The Southwest Voice

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California State University, Bakersfield’s School of Natural Science and Mathematics presents its first seminar of the academic year titled “Balancing Fire Hazard Reduction and Resource Protection in an Era of Megafires” on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 4 p.m. in Science Building III, room number 108.

Jon Keeley, world renowned expert in fire ecology and a research ecologist with the United States Geological Service Sequoia and Kings Canyon Field Station, will discuss the important issue of fire and its effects on landscape.

“Southern California is home to millions of people and has long been an attractive destination because of the pleasant climate and stunning natural beauty,” Keeley said.  “However, southern California’s beauty is deceptive and the region is prone to violent natural disasters. One of the most devastating of these disasters is fire. Fire is a natural and recurrent disturbance in southern California’s wildlands that was shaping the evolution of the region long before humans colonized the new world. But as humans have arrived in California in ever increasing numbers they have altered the natural fire cycle and this alteration is accelerating.”

The seminar is being funded through a $400,000 National Science Foundation grant awarded to CSUB. The grant provides scholarships for CSUB science, math, and engineering majors and allows CSUB’s School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics to offer a lecture series of interest to science students, faculty and the general public.

NSF is an independent federal agency created to promote the progress of science. The agency funds specific research proposals that have been judged the most promising by a rigorous and objective merit-review system.

The seminar is free and open to the public.

For additional information, contact Tom Meyer at (661) 654-2104.