2 weeks Ago By JOSHUA MURDOCK [email protected]
MISSOULA — As wildfire smoke increasingly impacts communities around the American West, experts from around the state, country and world will converge on Missoula — no stranger to smoke itself — to gather, learn and discuss how communities can adapt and better protect themselves when smoke rolls in. The fifth annual Rocky Mountain Wildfire Smoke Symposium will be held on the University of Montana campus Oct. 17-18, next Thursday and Friday.
It's the first time the conference has come to Montana. The event, held in the University Center ballroom, features presentations and panel discussions from students and experts both local and international. Ethan Walker, a UM professor with a doctorate in environmental health who researches health effects of air pollution and mitigation efforts, stated in an email that one theme of the event will be "engaging experts from public health and forestry/ecology to spark a conversation on managing forests and fires while also protecting the health of the public as wildfires increase.
" Walker is set to moderate a discussion about recommendations to reduce smoke exposure in a variety of community settings, and another on monitoring wildfire smoke exposure in communities. Other panels and presentations include a discussion on health impacts from wildfires, a panel of public health experts moderated by Air Quality Specialist Sarah Coefield of the Missoula City-County Public Health Department, and discussion of strategies to improve public health as wildfire smoke increases in communities. Some of those strategies are currently playing out in Missoula under Coefield's leadership.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded $3.
5 million to the state of Montana, city of Missoula and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes to help communities build resilience to effects of climate change. As part of that, Coefield was named an EPA wildfire smoke solutions fellow and tapped as the technical lead for an EPA study on reducing indoor smoke exposure. The symposium, which includes breakfast and lunch both days and appetizers at the end of the first day, concludes with a hike up the "M" trail and a tour of the Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory.
The symposium is open to anyone, according to a flyer for the event, but is specifically geared toward "researchers, public health professionals, community and government employees, and concerned citizens." In-person attendance costs $200, or $100 for students. Virtual attendance is $50, or $25 for students.
Registration is available online at . Registration closes this Friday, Oct. 11.
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