National Cave and Karst Research Institute Email Format
Research ServicesNew Mexico, United States2-10 Employees
National Cave and Karst Research Institute is a research center in Carlsbad, New Mexico, affiliated with the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Established by an Act of the U.S. Congress in 1998, it was created in collaboration with the National Park Service, the State of New Mexico, and the City of Carlsbad to serve as a hub for research, stewardship, outreach, and information on caves and karst. Its enabling legislation sets a mission to advance speleology, standardize speleological information, encourage interdisciplinary collaboration, promote public education, and support environmentally sound and sustainable management of cave and karst environments. Its work is aimed at researchers, educators, policymakers, and conservation organizations involved with cave and karst resources. As part of the research services field, it positions itself within the New Mexico Tech ecosystem and operates from Carlsbad. With a small staff, NCKRI emphasizes coordination and knowledge sharing to support its mission.