USFS Mountain Views Chronicle Field Note - During the Flood: Connecting with residents while doing social science field work
Dates
Publication Date
2024-04
Summary
Earth science does not occur in a vacuum. We may treasure the fleeting, sublime moments alone with the mountains – finding an alpine lake all to oneself for sampling (or lounging) or seeing moon shadows cast on a field of fresh snow after a cold day in the field. But it’s the community – today’s and yesterdays’ – that got us to that place. In addition to the ecological communities in which we work, Earth science is also a human endeavor, supported by an entire community not only of those with “scientist” as their title, but also those with the title of student, technician, community-observer, local-expert, outdoor safety professional, conservationist, or no particular title at all. Inspired by these myriad experiences that all build [...]
Summary
Earth science does not occur in a vacuum. We may treasure the fleeting, sublime moments alone with the mountains – finding an alpine lake all to oneself for sampling (or lounging) or seeing moon shadows cast on a field of fresh snow after a cold day in the field. But it’s the community – today’s and yesterdays’ – that got us to that place. In addition to the ecological communities in which we work, Earth science is also a human endeavor, supported by an entire community not only of those with “scientist” as their title, but also those with the title of student, technician, community-observer, local-expert, outdoor safety professional, conservationist, or no particular title at all. Inspired by these myriad experiences that all build our community, comes our 2024 Mountain Views Chronicle theme—an exploration of science in community.
A field note in the USFS' Mountain Forum publication about her first-hand experience of climate change while collecting interview data in Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park.