Although Running retired from teaching in the classroom, he plans to continue to serve on national committees and has five or six speaking engagements on the docket. He's an expert witness on a couple of climate lawsuits and he's scheduled to speak at conferences in Spain, Chile and Maine this fall.

"Actually, this gives me more flexibility and more time for public speaking," Running said.

The last few years at UM have been fraught with enrollment drops and budget cuts, and Running also said he believes it's time for the school to make some organizational changes.

"I think the university needs to do some serious restructuring, and I don't want to be a part of that battle," Running said.

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In an email, President Sheila Stearns said she hopes Running will stay involved with the campus in the future.

"Professor Running has been an internationally acclaimed scientist for decades at the University of Montana," Stearns said. "We are as proud as ever of his participation in the Nobel Laureate IPCC.