DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE ONLINE MAGAZINE

New Laws of Notion Release!

Institute for Science & Policy's Latest Podcast Season Explores Wildfire 

By Carson Frame
11/07/2024
Kristan Uhlenbrock, podcast host and executive director of the Institute for Science & Policy, interviews Merrit Linke, commissioner of Grand County District 2, about wildfire mitigation strategies. Linke's district was hit hard by the East Troublesome Fire of 2020. (Photo/ Carson Frame)

The Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science is launching the latest season of its award-winning podcast Laws of Notion. The new season, titled “United by Fire,” takes listeners inside the unprecedented 2020 wildfire season, when Colorado faced its three largest fires, resulting in widespread devastation, poor air quality and a prolonged fire season that pushed emergency responders to the breaking point. In this limited podcast series, listeners will hear from residents and firefighters who found themselves in the path of the flames, as well as ecologists, land managers, community planners and entrepreneurs who are working to build a more wildfire-resilient future. 

“Tackling the complex topic that is wildfires allows us to examine the intersections of science, decision making and our human nature and try to define what success looks like for our communities,” says Institute Executive Director Kristan Uhlenbrock. “We've reached a critical moment of rethinking about what we know when it comes to wildfires in the West.”  

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The second day of the Cameron Peak Fire in northern Colorado on August 15, 2020. (Photo/ David Wolf)

One of the central themes of the series is the fraught relationship that modern society has with fire—a relationship rooted in the belief that fires are harmful and should be suppressed at any cost. 

“United by Fire” not only educates listeners but also empowers them to take part in the conversation about how we can coexist with fire in a way that promotes ecological health and community resilience,” says Uhlenbrock. 

The series, launching on Oct. 9, will explore ways of living with wildfire and new approaches to land management in the face of a changing climate. 

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Charlie Reynar, a Fire Prevention Officer with the Arapahoe Roosevelt National Forest and Pawnee National Grasslands, tours podcast host Kristan Uhlenbock through the Forsythe II Prescribed Burn area east of Nederland and west of Gross Reservoir. (Photo/ Nicole Delaney)

While news coverage often centers on the immediate destruction caused by wildfires, “United by Fire” delves deeper, examining the historical, cultural and ecological contexts that have led to the current wildfire crisis. The podcast series encourages listeners to rethink fire—not just as a destructive force, but as a natural and essential part of our ecosystem. 

Past seasons of “Laws of Notion” have showcased other complex issues facing communities across Colorado, when there were no easy answers. The inaugural season told the story of a small town hit hard as the state transitions away from coal power. More recent seasons have focused on the pressure that water resources are under and the borderless problem of air pollution.  

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The East Troublesome Fire paints the sky orange above Estes Park in late October 2020. (Photo/ David Wolf)

The Institute’s Story and Work

The Institute for Science & Policy is a pillar of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s commitment to deepening public understanding of some of society’s biggest challenges with scientific thinking and empathy. Established in 2018 by Museum CEO George Sparks, it combines scientific information with public education and thoughtful dialogue to help solve our most complex science-related policy issues in Colorado and beyond. 

As a non-partisan and policy neutral organization, the Institute serves as both a convener and an honest broker of information, hosting programs on topics like climate change, the energy transition, public health, technology and natural resources. The Institute is committed to promoting civic discourse, scientific engagement and enriching policy discussions at local, state and regional levels. 

For more information and to listen to the podcast, visit the Institute for Science & Policy’s webpage