News

Mike Dockry part of team that won a USDA Forest Service Chief’s Honor Award

March 15, 2024

As an external member of the USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station’s Diversity and Inclusion Science Team, Forest Resources Assistant Professor Mike Dockry helped develop an authoritative set of studies investigating demographic diversity across the agency, encompassing all deputy areas, job series, grades and locations. 

Earlier this week, the team was awarded a 2023 Chief's Honor Award for Advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in Program and Service Delivery for this work. This prestigious award is one of the highest honors presented by the USDA Forest Service. 


Warm temps, no snow, no business: Finally ready to believe?

March 15, 2024

Director of the Center for Forest Ecology Lee Frelich is quoted in an opinion piece about climate change that ran in the Cap Times, a Madison, Wisconsin, newspaper. 


"Moving trees north to save the forests"

March 8, 2024

Center for Forest Ecology Director Lee Frelich is quoted in this well researched article on climate adaptation and the survival of the Northwoods. Forest Resources adjunct faculty members Brian Palik and Meredith Cornett are also quoted. Read the full article in Knowable Magazine to learn more about UMN research on climate adaptation and the ongoing Forest Assisted Migration Project.  


Prions in MN Waterways: Discovery Helps Water Managers Plan

March 7, 2024

Dr. Diana Karwan lead research for the Minnesota Center for Prion Research and Outreach (MNPRO) on how prions move in waterways. Her team's discoveries were presented to the Minnesota Clean Water Council in January and, after further research, will help to inform water management strategies to mitigate chronic wasting disease (CWD).


Lee Frelich on Talk of the Town

March 5, 2024

Lee Frelich, Center for Forest Ecology Director, spoke with Mankato radio host Lisa Kaye about how this unusually warm, dry weather is effecting trees and dormancy, the pros and cons of soil dwelling insects, and invasive earthworms.


Now Hiring: Assistant or Associate Professor in Tribal Forest Systems Management, Fire, and Ecology

March 4, 2924

The Department of Forest Resources invites qualified candidates to apply for a nine-month, full-time, tenure-track professor position specializing in Tribal Forest Systems Management, Fire, and Ecology with responsibilities for research (40%), teaching (50%), and outreach-service (10%).


St. Paul campus adapts to unusual winter

February 26, 2024

New from the Minnesota Daily: "A winter Minnesota hasn’t seen in over a century has created challenges as well as new opportunities within the UMN College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences." Faculty members Alicia Coleman and Marcella Windmuller-Campione weigh in on how this unusually warm winter – along with drought – is affecting our trees and woodlands.


Lee Frelich on the upcoming wildfire season

February 21, 2024

Center for Changing Landscapes Director Lee Frelich joined the Superior Morning with Mary-Jean Cormier show to speak about the possible implications this warm, dry winter may have on the upcoming wildfire season. Tune in to learn more!


How are Minnesota's trees faring during this warm winter?

February 1, 2024

Lee Frelich, director of the Center for Forest Ecology, spoke with MPR News host Cathy Wurzer about the possible consequences of the "weirdly warm and dry weather" we've been experiencing. Listen to the segment on MPR's Morning Edition. 


Social and Cultural Values and Representation Justice: Implications for Water

February 7, 2024

Professor and Center for Changing Landscapes Director Mae Davenport was the lead author of research recently published in Society & Natural Resources. "Social and Cultural Values and Representation Justice: Implications for Water" explores how socially and culturally diverse Minnesotans value water. While some values are universal — safe drinking water, for example — other values and priorities vary by sociocultural identities.