Broader Impacts

BROADER IMPACTS

SMART FIRES will transform wildfire and smoke mitigation strategies by firmly rooting the science of prescribed fire in validated data and predictive models. SMART FIRES builds capacity by forging ties between researchers in environmental science, remote sensing, optical engineering, AI, and social science. Activities will span institutions across the Montana University System (MUS) and include participants from Montana’s R1 universities, 4- and 2-year colleges and Tribal Colleges. Research activities including internships, collaborative projects and extramural partnerships will create a skilled workforce capable of leading multidisciplinary projects and of communicating the rationale, benefits and risks associated with prescribed fire to the public. SMART FIRES provides participants with economic development opportunities by leveraging existing ties between SMART FIRES researchers and robust and growing optics and remote sensing industries in Montana. Seed projects specifically dedicated to supporting STEM education at Montana’s Tribal Colleges will broaden participation in SMART FIRES-related project activities, and a separate seed project program will ensure that researchers at all MUS institutions and Tribal Colleges will be able to propose ideas that expand and deepen our understanding of prescribed fire. SMART FIRES strengthens Montana’s research and economic competitiveness, develops and mentors a new workforce trained in the science and impact of prescribed fire, and creates pathways to bring the results and consequences of academic discoveries into the hands of those professionals charged with managing public and private lands across the jurisdiction.

The education, outreach, diversity and workforce development plans for SMART FIRES include activities that engage a variety of audiences across Montana; focus on broadening participation of people who have been historically excluded from STEM; and fulfill the EPSCoR mission of strengthening capacity through partnerships and infrastructure growth. 

Broader impacts activities include creating curricula and resources for K-12 teachers, pre-service teachers and informal educators; a “Sensing Fire” field school, museum exhibit and field trip program; a Science on Wheels program that visits rural communities affected by wildfire; and a statewide citizen science program that engages adults through libraries, senior centers, and other community organizations. University faculty and students who are part of the SMART FIRES research will also take part in outreach activities and serve as role models for young people interested in STEM.

Broader Impacts Team: Suzi Taylor (MSU Science Math Resource Center), Madison Boone (MSU Science Math Resource Center), Susan Kelly (MSU Empower), Aaron Thomas (UM Indigenous Research and STEM Education), Nathalie Wolfram (UM spectrUM), Todd Kipfer (Montana NSF EPSCoR - MSU), Michelle Terwilliger (Montana NSF EPSCoR - UM)