about the podcast and people featured at waterunderpressure.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The podcast was produced in partnership with House of Pod.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan UhlenbrockReporting, writing, production: Cat JaffeeProduction: Ann Marie Awad Additional reporting and fact-checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate LongSound design: Seth SamuelTheme music: Alex Paul, Birds of PlayEpisode composition: Jesse Boynton with tracks from Epidemic Sounds Marketing: Tricia WaddellA special thanks to Trent Knoss and George Sparks
When people learn that 91% of Colorado’s water is used for agricultural purposes, farmers are the first to blame for its overuse. But there’s a lot more baked into this figure than many realize. There are compromises that farmers are making, trying to ensure they are in the black financially while adapting to drought and a changing climate, in order to ensure we all eat. So as Colorado approaches 6 million people with most of us living in the Front Range are people aware of the sacrifices needed to keep up with the growing demand for water?
This is episode three of Water, Under Pressure, a podcast about the increasing demands on water in Colorado. And how the choices we make now could tear us apart or help us to navigate our uncertain future.
Learn more about the podcast and people featured at waterunderpressure.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The podcast was produced in partnership with House of Pod.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Reporting, writing, production: Cat Jaffee
Production: Ann Marie Awad
Additional reporting and fact-checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate Long
Theme music: Alex Paul, Birds of Play
Episode composition: Jesse Boynton with tracks from Epidemic Sounds
Sound design: Seth Samuel
Marketing: Tricia Waddell
A special thanks to Trent Knoss and George Sparks
One of the most controversial pieces of real estate in the San Luis Valley isn’t because of anything it’s got above ground, but because of the water below it. Water is needed for all living things to survive. It can also be controlled and has been by civilizations for millennia. So how is it decided where the water goes and what it can be used for?
In order to understand this, we must understand how water rights work.
This is episode two of Water, Under Pressure, a podcast about the increasing demands on water in Colorado. And how the choices we make now could tear us apart or help us to navigate our uncertain future.
Learn more about the podcast and people featured at waterunderpressure.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The podcast was produced in partnership with House of Pod.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Reporting, writing, production: Cat Jaffee
Production: Ann Marie Awad
Additional reporting and fact checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate Long
Theme music: Alex Paul, Birds of Play
Episode composition: Jesse Boynton with tracks from Epidemic Sounds
Sound design: Ameeta Ganatra and Seth Samuel
Marketing: Tricia Waddell
A special thanks to Trent Knoss and George Sparks
A 40-year-old calculation on the back of an envelope fuels something of a gold rush in Colorado’s San Luis Valley. But instead of gold, the attraction is water. And the plan is to move it and sell it to Colorado’s growing – and thirsty – metro areas on the Front Range.
But how much water is there really? And how do we decide who gets it and who doesn't? This is episode one of Water Under Pressure, a podcast about the increasing demands on water in Colorado. And how the choices we make now could tear us apart or help us to navigate our uncertain future.
Learn more about the podcast at waterunderpressure.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The podcast was produced in partnership with House of Pod.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Reporting, writing, production: Cat Jaffee
Production: Ann Marie Awad
Additional reporting and fact-checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate Long
Theme music: Alex Paul, Birds of Play
Episode composition: Jesse Boynton with tracks from Epidemic Sounds
Sound design: Ameeta Ganatra
Marketing: Tricia Waddell
A special thanks to Trent Knoss and George Sparks
This year, we’re taking you deep into the world of water. Where values, science, law, and our identity collide, as communities in Colorado face tough choices about this dwindling vital resource. Stay tuned for Water, Under Pressure, a five-part podcast about the increasing demands on water in Colorado. And how the choices we make now could tear us apart or help us to navigate our uncertain future. Learn more about the podcast at waterunderpressure.org.
Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy’s mailing list.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The podcast was produced in partnership with House of Pod.
Science was revolutionized by Newton’s laws of motion.
But how can we revolutionize our ideas?
Laws of Notion is a podcast by the Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, where we push against our preconceived beliefs and think critically about the world around us. Each season, we’ll tell a story about an issue facing a community, where there are no easy answers. We’ll explore the interconnections between science, policy, and our human nature.
To learn more about the podcast check out lawsofnotion.org.
In our latest bonus episode, Tri-State President & CEO Duane Highley shares insights about regional energy markets in the West, renewable integration, and more.
Coal at Sunset: A Colorado Town in Transition was created by the Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and produced in partnership with House of Pod. For more, visit https://coalatsunset.org/
Utilities will play a key role in the pace and implementation of Colorado's energy transition. In this special bonus episode, we wanted to share a few extended excerpts from an interview with Alice Jackson, President of Xcel Energy Colorado. In our wide-ranging conversation, recorded in late summer 2021, we talked with her about our state's changing electricity needs, implementing newer technologies like hydrogen and molten salt, the practicalities of getting to a completely zero carbon system, and much more.
Coal at Sunset: A Colorado Town in Transition was created by the Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and produced in partnership with House of Pod. For more, visit https://coalatsunset.org/
By decade's end, coal-fired energy production in Craig, Colorado will be a thing of the past. What will the town look like by then? More importantly: What do residents want their home to become? How does Craig's story help us understand the energy transition as a whole? In our final episode, we look ahead to opportunities on the horizon as the town moves beyond what has defined it for so long. At the Trapper mine, for instance, land will be revegetated for deer, elk, and grouse. The Craig power station could become a testbed for hydrogen production. New businesses are already moving into downtown. All around, there are hopeful signs for a post-coal future. *Correction: An earlier version of this episode misstated the future dates of the Craig station unit retirements. As of December 2021, Tri-State and its utility partners (where applicable) have announced that Unit 1 will retire by the end of 2025; Unit 2 will retire on September 30, 2028; and Unit 3 will retire by 2030. This timeline has not changed and remains consistent with Tri-State's originally announced schedule.*
Host: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Guests: Ginny Brannon, Director, Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining & Safety; Wade Buchanan, director, Office of Just Transition; Duane Highley, CEO, Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association; Jennifer Holloway, director, Craig Chamber of Commerce; Kirstie McPherson; Tim Osborn, plant manager, Craig Station; Graham Roberts, environmental supervisor, Trapper Mine
Coal at Sunset: A Colorado Town in Transition was created by the Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and produced in partnership with House of Pod. To hear bonus clips and find additional resources, visit https://coalatsunset.org/
The Yampa River is the lifeblood of northwestern Colorado. It's one of the last wild, undammed rivers in the American West.
Nobody appreciates the Yampa's transformative power more than Tom Kleinschnitz. Now the director of Moffat County Tourism, he's spent a lifetime on the river. He knows that outdoor recreation and tourism can be an important part of Craig's post-coal future by creating jobs and driving economic activity.
But the river is also under threat. Climate change has contributed to severe drought in recent years, and the Yampa's flow has dropped significantly. What will it take to protect the region's critical lifeline and ensure that it's still thriving when Craig needs it most?
Host: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Guests: Tom Kleinschnitz, director, Moffat County Tourism; Josh Veenstra, owner, Good Vibes River Gear
Coal at Sunset was created by the Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and produced in partnership with House of Pod. To hear bonus clips and find additional resources, visit https://coalatsunset.org/
Coal enabled a way of life in Craig that many cherish. A close-knit small town community is still a draw. But for those growing up here now, knowing big changes are ahead, will that feeling be enough for them to stay?
In this episode, we look beyond coal and energy to examine some of the other opportunities that Craig will need to build out to retain and attract students and families. Education will be crucial. At Colorado Northwestern Community College, for example, new programs in aviation, cybersecurity, and paleontology might provide other career avenues.
There's new creative energy coming in to Craig already. We see it in the public art sector, and the young business owners starting to make investments here. The next generation will find very different opportunities here than their parents did. Maybe that's what it takes to move beyond what's defined the town for so long.
Host: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Guests:
• Marie Bolton, student, Colorado Mesa University
• Ariane Caldwell, Secretary, Northwest Colorado Arts Council
• Lisa Jones, President, Colorado Northwestern Community College (CNCC)
• Melanie Kilpatrick, Executive Director, Northwest Colorado Arts Council
• Sue Mock, paleontology coordinator, CNCC
• Sasha Nelson, Executive Director, Workforce Education and Economic Development, CNCC
• Brittany Young, Assistant Director, Craig Chamber of Commerce
Coal at Sunset was created by the Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and produced in partnership with House of Pod. To hear bonus clips and find additional resources, visit https://coalatsunset.org/
There are estimated to be more than a thousand ghost towns in Colorado. Each one represents a failed economic transition. So for Craig, Colorado, the stakes are clear. Transitions require resources and support.
In 2019, Colorado created the first state-level Office of Just Transition in the nation. It was designed to help coal towns like Craig strategize for the future. But in the early going, the office didn't have any funding. It didn't have anyone to run it. And unbeknownst at the time, a global pandemic was about to begin.
In this episode, we meet Wade Buchanan, who stepped in to run the Office of Just Transition. He wanted to show that the government could deliver for Craig and other rural communities. He wanted to help. Would it be enough?
To hear bonus clips and find additional resources, visit https://coalatsunset.org/
Host: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Guests:
• Wade Buchanan, Executive Director, Office of Just Transition
• Duane Highley, CEO, Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association
• Jennifer Holloway, Executive Director, Craig Chamber of Commerce
• Bob Rankin, State Senator, District 8
Coal at Sunset: A Colorado Town in Transition was created by the Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and produced in partnership with House of Pod.
Coal at Sunset fans: if you enjoy diving into policy and you're looking for a little extra weekend listening before episode #5 debuts on Monday, we wanted to share this fun podcast segment produced by our friends at City Cast Denver. This story from late September looks at sidewalks. (Yes, sidewalks.) Denver’s sidewalks are in a sorry state. And that’s if you’re lucky enough to live in a neighborhood that has them at all. They’re broken, crumbling, and in desperate need of repair. But who should pay for that? It’s a trickier question than it may seem. As you’ll hear, this topic is a great example of how hyper local policies can have big impacts on our daily lives.
Each weekday, City Cast Denver features in-depth conversations just like this one, showcasing the artists, politicians, activists, and leaders who make the city great, plus daily news updates. If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts.
Find even more from City Cast Denver via their newsletter (https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/) or on Twitter at @citycastdenver.
In Craig, Colorado, one big question looms: What if the transition fails? Transitions are nothing new, and American history is full of cautionary tales. When big industries fail or move away, bad things can happen to the small towns that rely on them. Think about timber mills closing in rural areas of the Pacific Northwest. Or fisheries collapsing in New England. Or Midwestern automotive factories moving offshore. Some of those communities managed to survive. Many didn’t.
Since the mid-2000s, coal closures have washed over the U.S. like a wave.
As President, Donald Trump pledged he'd restore the livelihoods of coal workers. But by the end of his term, coal jobs were as endangered as ever.
In Appalachia, closures hit small towns hard. Muhlenberg, Kentucky. Manchester, Ohio. McDowell County, West Virginia. The list goes on. Schools, hospitals, and other public services withered. People moved away.
We wanted to get some national perspective on coal-impacted communities. We wanted to see what we've learned from other towns that are further ahead in their transitions. Most of all, we wanted to know if Craig could succeed where others failed.
To explore more from this episode, visit https://coalatsunset.org/episodes/episode-4-the-other-craigs/
Host: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Guests:
• Heidi Binko, Executive Director of the Just Transition Fund
• Chris Markuson, Director of Colorado and State Economic Transition Policy at the BlueGreen Alliance
• Kirstie McPherson, owner of 518 Wine Bar and The Find
• Tim Wohlgenant, Executive Director, Yampa Valley Community Foundation
Coal at Sunset: A Colorado Town in Transition was created by the Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and produced in partnership with House of Pod.
To hear bonus clips and find additional resources, visit https://coalatsunset.org/
Why is Colorado phasing out coal? Simply put: Planet Earth is warming up. Fast. For decades, scientific evidence has pointed to significant human influence on our climate, dating back to the Industrial Revolution. Burning fossil fuels like coal releases significant amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, accelerating global warming.
Climate change increases the volatility in our systems. And the catastrophic effects are already being felt. The U.S. has experienced a record-breaking number of weather disasters in recent years, including droughts, hurricanes, and wildfires.
In 2019, the Colorado legislature took its boldest step yet toward addressing climate change. House Bill 1261 committed Colorado to a 50% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and a 90% reduction by 2050. Almost every sector would be affected.
Electrical utilities, like Tri-State would need to generate more of their power from renewables like wind and solar. The bill signaled the beginning of the end for coal plants in the state.
For others, the bill was seen as an overreach and another example of the glaring rural-urban divide in America today.
How do we balance the need to protect the planet with the need to protect livelihoods?
To explore more from this episode, visit https://coalatsunset.org/episodes/episode-3-you-knew/
Host: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Guests:
• Waleed Abdalati, Director of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder
• Ray Beck, retired Moffat County commissioner and former mayor of Craig
• KC Becker, former Colorado Speaker of the House
• Jennifer Holloway, Executive Director of the Craig Chamber of Commerce
Coal at Sunset: A Colorado Town in Transition was created by the Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and produced in partnership with House of Pod.
To hear bonus clips and find additional resources, visit https://coalatsunset.org/
In our second episode, we travel inside the Craig coal-fired station to learn more about the science and economics of coal amidst a rapidly changing renewable energy landscape. For centuries, society has relied on coal because it's been dependable. Reserves can be stored indefinitely and burned as needed to meet electricity demand in any weather, any time of day.
But coal has been losing ground to renewables like wind and solar for decades as the prices of cleaner, greener technologies have come way down. And now, Colorado has made greenhouse gas reductions a priority. Coal is no longer the market driver it once was.
Energy is a global challenge. But the transition is well underway. What will the state reasonably be able to achieve over the next decade? And what will that mean for our electricity?
To hear bonus clips and additional resources for this episode, visit https://coalatsunset.org/episodes/episode-2-the-cost/
Host: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Guests:
• Tim Osborn, plant manager, Craig station
• Suzanne Tegen, Assistant Director, Center for the New Energy Economy at Colorado State University
• Bob Rankin, Colorado State Senator, District 8
Coal at Sunset: A Colorado Town in Transition was created by the Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and produced in partnership with House of Pod.
For more, visit https://coalatsunset.org/
There's a popular saying in Craig, Colorado: "Coal keeps the lights on."
But in 2020, the electrical utility Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association announced that it would close its coal-fired power plant and coal mines in Craig by 2030. The news was like an earthquake. Hundreds of jobs would be lost. The town now faces the prospect of massive economic disruption as its primary industry disappears.
In our first episode, we travel to Craig and hear from the CEO at the center of that decision, a coal worker bracing for change, and one local business owner who's already looking for ways to reinvent the town's identity. What will Craig do now?
To explore more from this episode, visit https://coalatsunset.org/episodes/episode-1-the-decision/
Host: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Guests:
• Duane Highley, CEO, Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association
• Jennifer Holloway, Executive Director, Craig Chamber of Commerce
• Kirstie McPherson, owner, 518 Wine Bar & The Find
• Graham Roberts, environmental supervisor, Trapper Mining Inc.
Coal at Sunset: A Colorado Town in Transition was created by the Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and was produced in partnership with House of Pod.
To hear bonus clips and find additional resources, visit https://coalatsunset.org/
In rural northwestern Colorado, the town of Craig is at a crossroads. Coal has long been the primary employer and economic driver in this small, tight-knit community, which takes pride in providing energy to the surrounding region. Here, coal is an identity. A duty. A way of life.
But something is about to change. The nearby coal plant and mines will close by decade's end as Colorado moves on from fossil fuels. Now, Craig faces an uncertain future. Some business owners and local officials are seeking reinvention. Others still hold out hope of a coal revival.
This is a story about the energy we use every day. But it's also about resilience in the face of change. Craig is only the latest American coal town to face a transition. It won't be the last. Can it succeed where others have failed?
A new series from the Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, produced in partnership with House of Pod.
For more information, visit coalatsunset.org