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Friends of Alta Speaker Series

2026 Events Schedule.jpg

The Friends of Alta Speaker Series is in its third year!

Held at various locations in Alta and Salt Lake, these free events are a great way to learn more about the environment of Little Cottonwood Canyon and Utah!

Dates for future events will be announced soon. Make sure to RSVP as they are likely to fill up quickly!

There is no fee to participate in this event, but donations are welcomed.

Speaker Series Talks

Meet the Speakers

Learn more about the amazing speakers for our 2025 speaker series!

Scott Hotaling

Scott Hotaling is a professor in the Department of Watershed Sciences at Utah State University. He received his PhD in 2017 and joined the Utah State faculty in 2022. At USU, he leads the Climate Change in Mountains Lab where his team studies how recent climate change is impacting mountain regions. He is also USU Extension’s Climate Adaptation Specialist. In this role, he works with a wide array of entities to solve the climate challenges facing Utah and the surrounding region. A climbing ranger turned mountain scientist, Dr. Hotaling brings a unique perspective to academic research and extension by integrating long-term data collection, storytelling, and his own experiences. You can see more of his work on his

Christopher Merritt

Chris Merritt

Christopher Merritt received his Ph.D. from the University of Montana in Anthropology in 2010, focusing on the archaeological and historical investigations of the Overseas Chinese. Before that, he received a Master's of Science in Industrial Archaeology from Michigan Technological University where he studied the trade and consumption of Mormon-produced pottery in Utah. Since 2004, Merritt has worked in a variety of professional archaeological settings including the United States Forest Service in Utah and Nevada, private archaeological contracting in Salt Lake City, and finally as the State Historic Preservation Officer for the Utah Division of State History. In addition to the full-time employment with the State of Utah, he is Adjunct Faculty in Anthropology at Salt Lake Community College and an instructor for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

Talks & Recordings

Learn more about past and future talks, as well as watching recordings of previous educational talks.

2024 Winter

Secrets of The Greatest Snow On Earth

Presented by Jim Steenburgh

Friends of Alta welcomes Jim Steenburgh, author of "Secrets of the Greatest Snow on Earth", and Professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the U.

2024 Summer

Mountain Forests in a Changing Climate

Presented by William Anderegg

Join Friends of Alta and Professor William Anderegg from the University of Utah for a presentation and discussion on the future of western US forests in a rapidly changing climate.

2025 Winter

Great Salt Lake: Decreases in lake level = increases in attention and opportunity

Presented by Laura Vernon

Join Friends of Alta and Laura Vernon for a special talk about Ecology, economics, and the future of Great Salt Lake. Learn more about Great Salt Lake and what you can do to help.

2025 Summer

Wildlife migratory habits / trail cams

Presented by Austin Green

Join Friends of Alta and Austin Green to learn more about migration habits of wildlife along the Wasatch Front and what trail cam footage has captured.

2024 Spring

From Alta to the Great Salt Lake: The Secrets of The Greatest Snowmelt

Presented by Paul Brooks

Join Friends of Alta and Paul Brooks from the University of Utah for a presentation and discussion on the importance of mountain snowmelt.

2024 Fall

Greenhouse gases, Air Quality, and Future of the Wasatch Front

Presented by John Lin

Join Friends of Alta and Professor John Lin from the University of Utah for a presentation and discussion on Greenhouse gases, Air Quality, and Future of the Wasatch Front.

2025 Spring

Dust on snow: How darker snow and faster melt impacts water resources

Presented by McKenzie Skiles

Join Friends of Alta and University of Utah Professor McKenzie Skiles to learn how dust from regional sources, such as the Great Salt Lake, impacts snowpack.

2025 Fall

Fall leaf color - why does it change

Presented by David Bowling

Join Friends of Alta, Alta Community Enrichment, and Professor David Bowling to learn more about why leaves change colors

Image Gallery

Thank you to everyone who was able to join us with one of our past talks!

Secrets of the Greatest Snow On Earth

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