InstructorPeter Marchand, Ph.D.

Peter Marchand is a field biologist trained in both earth sciences and ecology at the University of New Hampshire. He earned his doctorate investigating physiological limits to tree growth at timberline and then devoted much of his career to the study of diverse forest, tundra and desert ecosystems. Peter’s research interests at CCGSR are focused mainly on plant and animal response to disturbance—including climate change—in Colorado’s montane forests and alpine tundra, but he admits “sometimes I just like to rummage through nature, like a bear at a garbage dump, for the biological spoils that fascinate me most.”

A frequent contributor to Natural History, his writing often concerns life at the extremes. His books include, among other titles, Life in the Cold: An Introduction to Winter Ecology, and Autumn: A Season of Change. Peter serves as Director of Research at CCGSR and holds adjunct appointments at the Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado College, and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. When he’s not delving into the subnivean world or poking around in the forest canopy, Peter is often found backpacking in the high desert or careening down snow-covered slopes on telemark skis. He also enjoys music, art, and southwestern culture.