MOSCOW, Idaho — A University of Idaho fire scientist has received the 2023 Jean’ne M. Shreeve National Science Foundation (NSF) Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Award.
The award is named after Jean’ne M. Shreeve who was a leader in EPSCoR for more than 20 years in Idaho. This award is set to recognize the accomplishments of faculty members at Boise State University, Idaho State University, University of Idaho and other state institutions.
Alistair Smith, professor and chair of the Department of Earth and Spatial Sciences, received the award during Idaho EPSCoR committee Annual Business Meeting held at Idaho State University on Nov. 2.
“Smith embodies the spirit of the Jean’ne Shreeve award by fostering innovative and collaborative research in fire science coupled with outstanding mentoring of junior scientists,” said Ginger E. Carney, dean of U of I’s College of Science. “His early career was supported by the EPSCoR program, and he has paid it forward by contributing to new EPSCoR initiatives, including the recently awarded $20 million EPSCoR Track 1 I-CREWS grant. Among his best qualities are the generous ways in which he supports colleagues at all levels.”
Smith is also a recognized leader in wildland fire science and an expert in pyroecophysiology. This is a new sub-field in fire ecology that focuses on understanding how fires affect trees, why some die and when they survive.
“For years, many believed that when fires interact with trees, it may take a few years, but they all eventually will die,” Smith said. “My research shows that trees are a lot like us in that they experience something similar to first-, second- and third-degree burns, where the degree of fire intensity impacts how likely they will die, how fast they recover afterward, and how their vigor and health changes after the fires. My research has also changed the way people think about how fires kill trees. A lot of people think trees die of thirst after fires, but my team has shown that they die of starvation.”
His team’s research has had a major impact on the understanding of fire ecology as we face frequent fires under climate change.
“Smith is an outstanding recipient of this award,” said Dave Tuthill, assistant chair of the Idaho State EPSCoR Committee and chair of the Jean’ne Shreeve EPSCoR Research Excellence Award Selection Committee. “He has an exceptional record as a researcher, a graduate student mentor and an author of articles with national and international interest.”
For more information about Idaho EPSCoR, visit their website and to view more of Smith’s work, visit his website.
