Click HERE to Apply by May 1, 2026
FOR-NM Academy is a one week intensive field course for 10 current undergraduate students attending New Mexico Universities who want to learn the foundation of how quantify watershed structure and function in New Mexico watersheds. The Academy will be held from July 21st-25th, 2026 (Tues 9 AM -Sat noon) at the Synergia Ranch, with field trips to field sites in the Santa Fe Watershed.
This course blends classroom based lectures with hands on field sampling methods from experts in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem ecology, remote sensing, land surface modelling and community engagement. This course is funded through a new NSF award to UNM, NMSU, WNMU, BEMP, Asombro called FOR-NM (Forest Research for NM Water and Carbon Management).
This course blends classroom based lectures with hands on field sampling methods from experts in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem ecology, remote sensing, land surface modelling and community engagement. This course is funded through a new NSF award to UNM, NMSU, WNMU, BEMP, Asombro called FOR-NM (Forest Research for NM Water and Carbon Management).
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Watershed Scale Ecosystem Structure and Function
Learn how to quantify ecosystem structure and function in watersheds to characterize watershed health and the importance of studying it. |
Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystem Ecology
Learn how to deploy sensor and make field measurements to capture real-time, ground-level data on streamflow, water quality, soil carbon, and vegetation. |
Restoration of Plant Community and Soil Health
Learn how to quantify impacts of forest management on herbaceous plants and soil health |
Community Engagement
Learn how to work directly with communities to best prioritize management options |
Course Learning Objectives
1. Increase knowledge of the relationship between watershed structure (i.e., what the watershed looks like) and watershed function (i.e., how water and carbon move through watersheds).
2. Increase knowledge of how management and disturbance alter watershed structure and function.
3. Identify major data sources that can be used to assess watershed structure and function
4. Learn techniques for collecting these datasets (both in the field and through remote sensing and modelling)
5. Increase knowledge of current NM policy of watershed management and important stakeholder questions
6. Learn techniques for community-engaged research
7. Learn techniques and models for communicating up-to-date science to the general public, including middle and high school teachers and students
8. Identify researchers and students from across the state for mentorship or research opportunities.
2. Increase knowledge of how management and disturbance alter watershed structure and function.
3. Identify major data sources that can be used to assess watershed structure and function
4. Learn techniques for collecting these datasets (both in the field and through remote sensing and modelling)
5. Increase knowledge of current NM policy of watershed management and important stakeholder questions
6. Learn techniques for community-engaged research
7. Learn techniques and models for communicating up-to-date science to the general public, including middle and high school teachers and students
8. Identify researchers and students from across the state for mentorship or research opportunities.
Where will the course be held?
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The FOR-NM Academy will be held at the beautiful Synergia Ranch, 30 minutes south of Santa Fe. Synergia Ranch offers classic adobe style bedrooms in the foothills of the Cerrillos Hills. Synergia has a private chef and farm on site to provide excellent, fresh meals accommodating all diets.
How much does it cost?
Nothing! It is free to attend. Your accommodations are all paid for, and you will be given a travel stipend to cover roundtrip mileage costs to/from Synergia Ranch
Who do I contact for more information?
Jacob White, Program Manager of FOR-NM [email protected]
Marcy Litvak, PI of FOR-NM [email protected]
Marcy Litvak, PI of FOR-NM [email protected]
Click HERE to apply by May 1, 2026