News

Pythagorus once proposed that sun, moon, stars, and Earth make a harmonious universe of sound called the music of the spheres. Contemporary earth system science confirms that spheres make our planet function. Not by divine music, however, but in a complex interplay among the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the lithosphere (geology) and the biosphere. Today the interactions among these spheres are... more

Climate change in recent years has extended the length of the fire season and increased the intensity and frequency of wildfires in our area, as is the case through much of the American West. Recent analyses commissioned by the Midpeninsula Open Space District and the Santa Cruz Mountains Stewardship Network suggest these trends will continue. In 20 to 40 years... more

We are pleased to sum up what has been a very exciting “hybrid” year at Jasper Ridge in our Annual Report. “Hybrid," of course, means that while the pandemic continued to demand we expand our virtual offerings, we were also delighted to welcome researchers, students, and our broader community back on site under COVID-safe guidelines. As usual, we are distributing... more

Congratulations to John Working, Lysbeth Anderson, and Julien Ueda for awards received from the Organization of Biological Field Stations (OBFS) at the 2021 OBFS Annual Meeting, which took place virtually at Flathead Lake Biological Station in Polson, Montana. John and Lysbeth were honored with the OBFS Mary Hufty Local Hero Award, which recognizes “individuals who exemplify the ideals of OBFS... more

In a virtual ceremony held September 23, 2021, Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve was honored with the Human Diversity Award by the Organization of Biological Field Stations (OBFS). The award was presented at the OBFS 2021 Annual Meeting, which took place at Flathead Lake Biological Station in Polson, Montana. The OBFS includes about 200 field stations from around the world, and... more

We are pleased to announce Sydney Lee Schmitter and Sriram R. Narasimhan as the recipients of the 2021 Jasper Ridge Environmental Education Scholar Award. Both students have engaged in meaningful environmental education activities both at and related to Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve by leading outreach efforts with the Redwood Environmental Academy of Leadership (REAL) program and their leadership with the... more

Plants, like humans, are host to many pathogens. Just how many pathogens and just how much of a disease burden they levy is not immediately evident in seemingly tranquil and restorative places like Jasper Ridge. But in two new publications from Professor Erin Mordecai’s lab, we get a different view, that of Jasper Ridge grasses confronting diverse and ubiquitous pathogenic... more

Research at Jasper Ridge has re-started—gradually, and subject to painstaking review by Stanford’s Field Research Working Group. To be eligible to re-start, studies must be long-term or have completed all exploratory work prior to March; researchers must be located in Northern California; and their visits must receive approval from the Working Group and their department chair. The Working Group evaluates... more