About

Mission

The North Atlantic Fire Science Exchange (NAFSE) is a valuable, credible, and relevant hub for science information delivery and collaboration between managers and researchers to create a resilient North Atlantic landscape.

We bring people together. We serve as an anchor for the fire science community in the northeast United States by:

connecting scientists and managers
helping generate innovative solutions for fire-related challenges
promoting and facilitating fire science research and partnerships
increasing evidence-based knowledge exchange

NAFSE is funded by the Joint Fire Science Program

as part of their Fire Science Exchange Network.

Fire science communication in a complex landscape.

Leadership Team

Dr. Nick Skowronski, Principal Investigator
nskowronski@fs.fed.us
Nick Skowronski has been a Research Forester with the USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station (NRS) since 2007. He has also served as the prescribed burn coordinator at Ft. Dix, NJ and as a research technician for the NRS. Nick’s research is focused on the impacts that land management activities have on fuel loading, carbon cycling, and habitat quality. He is particularly interested in estimating canopy fuels in three-dimensional space using lasers on the ground and in aircraft. Having worked formerly in fire management, Nick is extremely interested in developing better relationships between scientists and land managers so that research can become more integrated with the needs in the field.

Erin Lane, Exchange Coordinator
erin.d.lane@usda.gov
Erin is a co-founder and coordinator of the North Atlantic Fire Science Exchange serving the fire community of this region through advancement and delivery of relevant fire science. Erin also works as the main coordinator for the United States Department of Agriculture Northeast Climate Hub—delivering science-based information to farmers and foresters to help them adapt to the changing climate. Her passions lay in teamwork and collaborations with partners. She enjoys bringing people together and addressing challenges. Erin started her career with the US Forest Service in 1997 and began by spending several seasons as a wildland firefighter first, learning about positive communications through digging line with her crew during 50 hour shifts. Tremendous accomplishments were achieved due to the camaraderie Erin experienced on her Hot Shot Crew and she strives to develop this highly effective function with her current teams.

Polly Weigand, Fire Projects Manager
polly@forestguild.org
Polly Weigand serves as the Fire Projects Manager for the Forest Stewards Guild, a national professional organization of foresters and affiliated natural resource stewards that promotes sustainable and ecologically responsible forest management. As a member of the North Atlantic Fire Science Exchange leadership team, Polly helps support increased capacity for science-based wildland fire management by hosting educational programs, developing innovative technical resources, supporting research initiatives and fostering connections between researchers and managers. Polly hails from the Tug Hill Plateau, just west of the Adirondack Mountains of New York and lives on the east end of Long Island where she obtained a master’s degree in urban ecology from Hofstra University; founded (and directs) the Long Island Native Plant Initiative, administers the Long Island Invasive Species Management Area, and most recently served a as Science and Stewardship Program Manager, where she led the development of a Prescribed Fire Program for the Central Pine Barrens Commission. Polly is excited to apply her expertise, established network and diverse knowledge of northeastern ecosystems, invasive species, scientific research, wildland fire management and program administration at a greater regional reach, including national and international too.

Eric Evenson, Science Communications Specialist
nafsehelp@gmail.com
Eric Evenson serves as the Science Communications Specialist for the North Atlantic Fire Science Exchange (NAFSE). Eric spent 33 years with the National Weather Service (NWS) that included stops in Maine, Montana, Missouri, Idaho, and Vermont. For 22 years he served as an Incident Meteorologist (IMET) communicating critical fire weather information at large wildfire incidents. Also as an IMET Eric was part of the Training Cadre and mentored new IMET trainees. As a lead forecaster with the NWS in Burlington, Vermont he was part of the Fire Weather Team communicating and coordinating with the local fire and forest community. In addition, he served as the NWS Liaison to the Fire Science Working Team of the Northeast Forest Fire Protection Commission (NFFPC). Eric has always enjoyed sharing and communicating scientific information to the fire and forest community and is excited to continue that work by serving those in the NAFSE region.

Catalyzing collaboration between managers and scientists to create a safe and resilient North Atlantic landscape.

Community Representatives

Community Representatives provide important feedback to the Leadership Team on NAFSE’s vision and plan of work, share timely and relevant information on the needs and interests of the community, and assist with the dissemination of information to and from their organizations.