University of Colorado experts from a dozen disciplines will reappraise the relationship between human society and wildfires in two public programs presented by the Center of the American West on Saturday, Feb. 17.
"Facing Fire: Lessons From the Ashes" will examine current understanding of wildland fires in the West and explore whether combining knowledge from different viewpoints might produce new strategies for wildfire management.
Following one-and-one-half days of private discussion, 10 faculty panelists and six other experts will present brief summaries of their topics, followed by questions from the audience, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Old Main Chapel on the CU-Boulder campus.
From 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., also in Old Main Chapel, pianist Robert Spillman and baritone Patrick Mason of the College of Music will present representations of fire in music. They will be followed by Professor Tom Lyons of the English department with dramatic contemplations of fire as a symbol and metaphor in the Bible. The dramatic readings will include visual accompaniments.
Both events are free and open to the public.
Participating CU faculty will include Patricia Limerick of history as moderator, biologists Jane and Carl Bock on ecosystems and fire, Dan Cress of sociology on the behavior and mindset of firefighting crews, John Daily of engineering on the "behavior" of wildland fires, biologist Yan Linhart on forests and fire, Bill Riebsame of geography on exurban housing and fire, Bob Sievers of chemistry and the Environmental Program on fire and air pollution, Phil Tompkins of communication on fire and social organization and communication and Tom Veblen of geography on Front Range fire history.
Also participating will be Mark Haggerty of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Terry Tompkins of the U.S. Forest Service, Phil Omi of the Colorado State University School of Forestry, wildfire manager Justin Dombrowski of the Boulder Fire Dept. and graduate students Craig Melville and Lincoln Bramwell.
Among the topics to be discussed are the consequences and implications of recognizing fire as an inherent and essential element of many Western ecosystems, the benefits and disadvantages of logging versus burning, the best way for Westerners to adapt to the recurring presence of fire and the role of women and Indians in firefighting.
For more information call the CU-Boulder Center of the American West at (303) 492-4879 or visit the Web site at .