Mark Kreider is a recent Ph.D. graduate in forestry from the University of Montana whose research focuses on wildfire suppression and its unintended consequences on forest ecosystems. In this episode, he explains the concept of “suppression bias,” where the easier-to-control fires are successfully suppressed, leaving the more severe and dangerous wildfires to dominate. Mark discusses how this bias, along with climate change and fuel accumulation, contributes to the growing severity of wildfires in the western U.S. In addition to his academic work, Mark is a talented science communicator who uses music, film, and photography to engage broader audiences, and he shares insights into how art and science can intersect to inspire deeper conversations about environmental issues.
Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vqrYQycF1QrE3nbc94kJk8C6Jf_a2yX1RcPVWriuN3s/edit?usp=sharing
Mark Kreider on the wildfire suppression bias