DURHAM, N.C. – Students at the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences have established a 91ÉçÇø¸£Àû chapter of the Student Association for Fire Ecology (SAFE).

SAFE is a national organization dedicated to promoting knowledge of fire ecology and its economic, social, political and ecological implications. Members work with environmental nonprofits, resource managers, faculty members and other students to foster greater awareness of the role natural fire plays in various ecosystems, and the use of prescribed fire as a tool in ecosystem management and restoration.

Norm Christensen, professor of ecology and founding dean of the Nicholas School, and Dan Richter, professor of soils and forest ecology, will serve as the chapter’s faculty supervisors.

Having a chapter of SAFE at Duke will give Nicholas School students access to educational and networking opportunities not offered at other top-tier environmental schools. Chapter officers plan to work closely with school administrators and faculty in the Master of Forestry program to develop hands-on training opportunities for students in red card training, burn certification, smoke management and other critical career skills. Chapter members will attend and help host professional meetings such as the North Carolina Prescribed Fire Conference, and national and regional conferences of the Association for Fire Ecology.

For more information, contact:

2008 STUDENT OFFICERS:
Connor Coleman, president  (cpc11@duke.edu)
Amanda Harford, vice president (agh6@duke.edu)
Jesse Leddick, secretary (jesse.leddick@duke.edu)
Joe Williams, treasurer (joseph.williams@duke.edu)