2023 WOC (1780) The Effects of Climate Change: Exciting Challenges for STEM Professionals Presented by the USDA Forest Service

Learning Objectives: Enhance your understanding of the role STEM professionals play in the research and management of the effects and mitigation of climate change, with a particular focus on disturbances such as fire, with outstanding leaders and scientists from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. Climate change is affecting disturbance regimes across the globe. These include catastrophic wildfires, drought, hurricanes, flooding, and extreme weather that threaten the health and resilience of our communities, lands, waters, and wildlife. Now more than ever, science-based management of natural resources is increasingly important for mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change. In an era of unprecedented change, STEM professionals are increasingly asked to think about climate change science and land management strategies and look for effective management techniques now and decades into the future. Join USDA Forest Service panel members as they describe how they study and manage lands affected by climate changes. This includes research that covers the impacts of changing disturbances regimes on ecosystems, analysis of fire behavior and effects on ecological dynamics, human health, forest products across our nation’s diverse landscapes. Our panelists will provide expertise to help guide sound, science-informed, decision-making in response to climate change and extreme climate events. At the end of this seminar, participants will be able to: Deepen their understanding about best practices and STEM professional career opportunities in the management of unique ecosystems currently threatened by climate change. Connect with USDA Forest Service science and scientists providing leading scientific knowledge of climate change, disturbance regimes, fire, and smoke that influence management decisions on the Nation’s forests and grasslands.   Speakers: Nayomi Plaza Rodriguez Materials Research Engineer USDA Forest Service   Jennifer Croft Applied Fire Ecologist USDA Forest Service   Shaneka Lawson Research Plant Physiologist USDA Forest Service   Teresa Hollingsworth Senior Science Advisor USDA Forest Service   Tamara Scalley Research Ecologist USDA Forest Service