Scholars in the Schools
Putting a Human Face on the Scientific Community
Throughout the school year, the Pinhead Institute brings internationally renowned scientists into our regional schools. These acclaimed scientists present their work and educational pathways, often leading experiments, workshops, and sometimes field expeditions for students in grade school through high school. This program enables students from rural communities throughout the region to have the opportunity to interact with PhD scientists from around the world specializing in everything from nanoscience, to biochemistry, to field biology, to astrophysics, and much more. It could be a quick trip down Main Street to our terrific local Telluride school, or further afield to Colorado’s corn capital of Olathe, the thriving metropolis of Montrose, or the smaller towns of Nucla, Norwood, Ridgway, Ouray, Dolores, or the almost-city of Cortez in the Four Corners where many students commute from the nearby Navajo and Ute reservations. Sometimes it’s a classroom of eight enthralled students, other times it’s “Pizza with Professionals” over lunch with dozens of high schoolers in a school library, and occasionally it’s a school-wide assembly with 100 or more students.
2024-2025 SCHOLARS
Alex Shelley
San Miguel Power Association
Bill Weber
Pilot, Aviation and Education Foundation
Dmitry Vorobiev, PhD
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, CU Boulder
Brian Fleming, PhD
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, CU Boulder
Briana Indahl, PhD
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, CU Boulder
Vicki Abeles
Filmmaker, ‘Counted Out’ Math Documentary
Glenn Rodriguez
Math Nerd and Deputy Director, Center for Community Alternatives
John Bockrath
District Chief, Norwood Fire Department
Dr J. Judson Wynne
Assistant Research Professor/Department of Biological Sciences
Merriam-Powell Center for Environmental Research/Northern Arizona University
2023-2024 SCHOLARS
Seychelle Vos, Ph.D.
Vos Lab, Department of Biology, MIT
Nicola Neretti, PhD
Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University
Adrian Bergere
San Miguel Watershed Coalition
Joe Tanner
Astronaut
Jason Cook, Ph.D.
Astronomer/Astrophysicist
Pacifica Sommers, PhD
Metagenomics Data Scientist, Bayer Crop Sciences
Daan Stevenson PhD
Engineer and Entrepreneur, Iona Tech
Camille Price
Former Environmental Protection Specialist, Idarado Mining Company
Dr J. Judson Wynne
Assistant Research Professor/Department of Biological Sciences
Merriam-Powell Center for Environmental Research/Northern Arizona University
Dan Bosch
Fisheries Biologist, Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Owen Dubeck
Filmaker, Farmlink
Jane Ferguson
Journalist
2022-2023 SCHOLARS
Margarita Isabel Bernal Uruchurtu, PhD
Chemist, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos
Gigi El Bayoumi, MD
Rodham Institute, Public Health
Pacifica Sommers, PhD
Metagenomics Data Scientist, Bayer Crop Sciences
Research Affiliate, University of Colorado Boulder
Erika Nesvold, PhD
Astrophysics Engineer
Emily Freed, PhD
Colorado School of Mines
Brewster Shaw
Astronaut
Charlie Kane
Entrepreneur and Local Business Owner
Camille Price
Former Environmental Protection Specialist, Idarado Mining Company
2021-2022 SCHOLARS
Brewster Shaw
Astronaut
Charlie Kane
Entrepreneur and Local Business Owner
Bruce Wright
Architect
Pedro Kos
Film Director
Camille Price
Former Environmental Protection Specialist, Idarado Mining Company
Stan Kiersztyn
Wastewater Engineer
Rachael McCrary
NCAR Climate Scientist
Joyce Huang
Telluride Town Engineer
Joe Tanner
Astronaut
Daan Stevenson PhD
Engineer and Entrepreneur, Iona Tech
Heidi Steltzer, PhD
Professor of Environment, Sustainability and Biology and the Coordinator for the Environmental Science Degree Program at Fort Lewis College
Emily Freed, PhD
Geneticist and Researcher at CU Boulder. Member of 500 Women Scientists.
Glade Hadden
Paleontologist
Rene Pumayalli
Hydrogeologist and Water Management Consultant
2020-2021 SCHOLARS
Jeff Orlowoski
Director of “Social Dilemma”
Pacifica Sommers, PhD
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology UC Boulder
Adeene Denton
Doctoral Student in Planetary Geology, Purdue University
Joe Tanner
Former NASA Astronaut/Former Senior Instructor, Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder
Heidi Steltzer, PhD
Professor of Environment, Sustainability and Biology and the Coordinator for the Environmental Science Degree Program at Fort Lewis College
Emily Freed, PhD
Geneticist and Researcher at CU Boulder. Member of 500 Women Scientists.
Rachel Havranek, PhD Student CU Boulder
Climate change scientist and member of 500 Women Scientists
Colorado University Technology for Extreme Environments (CUTEE Club)
Competing in the NASA SUITS Challenge to design and create an augmented reality system
Deborah Lycan, PhD
Professor of Biology at Lewis and Clark College
Cristina Francois, PhD Entomologist and researcher at University of Arizona
Brian Lee, PhD student Chemistry Student at California Institute of Technology
Dr J. Judson Wynne
Assistant Research Professor/Department of Biological Sciences
Merriam-Powell Center for Environmental Research/Northern Arizona University
Christopher Arndt
Entrepreneur and Clean Energy Advocate
2019-2020 SCHOLARS
Thimali Kodikara
Series Producer, Mothers of Invention Podcast
Lauren Oakes
Ecologist and Human-natural Systems Scientist
Adjunct Professor in Earth System Science, Stanford University
Nic Aziz
Interdisciplinary Artist and Curator
Camille Price
Former Environmental Protection Specialist, Idarado Mining Company
Dr. Susan Oupadia
Retired Pathologist, St Mary’s Medical Center
Dr. Paul Oupadia
Retired Cardiologist, St Mary’s Medical Center
Emil Sante
San Miguel Country Coroner and EMT
Lindsey Welch
Graphic Designer
Tara Carter
Ceramic Artist
Youth Curriculum Manager at the Ah Haa School
Dominique Bruneau
Architect/Landscape Architect
Peter Sante
Sante Architects
Nasa Suits VR Challenge Team
University of Colorado
Dr J. Judson Wynne
Assistant Research Professor/Department of Biological Sciences
Merriam-Powell Center for Environmental Research/Northern Arizona University
2018-2019 SCHOLARS
David Quammen
Science Writer
Dr. Zach Bush
MD
Wally Green
Table Tennis Pro
Angela Sprackling
Software Engineer
Dr J. Judson Wynne
Assistant Research Professor/Department of Biological Sciences
Merriam-Powell Center for Environmental Research/Northern Arizona University
Virginia Till
EPA Region 8 Recycling Specialist / Sustainable Management of Food Lead
Environmental Stewardship Unit
Nasa Suits VR Challenge Team
University of Colorado
Heidi Steltzer, PhD
Fort Lewis College, Biology Department
2017-2018 SCHOLARS
David Aguilar
Astronomer/Author
Jason Cook, Ph.D.
Astronomer/Astrophysicist
Dale Forrister.
Doctoral candidate, University of Utah
Deborah E. Lycan, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology and Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
Lewis & Clark College
Miranda Redmond, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Colorado State University, Forest and Rangeland Stewardship
Laura R. Stein, Ph.D.
Postdoc, Department of Biology
Colorado State University
Pacifica Sommers, PhD
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
UC Boulder
2016-2017 SCHOLARS
Steve Baskis
CEO/Founder, Blind Endeavors Foundation
Jeff Branson
Educational Outreach Coordinator, SparkFun Electronics
Korana Burke, Ph.D.
Lecturer, University of California, Davis
Adam Chambers, Ph.D.
Climate Scientist/Co-Founder, Pinhead Climate Institute
Jason Cook, Ph.D.
Astronomer/Astrophysicist
Dr. Susan Oupadia
Pathologist
Mark Shapiro
Laika Films
Brewster Shaw, Jr.
former NASA astronaut/VP & General Manager, Space Exploration, Boeing
Joe Tanner
former NASA astronaut/former senior instructor, Aerospace Engineering Sciences,
University of Colorado, Boulder
2015-2016 SCHOLARS
Dr. Deepak Chopra
Alternative Medicine Advocate, Author, Speaker
Jason Cook, Ph.D.
Southwest Research Institute
Leslie P. Kozak, Ph.D.
Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research
Polish Academy of Sciences
Len Metheny, Jr.
Founder and former CEO of ApplyYourself, Inc.
Basit Mustafa
Founder and CEO of Voltaire, Inc.
Dr. Paul Oupadia
Cardiologist
Dr. Susan Oupadia
Pathologist
Dr. Valerie Sharpe
Doctor of Optometry
Owner, Alpine Eyecare, Telluride, CO
Medical Staff, Navajo Area Indian Health Service, Chinle, AZ
Mark Shapiro
Laika Films
John E. Straub, Ph.D.
The Straub Group
Boston University
2014-2015 SCHOLARS
Bob Baer
Former CIA Agent
Dr. Ron Estler
Ft. Lewis College/TSRC
Bob Hodorff
Retired US Dept. of Agriculture Wildlife Biologist
Mark Shapiro
Laika Films
Dr. John Steinburg
University of Massachusetts, Boston
Joe Tanner
Retired NASA Astronaut
Dr. Erika Zavaleta
University of California, Santa Cruz
More Scholars to be announced! Check back soon!
