Idaho Students, Emeriti Earn Nation’s Hottest Awards in Fire Ecology
Friday, February 8 2008
Feb. 8, 2008 Photo is available at www.today.uidaho.edu/PhotoList.aspx MOSCOW, Idaho – It’s as close to a sweep as it could be. Of the four awards given by the Association for Fire Ecology, three went to University of Idaho students and emeriti. Award recipients were recognized at the annual fire ecology meeting Jan. 30 in Tucson, Ariz. “I am proud to be affiliated with the people of this premier fire ecology and management program at the University of Idaho," said Steven Daley-Laursen, dean of the university's College of Natural Resources. "I’m humbled by their successes and impacts. Their recognitions are well deserved and bring honor to the college and university.” Leon Neuenschwander, professor emeritus of forest resources, received the Association for Fire Ecology Harold Biswell Lifetime Achievement Award in Fire Ecology and Management. With just one award given annually to a fire ecologist who has worked primarily west of the front range of the Rocky Mountains, including west and central Texas, the competition is fierce and the awards highly coveted. Neuenschwander worked across the forests, woodlands, and grasslands of Idaho and the West, often providing challenging, provocative and innovative ideas for addressing challenging fire ecology and management issues. Neuenschwander was nominated by Brian Oswald, one of his former doctoral students and current president of the Association of Fire Ecology. Neuenschwander joined the University of Idaho faculty in 1976 and served as the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Range Sciences associate dean for research from 1986-94. He retired after 26 years. A fire ecologist by trade, Neuenschwander served as a national spokesman for restoring fire’s role in forest ecosystems. He helped start the University of Idaho’s fire program and taught many current leaders in the fire profession. Josh Switzer received the annual Outstanding Undergraduate Student Nationwide award. Switzer, from Pocatello, soon will soon graduate with a major in forest resources ecosystem management and a minor in fire ecology, management and technology. Switzer honed his natural leadership skills by working as a fire fighter during the summers and through student club activities. He currently is president of the University of Idaho Student Association for Fire Ecology (SAFE) and previously served as treasurer and secretary. Switzer also has participated in graduate courses as an undergraduate, including a journal club focused on ecophysiology and forest dynamics led by a high-powered group of graduate students and faculty. He plans to pursue a graduate degree focused on the ecology of soils and roots. Chris Powell, from Ellensburg, Wash., received the Outstanding Graduate Student Award Nationwide. Powell helped start the University of Idaho chapter of SAFE and served as president for three years. Concurrently, he was co-president of the national Student Association of Fire Ecology for 2006. Powell has tirelessly promoted SAFE to the local University of Idaho community and has led numerous SAFE projects, including hosting guest speakers at the University of Idaho campus. He has traveled with other SAFE students to learn about science and applications being developed at the Fire Sciences Laboratory, University of Montana and Missoula Technology Development Center. He has actively worked with the SAFE chapter to raise funds to support this and other travel opportunities for SAFE students. Powell worked with Penny Morgan, professor of forest resources, to encourage students at the University of Montana to start a SAFE chapter. He currently is pursing a master’s of science degree focused on using LIDAR to characterize fuels in the mixed conifer forests and diverse topography of Idaho. He expects to defend his thesis before May, and then he hopes to continue to pursue research in fire behavior modeling. Both student awards recognize active members of recognized SAFE chapters who demonstrate superior academic achievement and involvement in fire related research and activities. To learn more about the University of Idaho's fire ecology and management programs, visit www.cnr.uidaho.edu, e-mail cnr@uidaho.edu or phone (208) 885-8981. # # # About the University of Idaho Founded in 1889, the University of Idaho is the state’s flagship higher-education institution and its principal graduate education and research university, bringing insight and innovation to the state, the nation and the world. University researchers attract nearly $100 million in research grants and contracts each year; the University of Idaho is the only institution in the state to earn the prestigious Carnegie Foundation ranking for high research activity. The university’s student population includes first-generation college students and ethnically diverse scholars. Offering more than 150 degree options in 10 colleges, the university combines the strengths of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu. Contacts: Sue McMurray, College of Natural Resources, (208) 885-6673, suem@uidaho.edu SM-2/8/08-CNR
About the University of Idaho
The University of Idaho helps students to succeed and become leaders. Its land-grant mission furthers innovative scholarly and creative research to grow Idaho's economy and serve a statewide community. From its main campus in Moscow, Idaho, to 70 research and academic locations statewide, U-Idaho emphasizes real-world application as part of its student experience. U-Idaho combines the strength of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. It is home to the Vandals. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.