Fast Facts About CIRES
The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES—pronounced series) is a cooperative institute of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Established in 1967, CIRES has developed a strong reputation as an international leader in innovative earth systems science research, education, and science policy. The institute today includes more than 500 researchers, university faculty, and students, all of which are housed either on the CU-Boulder campus or at the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado.
CIRES research is organized into six major divisions: Cryospheric and Polar Processes; Ecosystem Science; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Modeling, Observing, and Forecasting; Solid Earth Sciences; and Weather and Climate Dynamics.
Mission and Vision. As a world leader in Environmental Sciences CIRES is committed to identifying and pursuing innovative research in Earth System Science and fostering public awareness of these processes to ensure a sustainable future environment. CIRES is dedicated to fundamental and interdisciplinary research targeted at all aspects of Earth System Science and to communicate these findings to the global scientific community, to decision makers, and to the public.
Leadership. CIRES is governed by a Council of Fellows, which serves as the institute's board of directors, sets overall policy and directions for CIRES, and recommends to the University and NOAA the appointment of the CIRES Director. Konrad Steffen began his service as the Director of CIRES in 2005. The Director is the executive officer of CIRES and is responsible for its administration and leadership.
