Uncategorized
MSU wildfire expert will use Fulbright to research, teach in Chile
Published
9 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersBy Evelyn Boswell MSU News Service
BOZEMAN – A Montana State University scientist who studies wildfires around the world now has a Fulbright scholar grant to research fires in central Chile. Dave McWethy will use his grant both to conduct research and teach at the University of Concepcion, in Chile’s second largest city.
“It’s an important time to look at wildfires,” said McWethy, assistant research professor in MSU’s Department of Earth Sciences in the College of Letters and Science. “There have been some really large fires happening right now that are threatening communities and rare forests throughout central Chile.”
McWethy and his family will move to Chile in December, and he’ll start his fieldwork in January, focusing on Araucaria araucana forests and wildfires.
Araucaria araucana forests grew all over the prehistoric world, but they’re becoming increasingly rare, McWethy said. The tree now grows in the central region of Chile, as well as parts of Argentina, Australia and New Zealand, but it’s listed as endangered. Commonly called a monkey puzzle tree, it’s considered a living fossil.
Large fires swept through the forests in 2002, and fires in the first few months of 2015 have burned more than 10,000 acres near Valparaíso and Santiago, destroying thousands of homes and forcing more than 10,000 people to evacuate, McWethy said.
On March 1, the beginning of the university’s fall semester, he’ll start teaching a seminar on global fire ecology and a field course on reconstructing historical conditions. His Fulbright ends June 30.
Scientists think fire activity is increasing because non-native, more flammable shrubs and tree plantations are replacing native vegetation that is more fire resistant.
All these non-native shrubs are highly flammable, McWethy said. This combination of flammable vegetation and warm, dry summers promotes fires that threaten communities and the few remaining Araucaria forests.
Scientists are just beginning to understand how changes in plant communities are influencing fire activity. McWethy said his Fulbright will allow him and his Chilean collaborators to build on previous research to better understand why fire activity is increasing throughout central Chile. They will examine factors responsible for the recent trends and develop maps that identify where the fire risk is greatest.
When his Fulbright ends, McWethy said he hopes that he and his collaborators can build on their work with funding from the National Geographic Society and the National Science Foundation.
“I think the mission of the Fulbright program, to facilitate international partnership and exchange, is really important for both countries, and it will help U.S. and Chilean scientists stay competitive,” McWethy said. “I’m really excited to work with Chilean researchers and students.”
The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government. Its primary source of funding is an annual appropriation made by Congress to the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
Upcoming Events
april, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
more
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
more
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
Time
March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
Location
Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
more
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Sundays, April 14, 21 and 28, 2024
Noon until 6PM.
$170.
Time
14 (Sunday) 12:00 pm - 28 (Sunday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome to come, if you don’t know who to bring come alone this is a great mixer event! This is an event hosted by Big Sky OUT as we work to provide queer safe spaces throughout the community.
Time
(Sunday) 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location
Cowboy Coffee
25 Town Center Ave. Big Sky, MT 59716