University of Denver Autumn 2024

“Life finds a way,” Dr. Ian Malcolm famously said in the movie “Jurassic Park.” Actor Jeff Goldblum’s character may have been talking about dinosaurs, but his words ring true for biologists studying species in the modern world. From the bottom of the ocean to the hottest desert

and coldest tundra, you’ll find evidence of life almost everywhere on Earth. For University of Denver evolutionary biologist Jon Velotta and his team of dedicated student and postdoctoral researchers, the place they prefer to study is the summit of one of the highest peaks in Colorado: Mount Blue Sky. Reaching 14,268 feet,

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