The Cold Regions Research Centre was established in 1987, evolving from a large multidisciplinary, research & training, project on snow & ice hydrology in the Karakoram Himalaya of Pakistan that was based in WLU’s geography department. While the Centre’s initial focus was on arctic & mountain glaciology & hydrology, since 1990 the scope & role of the Centre within the geography department & the university has broadened. Today the CRRC is a focus of cold regions (mountain & northern) research consulting on topics such as hydrology, climatology, glaciology, resource management, parks planning & biogeochemistry.
The Goals & Mandate of the CRRC are:
- To facilitate interdisciplinary research and teaching about cold regions.
- To facilitate academic and field training of students in a range of cold regions disciplines and locations.
- To provide a locus for interaction among faculty and between faculty and students interested in cold regions research and problems.
- To encourage cooperation and links with other cold regions research and training centres and organizations.
The CRRC provides:
- Research space & facilities for affiliated graduate students.
- Maintains cold regions research aids & support.
- Maintains contacts with northern & other research institutes interested in cold regions.
- Sponsors regular invited speaker series.
- Provides public & educational talks on cold regions topics.