The Cold Regions Research Centre was established in 1988, 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.