We're developing an observatory that can be a living laboratory for undergraduates and graduate students through coursework and research. 

New course offerings:

Field Methods in Environmental Science: A two-week intensive course at the Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed that will focus on analysis of topographic and vegetational data, hydrologic methods, carbon and water fluxes, and soil characteristics (Lohse, Reinhardt, and Godsey at Idaho State University with contributions from Seyfried and Flerchinger at the ARS). 

Existing course offerings:

Soils and Critical Zone Processes: This undergraduate/ graduate course provides the student a basic understanding of soils and factors of soil formation. Major topics include basic soil properties, soil physics, soil biology and soil chemistry. Students get hands-on experience in soil description and classification (Lohse). 

Ecosystems and Global Changes: This course examines the structure and function of ecosystems and their responses to natural and anthropogenic changes. Students will develop critical analytical, reading and writing skills through problem sets and group field project. Graduate students will conduct an independent project on a topic of their interest or related study that incorporates ecosystem concepts discussed in class. A weekend field trip will be required to RC CZO. Through these activities, students will develop the ability to integrate and contexualize the principles of ecosystem management and gain an understanding of the importance of maintaining ecosystem functions to sustain the ecosystem services that they provide (Lohse).

Advanced Image Processing: This graduate course will target the RCEW for collection of field-based TLS and hyperspectral data and processing of it (this course has been taught statewide to ISU-BSU-UI students) (Glenn).

Modeling Land Atmosphere Interactions and Global Hydrologic Change: A graduate level course will use examples from RCEW to understand how soil carbon influences global climate and the role of vegetation in modulating global water energy and carbon cycles (Flores).