Core principles (what we believe in)
- Mountains are unique social-ecological systems The Institute for Mountain Studies focus on mountains as social-ecological systems is interdisciplinary and seeks to understand both the function of individual system elements and the cumulative effects of their interaction.
- The diversity within the mountain research community is an asset The MRI values the scientific, cultural, and generational diversity of the mountain research community, which reflects the diversity of mountains themselves.
- Knowledge is produced in many forms by many people The Institute for Mountain Studies recognizes the importance of different kinds of knowledge, beyond scientific research, and seeks to promote synergies between them.
- Knowledge has a social role The Institute for Mountain Studies view research and other educational activities as being part of a social process, and values knowledge for its ability to enable action and identify pathways towards more sustainable mountain regions.
- The progress of global change research in mountains requires connection The Institute for Mountain Studies seeks to facilitate interactions among researchers in order to create networks that can accomplish more than individual researchers can achieve on their own.
