Telluride Science

Two Skirts Warehouse 80 Percent Off Sale
2025-10-25 10:00 - 17:00 (America/Denver) | Telluride Innovation Center, 300 S. Townsend, Telluride, CO, 81435, United States
Shop ’til you drop. Two Skirts is hosting their annual fall sale and it is your time to score the best deals of the year. Don’t miss it.
80% OFF EVERYTHING
Bring your own bags.

Knowledge is Power: Navigating Breast Health and Breast Cancer
2025-10-22 17:30 - 19:00 | Telluride Innovation Center, 300 S. Townsend, Telluride, CO, 81435, United States
Join us for an informative evening dedicated to raising awareness and deepening your understanding of breast health and breast cancer.
Our panel brings together a diverse team of medical experts, including a primary care physician, a breast surgeon, a radiologist specializing in breast imaging, and specialists in oncology, research, and patient navigation. Together, they will provide a clear and accessible overview of the latest concepts in screening, early detection, treatment options, and ongoing research. Their combined perspectives—from prevention and diagnosis through treatment and survivorship—will help demystify the complexities surrounding breast cancer.
We are grateful to have local voices on the panel to share their personal journeys. Dr. Sharon Grundy, primary care director at the Telluride Medical Center will add a unique perspective as a breast cancer survivor and lead physician at the Telluride Medical Center. The discussion will be moderated by Diana Koelliker.
Panelists include:

Sharon Grundy, MD Primary Care Physician
Stephanie Miller, MD Breast Surgeon
Kelly D’Amico, MD Breast Radiologist
Katie Jones, NP Medical Oncology and High-Risk Clinic NP
Paige Bordelon, MPH Clinical Research
Lindy Owens, RN Breast Nurse Navigator
Kristin Thomas Physical Therapist

Organized by Telluride Science and Telluride Regional Medical Center, this event is free and open to the public. Thanks to Community Banks of Colorado, Alpine Bank, and Shaw Cancer Center for sponsoring the event.

Nature is Nurture: Harnessing the Therapeutic Benefit of the Great Outdoors
2025-09-26 17:30 - 18:30 | Telluride Innovation Center, 300 S. Townsend, Telluride, CO, 81435, United States
Presented by Dr. Melissa Sundermann, also known as Doctor Outdoors
Have you ever felt calmer after a walk in the woods? More energized by a mountain hike? Happier after spending time in the sun? That’s not just in your head—it’s in your biology. In this uplifting and eye-opening talk, Dr. Melissa Sundermann, a board-certified Lifestyle Medicine physician and outdoor enthusiast, shares how nature truly nurtures us—body, mind, and spirit. Through stories, science, and simple suggestions, you’ll discover how even small doses of nature can lead to big health benefits, from lowering blood pressure to lifting your mood. You’ll leave inspired—and equipped—to bring more nature into your everyday life, no matter where you are.

Learn how time in nature supports mental well-being by reducing stress, anxiety, and depression.
Discover the physical health benefits of being outdoors—like lower blood pressure, better sleep, and a stronger immune system.
Understand how nature improves focus, creativity, and cognitive function—even for kids and older adults.
Explore how spending time outside fosters social connection, a sense of meaning, and emotional resilience.
Walk away with simple, practical ways to make nature part of your daily routine—wherever you live.

Solving The Dual Challenge: More Energy Less Emissions
2025-09-25 15:00 - 17:00 | Telluride Innovation Center, 300 S. Townsend, Telluride, CO, 81435, United States
The world faces the Dual Challenge: meeting growing demand for affordable, reliable energy while rapidly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The solutions are multifaceted and include methane abatement, accelerating the adoption of renewables and technologies such as Carbon Capture, Utilization & Sequestration (CCUS), as well as geothermal and nuclear energy, while improving energy and transportation efficiency.
Join us to hear from OpenMinds’ NextGen Leaders as they share insights from projects on CCUS, Geothermal, Methane, HVAC Battery Deployment, Nuclear, and Measuring the Dual Challenge. These short, interactive presentations will be followed by Q&A discussions to dive deeper into solutions shaping our energy

Telluride Chamber Music and Telluride Science Community Concert
2025-09-18 17:30 - 18:30 | Telluride Innovation Center, 300 S. Townsend, Telluride, CO, 81435, United States
Join Telluride Science and Telluride Chamber Music for a free community concert on the scenic patio at the Innovation Center. Enjoy an evening of beautiful music featuring Telluride Chamber’s Executive Director Claire Beard on flute, Mary Beth Meuller on violin, and Travis Fisher on piano. All are welcome—come soak in the beauty of live chamber music in an inspiring setting.

New Drugs for Super Bugs: Addressing the Antibiotic Resistance Crisis
2025-09-09 18:30 - 19:30 | Telluride Innovation Center, 300 S. Townsend, Telluride, CO, 81435, United States
We are facing an antibiotic resistance crisis. This Town Talk, presented by Zemer Gitai from Princeton University, will review some of the scientific and socioeconomic factors that have made it hard to solve the crisis and let us in on some new approaches powered by AI that show promise.
This is a special Town Talk that falls outside our regular summer season and will be held at the Telluride Innovation Center. Doors open at 6 pm and the program starts at 6:30 pm. Free and open to the public.

Thanks to our title sponsor Alpine Bank.

Energy 2.0: Exploring the Potential of Thermal Energy Networks
2025-09-03 18:30 - 19:30 | Telluride Innovation Center, 300 S. Townsend, Telluride, CO, 81435, United States
What are Thermal Energy Networks (TENs)? Why are they important, and why should we care?
In our region, heating buildings is both expensive and a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. While geothermal systems are not new, networked geothermal is a new approach — one that is gaining popularity as a strategy to heat and cool buildings at low cost and high efficiency.
Please join us for a panel discussion with several national experts to learn about the topic and how using TENS can effectively decarbonize buildings and reduce carbon emissions.
In partnership with EcoAction Partners, Cornet Creek Foundation, and Telluride Foundation.
Free and open to the public

Telluride Chamber Music and Telluride Science Community Concert
2025-08-21 17:30 - 18:30 | Telluride Innovation Center, 300 S. Townsend, Telluride, CO, 81435, United States
Join Telluride Science and Telluride Chamber Music for a free community concert on the scenic patio at the Innovation Center. Enjoy an evening of beautiful music featuring Danny DeSantis on viola, Steve White on cello, and Travis Fisher on piano. All are welcome—come soak in the beauty of live chamber music in an inspiring setting.
This concert will start earlier than usual to accommodate music lovers who want a double dose of music al fresco -chamber music followed by a concert at the Sheridan Opera House patio.

The Art of Appraisal
2025-08-15 16:00 - 18:00 | Telluride Innovation Center, 300 S. Townsend, Telluride, CO, 81435, United States
How do you appraise high-end art and one-of-a-kind objects? What are the factors that go into appraising art and antiques? What kinds of qualities does a personal property appraiser evaluate to arrive at a value conclusion? What’s the difference between value approaches for insurance, estate planning and donation appraisals? After walking through these factors, in Katherine’s slide presentation that includes career highlights and interesting projects, you will be able to answer all of these questions and more!
Please RSVP to Ellen Gruebel at egreubel@mac.com.

Trees in the City: Cooling, Carbon, and the Complications
2025-08-12 18:30 - 19:30 | Telluride Conference Center, 580 Mountain Village Blvd, Telluride, CO, 81435, United States
Lucy Hutyra, Boston University
Our city trees offer well-known benefits—from cooling overheated neighborhoods to sequestering carbon—but the story is far from simple. This talk examines how trees grow in the challenging urban environment and the ecological trade-offs they face. We’ll explore how cities might balance green and built solutions to improve urban livability. Using recent data and case studies, we’ll dive into the biology, chemistry, climate, sociology, and planning that shape our urban ecosystems.
This is the final Town Talk of the summer season.
Thanks to our title sponsor Alpine Bank and Telluride Mountain Village Owner’s Association.

Good Amyloids, Bad Amyloids: Shape Shifting and Contagious Shape
2025-08-05 18:30 - 19:30 | Telluride Conference Center, 580 Mountain Village Blvd, Telluride, CO, 81435, United States
Ann McDermott, Columbia University
For proteins, aka “the building blocks of life”, shape is ultimately important. Shape, more than other properties, confers function, information about protein shapes is coveted in the development of new medicines and diagnostics. Most proteins are somewhat flexible, and there are numerous shapes that can be adopted in the course or their cellular function. Protein flexibility has a dark side— the shape-shifting can shape be extreme in many diseases– such that proteins adopt a dramatically different elongated shape— one in which many copies of the protein clump together and form amyloid deposits in the brain, pancreas, kidney, heart, liver, or other organs. This lecture explores a controversial point regarding amyloid proteins. Are amyloid proteins sometimes employed by nature for benefit? Does nature, the ultimate opportunist, make good use of the fact that proteins convert from their normal shape to this quasi-universal clumped form? Learn more in this Telluride Inside and Out Article
Town Talks will be held on Tuesdays at the Telluride Conference Center in Mountain Village June 3 to August 12 (with the exception of July 1). Doors open at 6 pm and the program starts at 6:30 pm. Free and open to the public.
Thanks to our title sponsor Alpine Bank and Telluride Mountain Village Owner’s Association.

Top Chef & Taste of Telluride
2025-08-02 17:30 - 22:00 | Telluride Innovation Center, 300 S. Townsend, Telluride, CO, 81435, United States
Top Chef & Taste of Telluride serves up delicious food, creative cocktails, a chef competition, and more—all to support One to One Mentoring and its mission to empower local youth through trusted, caring relationships.
Indulge in delectable dishes prepared by local chefs while enjoying the stunning views of Telluride. This event is designed to celebrate the rich local food culture of Telluride and to showcase three amazing chefs in a “Top Chef” style competition. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to savor the flavors of Telluride!

What If the Future of Computing Isn’t Silicon?
2025-07-29 18:30 - 19:30 | Telluride Conference Center, 580 Mountain Village Blvd, Telluride, CO, 81435, United States
Milan Delor, Columbia University
Moore’s law – the long-standing trend of computer chips getting constantly faster and cheaper by doubling the number of transistors on a chip every two years – is coming to a worrying end. The hunt for new materials and processes that could power the next technological revolution is on. In this short talk, I will focus on one example: using light instead of electrons to compute. I will describe some key challenges from a materials science perspective, and emerging opportunities that could result in dramatic improvements in the speed and energy efficiency of information technologies, including for AI and quantum computing applications.
Town Talks will be held on Tuesdays at the Telluride Conference Center in Mountain Village June 3 to August 12 (with the exception of July 1). Doors open at 6 pm and the program starts at 6:30 pm. Free and open to the public.
Thanks to our title sponsor Alpine Bank and Telluride Mountain Village Owner’s Association.

Quantum Computing and Chemistry: Realizing the Promise of Quantum Information
2025-07-22 18:30 - 19:30 | Telluride Conference Center, 580 Mountain Village Blvd, Telluride, CO, 81435, United States
Kade Head-Marsden, University of Minnesota
There is an exponential cost to obtaining molecular information pertinent to important processes such as catalysis, photosynthesis, and energy transfer and storage. While quantum computing showed early promise for reducing the scaling of these problems, practical realization of this promise has remained challenging. The primary challenge arises due to the noise experienced by the quantum system, limiting the size and complexity of possible algorithms and thus restricting the scope of possible applications. The detrimental effect of noise is because qubits, the base unit of quantum computation, are fundamentally interacting with their surroundings. As we navigate through this noisy quantum era, we need to find use-cases for the hardware we have access to now, along with creative paths forward. Here, I will introduce the ideas and potential behind quantum computing, discuss practical challenges, and outline on-going chemistry research inspired by these challenges in quantum information.
Town Talks will be held on Tuesdays at the Telluride Conference Center in Mountain Village June 3 to August 12 (with the exception of July 1). Doors open at 6 pm and the program starts at 6:30 pm. Free and open to the public.
Thanks to our title sponsor Alpine Bank and Telluride Mountain Village Owner’s Association.

“Hot Flashes & Bright Futures: Reimagining Midlife & Menopause Care
2025-07-17 18:00 - 19:30 | Telluride Innovation Center, 300 S. Townsend, Telluride, CO, 81435, United States
Telluride Science’s biggest fundraiser of the summer showcases a powerhouse panel for women on thriving through midlife and beyond.
Fresh off her recent appearance with Oprah Winfrey and interviews on major podcasts like Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert and Mel Robbins, Dr. Mary Claire Haver—#1 New York Times bestselling author of The New Menopause, board-certified OB-GYN and founder of The ‘Pause Life—is transforming how we talk about women’s health. With over 6 million followers, she’s become a leading voice in menopause care, empowering women with science-backed tools to take charge of their health and longevity.
Join Dr. Haver and fellow trailblazers Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz and Dr. Corinne Menn for a dynamic panel discussion hosted by Telluride Science and the Telluride Foundation. This expert “menoposse” will explore the latest science, strategies, and solutions for thriving through midlife and beyond—from hormone therapy and musculoskeletal health to sexual wellness, mental clarity, and whole-body vitality.
This is your chance to hear directly from the ultimate A-listers in women’s health. The evening will include a moderated discussion and audience Q&A. Come ready to challenge outdated narratives and leave with practical, empowering knowledge you can use.
PLEASE NOTE: Event capacity is limited. Sponsors and donors of Telluride Science and Telluride Foundation have priority and will have reserved seating for the live presentation. On a first-come, first-served basis by RSVP, this special event is offered free to the public via livestream in the Gallery Room; this is separate from the live presentation. Registration to the event is required. Reserve a seat HERE.

Folding DNA into Tiny Shapes: The Revolution of DNA Origami
2025-07-15 18:30 - 19:30 | Telluride Conference Center, 580 Mountain Village Blvd, Telluride, CO, 81435, United States
Guillermo AcunaFriborg University
A scientific revolution is happening at the smallest of scales—one where we fold DNA, the molecule of life, into intricate nanoscale shapes. This field, called DNA origami, turns DNA into a programmable building material, allowing us to craft structures just billionths of a meter in size with astonishing precision. In this talk, we’ll explore this technique that ‘folds’ DNA like nanoscale paper and discuss its strengths, limitations, and groundbreaking applications that are reshaping fields from medicine to electronics.
Town Talks will be held on Tuesdays at the Telluride Conference Center in Mountain Village June 3 to August 12 (with the exception of July 1). Doors open at 6 pm and the program starts at 6:30 pm. Free and open to the public.
Thanks to our title sponsor Alpine Bank and Telluride Mountain Village Owner’s Association.

Town Talk: Condense to Organize
2025-07-08 18:30 - 19:30 | Telluride Conference Center, 580 Mountain Village Blvd, Telluride, CO, 81435, United States
Rohit Pappu, Washington University in St. Louis
What are the unifying themes in neurodegeneration in the context of ALS and other dementias, success of heart transplantation, the onset and progression of an assortment of cancers, and stress responses of plants? In all these cases, the biochemical reactions within the cells of interest that go awry in pathology or the reactions that contribute to healthy cells occur within specialized communities known as biomolecular condensates. These are molecular communities that form via condensation, just like raindrops on a windshield. Condensates are dynamic molecular communities and reactions occur within and at the interface of condensates. These molecular communities form when they are needed, and dissolve when they are no longer needed. While reversible formation of condensates at the right place and time enables control over cellular reactions, aberrations in condensation appear to be at the root of some of the most debilitating and complex diseases of our time. The talk will highlight key insights that have emerged over the past decade-and-a-half that have opened our eyes to the marvels of condensation within cells. Strikingly, how real-time developments in basic science are making an impact in the way we diagnose and treat disease, while also enabling enormous progress toward a better understanding of plant and microbial systems.
Town Talks will be held on Tuesdays at the Telluride Conference Center in Mountain Village June 3 to August 12 (with the exception of July 1). Doors open at 6 pm and the program starts at 6:30 pm. Free and open to the public.
Thanks to our title sponsor Alpine Bank and Telluride Mountain Village Owner’s Association.

Science of Cocktails
2025-07-02 17:00 - 20:00 | Telluride Innovation Center, 300 S. Townsend, Telluride, CO, 81435, United States
It’s that time of year – when intriguing experiments with density, sublimation, acoustic integration, and even comestible colloids meet the finest in Telluride’s craft mixology scene during the Pinhead Institute’s annual Science of Cocktails fundraiser. Celebrating its fifteenth anniversary, this ages 21+ party will feature science-spiked libations (with some mocktail options!) created by local master mixologists. You’ll get to vote for the coveted People’s Choice Award, and watch scientists debate the technical merits of each beverage before awarding the Best Science Drink Award. Both prizes are badges of honor for participating establishments. Mingle with local and visiting science nerds, our Pinhead Interns, and enjoy appetizers and a silent auction. The bonus…feel great knowing your attendance helps support K-12 STEM education throughout regional, Southwest Colorado.

Town Talk: The Good, The Bad and The Possible
2025-06-24 18:30 - 19:30 | Telluride Conference Center, 580 Mountain Village Blvd, Telluride, CO, 81435, United States
Josh Schaidle
To enable secure, resilient, and domestic supply chains, Dr. Josh Schaidle and his colleagues of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado are pursuing innovative routes to diversify the feedstocks utilized in production of the fuels, chemicals, and materials that we use in our everyday lives. He will discuss the value proposition for generating fuels and products from two above-ground carbon sources: waste CO2 from the air and industrial sites and biomass resources, such as agricultural and forest residues. He also addresses the key challenges of making this a reality, namely feedstock complexity and energy intensity, and offers insight into new technological advancements to help improve affordability.
Town Talks will be held on Tuesdays at the Telluride Conference Center in Mountain Village June 3 to August 12 (with the exception of July 1). Doors open at 6 pm and the program starts at 6:30 pm. Free and open to the public.
Thanks to our title sponsor Alpine Bank and Telluride Mountain Village Owner’s Association.

Afternoon at the Movies! The Ring
2025-06-22 16:00 - 18:00 | Telluride Innovation Center, 300 S. Townsend, Telluride, CO, 81435, United States
Presented by the Telluride Jewish Community
Join us for the first film in our three-part summer series—open to all!
The Ring is a comedy that explores love, loss, and rediscovery within an Israeli family. The film has earned critical acclaim and festival recognition, including a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 2024 Ophir Awards. This acclaimed film has been featured at the Paris Israeli Film Festival, the Seret Festival in London and Amsterdam, the Toronto Jewish Film Festival and numerous other festivals across North America.
Doors Open: 3:30 PM. Film Screening: 4:00 PM
Tickets are $18 in Advance or $22 at the Door. Or if you’re under 25, tickets are just $9. Purchase tickets HERE
Wine, candy and refreshments will be available. Security provided. Sponsored by the Telluride Jewish Community. A perfect opportunity to take a break from the hot sun or rain for a couple of hours and still make it back to the bluegrass festival in time for Zach Top and of course Alison Krauss.

Town Talk: Life in Color
2025-06-10 18:30 - 19:30 | Telluride Conference Center, 580 Mountain Village Blvd, Telluride, CO, 81435, United States
Natalie Shustova, University of South Carolina

Photochromic materials are quietly woven into the fabric of our daily lives, yet they are also driving some of the most exciting frontiers in science and technology. One familiar example is transition lenses for glasses which darken in sunlight and return to clear indoors, offering both UV protection and visual comfort. These lenses illustrate a core strength of photochromic materials: their ability to reversibly switch between states in response to external stimuli such as light, heat, or pressure. What makes these transformations truly powerful is their speed and reversibility, features that have inspired innovations far beyond eyewear. For instance, window coatings that darken when exposed to high-intensity sunlight not only drastically reduce the costs associated with air conditioning, but newer technology can also convert the absorbed sunlight into electricity, offering a sustainable and cost-effective approach to powering our homes and offices.
Ongoing research in photochromic materials is trying to bring the same concept of rapid and reversible switching between states to the next level by controlling important material properties outside of just color, including conductivity, magnetism, catalytic activity, and the ability to harvest solar energy. Thus, some materials can even mimic natural photosynthesis by capturing solar energy and directing it through engineered pathways to the desired targets. Overall, from color-changing fashion and smart surfaces to molecular computing, on-demand drug delivery, and encryption technologies, photochromic materials are poised to revolutionize how we interact with the world around us. Learn more in this Telluride Inside & Out article.
Town Talks will be held on Tuesdays at the Telluride Conference Center in Mountain Village June 3 to August 12 (with the exception of July 1). Doors open at 6 pm and the program starts at 6:30 pm. Free and open to the public.
Thanks to our title sponsor Alpine Bank and Telluride Mountain Village Owner’s Association.

Town Talk: Mining Plastic-Changing the Narrative from Waste to Resource
2025-06-03 18:30 - 19:30 | Telluride Conference Center, 580 Mountain Village Blvd, Telluride, CO, 81435, United States
Plastic waste is piling up, with projections estimating 25 billion tons by 2050—most of it ending up in landfills or the environment. Traditional mechanical recycling falls short, with only a tiny fraction of plastics truly recycled into similar products. This Town Talk challenges us to rethink plastic not as waste, but as a valuable resource. Learn how chemists are working to “mine” used plastics for their chemical and energy potential, turning trash into tools for a more sustainable future.
This Town Talk will be presented by Michael McGuirk, Associate Professor of Chemistry at Colorado School of Mines.
Town Talks will be held on Tuesdays at the Telluride Conference Center in Mountain Village June 3 to August 12 (with the exception of July 1). Doors open at 6 pm and the program starts at 6:30 pm. Free and open to the public.
Thanks to our title sponsor Alpine Bank and Telluride Mountain Village Owner’s Association.

BUILD
2025-05-21 08:30 - 09:30, 2025-05-20 08:30 - 09:30, 2025-05-15 08:30 - 09:30, 2025-05-13 08:30 - 09:30 | Telluride Innovation Center, 300 S. Townsend, Telluride, CO, 81435, United States
Expert personal trainer Alyssa Saunders is teaching BUILD, a full body strength and mobility class, twice a week at the Innovation Center through April 21. Class is often full. Email Alyssa at pedaldentelluride@gmail.com to check availability.

Rainbow Rascals Rockies Annual Fundraiser and Auction
2025-05-09 17:30 - 21:30 | Telluride Innovation Center, 300 S. Townsend, Telluride, CO, 81435, United States
Rainbow, Rockies and Rascals is hosting their annual silent and live auction on Friday, May 9th from 5:30-9:30pm. A $15 ticket at the door or from any program parent will get you free champagne (while it lasts), delicious food from Black Salt Hospitality, live music with Sean Mahoney, an entrance into a 2025/2026 ski pass raffle, a live auction MC’ed by Zoe Dohnal and an amazing silent auction to include services and goods donated by our generous local businesses including Wagner Skis, a Balloon Ride, a Glide Paddleboard, Rockies Baseball tickets, and a lot more.

This Ain't Your Kids Prom
2025-05-03 18:30 - 21:00 | Telluride Innovation Center, 300 S. Townsend, Telluride, CO, 81435, United States
Don’t miss Telluride Education Foundation’s (TEF’s) Adult Prom Saturday, May 3, 6:30-9:30 pm complete with libations by There, food carts (Latin Creations and the Grilled Cheese Cart), tunes by DJ Rapper The D and an auction which includes a guitar signed by Jewel! Online Auction is live now. Proceeds will help offset cuts to the social and behavioral health departments.
