Attend Rocky Mountain National Park's 2015 Biennial Research Conference and you just might learn why the vegetation is bushier on one side of this fence/Kurt Repanshek file photo.

Curious about the science that's conducted in Rocky Mountain National Park? You can get some insights March 4-5 when the park's 2015 Biennial Research Conference will be held in the Estes Park Town Board Room.

Each year more than 100 research permits are active in the park, according to park staff. Park partners in research come from other federal agencies, the State of Colorado and universities around the world. Last year, citizen scientists volunteered thousands of hours to research projects. In addition, hundreds of students participate in field data collections and lab analysis. More than 100 scientists are expected to attend this two-day meeting to discuss a variety of research projects.

The conference is free and open to all interested members of the community. No registration is required. The conference begins on Wednesday, March 4, at 8 a.m. Sessions will end by 4:30 p.m. each day. A complete schedule is available at: http://www.nps.gov/rlc/continentaldivide/research-conference.htm

Researchers will present for 20 minutes each. Talks are organized into sessions covering related subjects. Wednesday sessions will focus on citizen science, science literacy, youth engagement, current management issues, climate change, visitor use and wilderness, aquatic science and disturbance. These sessions will include presentations on fire, floods, bark beetles, nitrogen deposition, streams and student projects.

Thursday sessions will include wildlife and birds, vegetation, historic perspectives, fisheries, alpine and subalpine and air and water quality. These sessions will include presentations on elk, ptarmigan, black bears, limber pine, aspen, trout, alpine tundra, air pollution and McGraw Ranch. In addition to presentations, thirty-two posters on a rich variety of subjects will be presented during a poster session on Thursday morning.

The 2015 Research Conference celebrates 100 years of research at Rocky Mountain National Park, promotes collaboration between the park and its partners, provides a forum for researchers and park staff to share discoveries, highlights the past, current, and future issues relevant to park management, creates opportunities for young professionals and scientists to engage with park staff and the public and encourages dialogue between the park, the public, students and scientists.

The Town Board Room is in the Estes Park Municipal Building, 170 MacGregor Avenue.