BACK IN THE THICK OF THINGS

Former Yellowstone Science Chief to Direct Big Sky Institute

By Todd Wilkinson, 12-19-06

One of the American West's most seasoned research scientists has discovered he couldn't stay in retirement for very long. John Varley, formerly director of the Yellowstone Center for Research in the world's first national park, has been plucked to become the next executive director of the Big Sky Institute at Montana State University in Bozeman.

During his tenure in Yellowstone, Varley oversaw one of the largest ecological field research units in the federal government. He advocated for protection of Yellowstone's geothermal resources against energy development threats on the park periphery, was intimately involved in the environmental analysis and public comment which cleared the way for wolf restoration, and had a supervisory role in research related to such varied issues as winter use, bison management, grizzly bear conservation, and identifying microbial life for possible use in the biotech industry. Under his command, hundreds of various kinds of ecosystem study were carried out in the park.

The 65-year-old Varley succeeds Lisa Graumlich who has lead the Big Sky Institute and established it as a nexus for research on climate change and the study of high-altitude environments. She is leaving MSU to become director of the School of Natural Resources at the University of Tucson in Arizona.

Earlier in his career, Varley served as a fisheries biologist and was instrumental in convincing the federal government to adopt catch-and-release policies in Yellowstone that have become standard protocol for anglers around the world. His civil service career spanned more than 30 years. "I wasn't looking for another job," he told MSU News Service staff writer Evelyn Boswell. " They thought I had some skills I could bring to MSU. It looked very exciting to me."

Varley, who has a keen interest in climate change issues, is expected to strengthen the research connections between Yellowstone and the university campus in Bozeman. According to Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs David Dooley, Varley's appointment will last three years and begin in mid January. "We are delighted that John will be bringing his unique combination of gifts and experience to a leadership position at MSU," Dooley told Boswell. "MSU, in part through its 'University of the Yellowstone' initiative and the Big Sky Institute, is poised to achieve new levels of excellence and John will help us attain our goals."

On another note, Bozeman writer David Quammen recently was named to MSU's Wallace Stegner Chair.

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