The Blaze
Project
Ecology of Fire
As wildfire claims a larger and larger place in the fabric of our modern lives and we manage the impacts of climate change, Blaze seeks to create an interactive educational exhibition that shifts the paradigm towards a holistic, ecological perspective of fire in hopes of creating better understandings of truly effective forestry practices. Growing up at the base of the Rocky Mountains, catastrophic fire has claimed precious ecosystems close to my heart.
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Blaze is an interactive museum style exhibition with a companion website and educational materials based on my independent research project for my Environmental Science minor. This research has involved reaching out for perspectives and information from indigenous fire stewards, forest managers, wildland firefighters, and ecologists. The exhibit is broken up into 8 topics covering key concepts for civic engagement with fire ecology in forests and the future of forestry and fire as the effects of global climate change unfold.
The Podcast
The Burning Questions podcast is a weekly discussion with an expert that provides a new perspective on human's relationship with fires. The podcast has explored topics from fire adapted species to native fire stewardship with anthropologists, ecologists, biologists, firefighters, and wilderness rangers.
The Video Game
Research by Louise Bean
Design and Coded by Ashley Torosian
Development by Louise & Ashley
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Look Up, Look Down, Look Around is an 8 Bit Game designed and created in collaboration with Torosian to engage young learners in the science of fire behavior and how different environmental factors can influence wildfire.
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Based on wildland fire behavior research and information from the US National Parks Service. Read more about wildland fire behavior here.
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Elementary Exhibit
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Permanent installation at South Loop Elementary School for a 4-6th grade reading comprehension level. Designed and printed by Bean.
The Zine
Exhibit formatted as mini one-sheet zine, free to download and print.
