28 minute read
Around Campus
Continuing the fight vs. COVID
The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has a stubborn ability to resist most nucleoside antiviral treatments, but a new study led by Iowa State could help overcome the virus’s defenses. Researchers have detailed the structure of a critical enzyme present in SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. This enzyme – known as ExoN – removes nucleoside antiviral medications from the virus’s RNA, rendering many treatments ineffective. Scientists could use these data to find ways to block the enzyme and open the door to better treatments for patients with COVID-19.
Studies since the start of the pandemic have noted pigs don’t show clinical signs of COVID-19, nor do they transmit the virus to other animals. Iowa State scientists have discovered the nuclei of infected pig cells shred into fragments, but not those of uninfected pig cells. That shredding of the nucleus is a sign of apoptosis (programmed cell death), which may be key in helping pigs avoid symptoms after exposure. Triggering apoptosis early in the infection causes minimal tissue damage and confines viral replication, limiting severe illness. Further study could lead to therapies designed to trigger apoptosis in human cells, allowing people infected with the coronavirus to avoid severe symptoms.
Researchers at Iowa State have found exercising directly after a flu or COVID-19 vaccine may provide an extra immune boost. In the newly published study, participants who cycled on a stationary bike or took a brisk walk for an hour and a half after getting a jab produced more antibodies in the following four weeks compared to participants who sat or continued with their daily routine post-immunization.
The design of ISU’s new solar farm is in development – this aerial image, provided by Alliant Energy, features one of their existing solar farms.
A bright future in solar
The Iowa Board of Regents has greenlighted Iowa State’s plans to develop a solar farm in partnership with Alliant Energy. Iowa State will enter into a lease agreement with Alliant Energy who will design, construct, own, operate, and maintain the solar farm. The solar farm will be located on land that is part of Iowa State’s animal science teaching and research farms. The up to 900-kilowatt solar farm, at maximum output, could power 230 homes annually and provide an equal amount of electricity to nearby teaching and research farms. Iowa State will receive renewable energy credits generated by the solar farm, which will off-set a portion of the university’s annual carbon emissions. Beyond the production of renewable energy, Iowa State and Alliant Energy are exploring future partnerships at the solar farm for education, research, demonstration, and training. Construction is expected to begin late in 2022 or in 2023.
Karin Allenspach-Jorn, a professor of veterinary clinical sciences, is part of the team advancing research to tailor treatment for bladder cancer.
Iowa State researchers in the Department of Chemistry are working to understand how bonds between molecules can be broken with light. They hope to discover and develop strategies for delivering light-activated chemotherapies to revolutionize how some cancers are treated. Doctors would be able to administer chemotherapy drugs throughout the body, but activate them with light only where needed – like at the site of a tumor. This would minimize the side effects and pain of traditional chemotherapy. A collaborative team of biomedical and veterinary scientists at Iowa State are studying a new method to model bladder cancer treatments. Researchers are working to perfect an innovative technique to grow organoids (a small collection of tissue that resembles an organ) from patients’ urine samples and use them to test various treatments. This approach could allow doctors to tailor therapies to patients without the need for invasive surgeries.
Sharon Perry-Fantini began her new role as Iowa State's vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion Jan. 18. She formerly served Tiffin University as vice provost for equity, access, and opportunity; Title IX coordinator; and associate professor of management. Perry-Fantini earned bachelor's degrees in organizational management and human resources management and an MBA, all from Tiffin. She completed a doctorate in human resources and organization management from Capella University. She succeeds Reg Stewart who accepted a similar position at Chapman University. Charles Small, senior associate athletics director for student services, served as interim vice president.
ONLINE EXTRAS:
Interested in learning more? Visit www.ISUalum.org/VISIONS or scan this to find a list of links to related content.
Around Campus Learning from Iowa State’s 99-county campus
By John D. Lawrence** (‘84 animal science, MS ‘86 economics), ISU vice president for extension and outreach Learn more: www.Extension.iastate.edu
IN 2021, I crisscrossed the state, traveling over 6,000 miles in 126 days from May through September visiting all of Iowa’s 99 counties and 100 Iowa State University Extension and Outreach offices (Pottawattamie County has two). I met with hardworking extension professionals in every county who make up Iowa State’s 99-county campus. I wasn’t a “dignitary” conducting a formal tour; I was just John stopping to visit — and learn. I chronicled my visits – sharing my observations and more than a few selfies – on Twitter @John_D_Lawrence. If the weather cooperated, I arrived by motorcycle; otherwise, I showed up in my pickup truck. Staff then welcomed me into their workplace, offering a cup of coffee and food-based hospitality ranging from specialty smoked meats to homemade cinnamon rolls. The food was good. The conversation was even better. Staff expressed their pride in carrying out the university’s land-grant mission — sharing knowledge far beyond the campus borders every day. Because that’s what extension professionals do: We engage all Iowans in research, education, and extension experiences to address current and emerging reallife challenges. We call it building a strong Iowa. Extension professionals across the state told me about their educational programs, youth camps, field days, and county fairs that were once again in person and at full force. They talked about virtual and hybrid education delivery (our organization is implementing best practices learned from 2020). They shared stories of widespread opportunities as well as individual impacts — like the teen who was able to keep children safe during a tornado because she’d participated in our babysitting basics training; or the farmer who was considering suicide at 2 a.m.
but saw our magnet on his refrigerator and instead called our Iowa Concern hotline for help. In addition, ISU Extension and Outreach is engaged in initiatives to speed our state’s recovery, as Iowans deal with ongoing challenges from the pandemic, drought, and severe weather events. Throughout Iowa, extension professionals are: • focusing on reviving the Iowa economy, including the farm economy. As a result, small businesses, entrepreneurs, agribusinesses, and farmers are connecting with education and resources so they can remain financially solvent, find alternate markets, and increase their profitability. • supporting Iowans in improving financial security. Individuals and families are learning how to prioritize bills, protect credit, and manage debt. • engaging Iowans in improving food supply, safety, and access. These efforts address local needs including nutrition education, donation gardens, farmers markets, and food system coalitions. • expanding educational opportunities for youth.
Now more youth are connecting with programs that support their academic achievement in STEM fields and literacy as well as their social-emotional learning. • supporting efforts for increasing access to quality childcare by networking with community partners and connecting providers with education. • engaging Iowans in addressing mental health and providing access to research-based training and education on mental health literacy and suicide prevention. Yes, during my county visits the food was good, and the conversation with extension professionals was even better. Best of all, I witnessed firsthand their continuing commitment to the people of our state. That’s what building a strong Iowa is all about.
John Lawrence @John_D_Lawrence • Jul 21, 2021
A really great start to the day in Franklin county. The bar has been raised. I learned about programming during the pandemic & transition back to normal. Exciting work with Latino community on child care education and youth programs. #StrongIowa
Above: John Lawrence documented his travels on Twitter, including this visit with Jackie Dohlman (‘80 animal science), Franklin County youth coordinator. Left: John Lawrence traveled by motorcycle to Cerro Gordo County, where extension professionals distributed more than 1,700 “4-H at Home” kits and turned a greenhouse into a learning lab.
Runner
Story by Kate Tindall Images by Matt Van Winkle, Getty Images, ISU Athletics
“The practice of sport is a human right.” On August 12, 2012, this phrase from the Olympic Charter became reality for one Cyclone.
Guor Maker spent his life running. His early days began in a war-torn southern region of the Sudan-currently known as South Sudan. The northeastern African country that Maker* (‘11 chemistry) was born into in 1984 had been divided by political, cultural, and religious conflicts for decades. At age 8, Maker’s father and mother sent him to live with an aunt and uncle in Khartoum, Sudan. “When my dad and my mom decided to send me away, I had no choice,” he says. “Growing up in a war, you learn quickly that you have no decision.” Messiria militiamen kidnapped Maker on this journey, making him and his fellow lost boys herd cattle and goats under threat of death. Maker escaped, but was captured and enslaved by a Sudanese soldier, and escaped again. Three years after setting out from home, he arrived at his aunt and uncle’s house. There, a midnight raid by soldiers left Maker with a broken jaw. His uncle was imprisoned on suspicions of aiding South Sudanese resistance efforts. Maker and his aunt fled to Egypt. In 2001, Maker and several relatives were given refugee status in Concord, New Hampshire. It was there that Maker found himself running competitively. In those miles, Maker was often reminded of his childhood; however, he also found hope. “There is a lot of joy in running,” Maker says. “A lot of happiness, both as an individual and as a team. Even just to get the opportunity to get into the race and finish is a joy. It is not all sadness, all the time.” He won the 2004 New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association Meet of Champions cross country title, then the national two-mile championship for the Crimson Tide.
FINDING A HOME AT IOWA STATE
By the time college rolled around, Maker was actively being recruited by top institutions. A representative of South Sudan visited Iowa State days before Maker's first campus visit. Maker took this as a sign. That, and “the nice corn fields looked like home,” he recalls. To this day, Maker describes Iowa State as home. He studied non-stop, becoming an All-American in cross country. “I don’t know if I’ve ever had anyone who worked as hard as he did,” says Corey Ihmels, former director of men's and women's track and cross country at Iowa State. “It’s the one time in a student athlete’s life when it’s OK to be selfish. They don’t have families; they don’t have responsibilities other than making sure they’re doing what they need to do athletically and academically. Guor didn’t have that luxury. Everything he did was for his family, was for his country.” Over the years, Maker lost 28 close relatives and eight of his nine siblings to war. At Iowa State, he could focus on academics and athletics and, at times, find moments of joy.
A COLLECTIVE HOPE
Following graduation, Maker focused on his Olympic dreams full time. When the 2012 London Olympics rolled around, he hoped to represent South Sudan. Having gained its independence in 2011, the fledgling country was unable to send a competition team. Sudan offered Maker a place instead. “If I ran for Sudan, I would be betraying my people,” Maker said to a Huffington Post contributor at the time. “I would be dishonoring the two million people who died for our freedom.” Maker won his hard-fought petition to run under the Olympic flag instead. When he rounded a corner of the marathon on August 12, 2012, Maker was greeted by South Sudanese refugees – his people – representing a collective hope. It’s that hope which fuels his dreams for peace in South Sudan.
RAISING HIS FLAG HIGH
In 2013, Maker became a U.S citizen and traveled to South Sudan for the first time in two decades. He was met by his weeping mother. “Is it you, my son?” she asked, over and over. His father sang traditional songs, rubbing ash on his son’s forehead as a blessing. During the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Maker again competed in the marathon – this time as a member of South Sudan’s National Olympic team. He served as flag bearer for the opening ceremonies, waving his young country’s flag high for all to see.
A NEW ROUTE FORWARD
Motivated by gratitude, Maker enlisted in the Air Force in 2017. He was to run in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics before the global pandemic and an injury halted his plans. Maker is considering a place in the next Olympic games, as well as opportunities to aid Sudanese athletes and help his home nation grow stronger.
With his home country of South Sudan in turmoil, marathoner and Iowa State alum Guor Maker competed under the Olympic flag in the 2012 London Olympics. In 2016, he was not only able to compete as part of South Sudan’s National Olympic team, he proudly served as flag bearer in the opening ceremonies.
Maker has sacrificed his privacy and peace of mind to share his story. Interviews and screenings of Runner – a documentary of his journey from South Sudan to the Olympics – dredge up nightmares that can last for days. “But then I think to myself, ‘Why did I do the documentary in the first place?’” he says. “It was to change people, to make people learn about the struggle we are going through. Not just in the corner of South Sudan, but worldwide.” The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates there are at least 84 million forcibly displaced people worldwide. Of those, 68% originate from just five countries, including 2.2 million from South Sudan. Since gaining its independence on July 9, 2011, South Sudanese’s rights have been threatened, elections have been delayed, and change has been slow. “Peace is attainable,” Maker says. “Almost every single nation has gone through what South Sudan has gone through. It’s up to leaders and citizens to find a way to live side by side, embrace our diversity as a strength, and move the country forward for a prosperous development.”
SHARING HIS STORY
Guor Maker visited Iowa State in October for a screening of Runner co-hosted by the ISU Alumni Association, ISU Athletics, and the Student Government-funded Committee on Lectures. Following its release on the eve of World Refugee Day in 2020, the film documenting his running journey garnered the praise of numerous festivals and film guilds, including the Jury Award and Audience Award at the 2019 Naples International Film Festival. “Every time I sit and watch, tears just drop from my eyes,” Maker shared following the screening. “Today, I decided to see the documentary to the end … It always inspires me to refocus on my plan of wanting to help youth across South Sudan. I must do my level best to help with sport and education development in South Sudan; it’s a lifetime goal.” Listen to the Q&A following the screening by scanning this QR code with the camera of your smart phone or tablet. Explore Maker’s story and documentary screening opportunities for your organization or group at www.RunnerDoc.com.
reining in wildfires
Story by Melea Reicks Licht Images Matt Van Winkle, contributed
Left: Ryan Schlater is a contract fire specialist who leads engine crews in responding to wildfires from coast to coast. While a student at Iowa State, he was inspired by the events of 9-11 to pursue a career in firefighting. Below: Bob Houseman oversees federal response to the nation’s most complex wildland fires and other natural disasters in his role as a national incident commander with the U.S. Forest Service.
They move meticulously, but their work is urgent. Spaced every few feet, the yellow-clad wildland firefighters are equipped with drip torches and backpack water pumps. Each firefighter tilts their drip torch downward touching the flame of the handheld fuel tank to the dry brush, leaves, and pine needles covering the ground. Fire! They keep close watch as the flames do their job, burning out potential fuel before the encroaching wildfire arrives. Whether battling an oncoming threat or performing finely tuned prescribed burns, wildland firefighters often really do fight fire with fire. Once a part of our ecosystem’s innate ability to self-regulate, wildfires have increasingly become a major threat to homes, businesses, natural resources, and tragically, human life. Wildland firefighters like Bob Houseman, * a national incident commander with the U.S. Forest Service, are working to reduce this threat and harness the natural power of fire to refine, refresh, and renew the landscape. “Fire is as much a part of our natural ecosystem as rain,” says Houseman (‘78 forestry, pest management), of Madison, Alabama. He draws on more than 40 years of experience to oversee the nation’s most complex wildland fires and respond to other natural disasters. “Our primary support is to fires within U.S. Forest Service jurisdictions (anywhere within the boundaries of a National Forest) and other jurisdictions as requested – many are large, remote, and burn long term,” he says. “They can be managed strategically to combine, contain, or suppress if they threaten high-value structures.” During his time at Iowa State, Houseman worked two seasons “Fire is as as a forest technician on the St. Joe National Forest in Avmuch a ery, Idaho, where he worked on a timber crew and part of our trained as a basic firefighter. Following graduation, he natural spent a few years working as a forest supervisor for ecosystem Colville Tribal Forestry on the Colville Reservation as rain.” in eastern Washington. In North Carolina, he’s served in various positions, including district forester and regional forester. In 2008, he accepted the position of operations section chief with the U.S. Forest Service National Incident Management Organization and was promoted to incident commander in 2011. Houseman has overseen emergency operations for natural disasters including: the River Complex Fire in northern California last summer; the 2011 Texas wildfires; the 2012 Halstead Fire in Idaho; and 2019 Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas where, he says, he and his team lived in a tent city reminiscent of the classic TV show M.A.S.H. “We live in cycles – fire seasons, hurricane seasons, flooding seasons. Cyclical climate change is influencing fire conditions through long term drought, warmer temps, and longer seasons, especially in the West,” Houseman says. “We’re following 100 years of fire management designed for rapid and full suppression of every wildland fire. Fire was restricted from carrying out its natural role of reducing forest fuels like brush and dead trees.”
Wildland – An area in which development is essentially non-existent, except for roads, railroads, powerlines, and similar transportation facilities. Structures, if any, are widely scattered
Wildland Fire – Any non-structure fire that occurs in vegetation or natural fuels. Includes wildfires and prescribed fires Prescribed Fire – A wildland fire originating from a planned ignition in accordance with applicable laws, policies, and regulations to meet specific objectives
Wildfire – A wildland fire originating from an unplanned ignition, such as lightning, volcanos, unauthorized and accidental human caused fires, and prescribed fires that are declared wildfire
- Source: National Wildfire Coordinating Group Glossary of Wildland Fire
Immense amounts of fuel – in the form of small trees, shrubs, and grasses – have built up in more than 700 million acres of forests, according to the U.S. Forest Service. This excessive growth and plant debris allow fires to burn hotter and longer and spread further. This buildup, paired with changing environmental conditions, has created the perfect storm for increased wildfires. Many are ignited naturally by lightning, and there’s increased risk for fires sparked by humans to blaze out of control. “Your home becomes a part of the ecosystem when building within woodland settings,” Houseman says. “When people choose to live among the natural beauty of wildlands and build developments in wooded areas, their home and community become part of the fuel that can potentially burn. It’s just like living in eastern coastal areas. It places you in an ecology in which you’ll potentially face hurricanes.” The U.S. Forest Service estimates that a third of all housing units in the U.S. are in areas close to forests. Collaboration among state, local, and private agencies is key to protecting high-value structures like homes and businesses and – most importantly –keeping residents safe. As Houseman says, “fire knows no boundaries.”
SHARED STEWARDSHIP
Through collaborative land management agreements known as Shared Stewardship, the U.S. Forest Service partners with tribal governments, states, and other agencies. Together they address urgent land management challenges like extreme wildfires, severe drought, and invasive species. The U.S. Forest Service reports 47 states, three territories, the District of Columbia, and one tribe are covered under such agreements to co-manage natural resources. There’s about 192 million acres of national forests and grasslands in the U.S. That’s 8.5 percent of the nation’s total land area. More than 200,000 acres are managed via Shared Stewardship agreements.
Damon Lange, southwest area manager for the Colorado State Forest Service in Salida, Colorado, has helped local landowners manage their forests for more than 25 years. “We work with a lot of partners – it’s about shared stewardship,” Lange says. “Some agencies have funding, but limited staffing. Others have staff, but limited funds. And it’s about cross-boundary management. Private lands border federal land, and forests cross tribal, state, and federal boundaries.” Lange (‘89 forestry) also has extensive experience as a wildland firefighter, volunteer firefighter, and serves on the board of directors for the West Region Wildfire Council.
Damon Lange with the Colorado State Forest Service helps landowners manage their forests.
“We provide technical assistance and implement projects to reduce wildfire threat to homes and communities by working with individual landowners and community leaders,” Lange says. “We listen to landowner objectives, write management plans, administer projects, and bring in funding from state, federal, and nonprofit sources to make it all happen. Part of the job also includes wildland firefighting across the country.” In recent years, he’s been working with more utility providers to enact projects to keep power lines clear and minimize potential sediment runoff from fires that may affect water quality downstream. Fire impacts every part of the ecosystem. “Our state Forest Health Councils and other collaborative groups bring together several agencies – land management, environmental organizations, public utilities, timber industry reps, researchers, and wildlife biologists,” Lange says. “Working together they are getting acres treated. Projects to reduce fire danger also improve wildlife habitat for big and small game animals. If forests aren’t managed, they can be susceptible to insects, disease, or wildfires.” As new technologies have been introduced, the way fire is managed has changed tremendously. “Now firefighters out on the line work with GIS (graphic information systems) teams to gather data in real time, sync, and share with the team managing the fire. If you have an internet connection and a cell phone, you have connection to everything,” Lange says. And, Lange says, the way they fight fire has changed. It’s no longer about suppressing all fire. “We use a lot more logging equipment to reduce fuels and create fuel breaks,” he says. “We do more indirect point protection like putting in portable sprinkler kits close to structures. As the fire progresses, we turn on the pumps and get everything wet before the fire arrives, then again when the fire arrives. Drip torches are used to burn out and remove the fuel before the fire arrives.” Forest Service research shows overcrowding stresses tree health. This often causes fire-dependent species, like ponderosa pine, to disappear and allows highly flammable species, like non-native grasses, to build up and become fuel for massive wildfires. Thinning and prescribed burns are important tools to reduce fire risk and restore natural tree density, tree species and age distribution, and gaps in the canopy. These practices also reduce the threat of insects and disease. Houseman agrees. “We recognize the role fire plays in a healthy ecosystem,” he says. “Through adjusted wildland fire policies and increased application of prescribed burning we are allowing fire to play a more natural role.”
MIDWEST MANAGEMENT
Wildfire management isn’t just important in mountain landscapes and national forests. In the fields and prairies surrounding Iowa State University, fire is an essential tool in land management and a very real threat when it burns out of control.
Gail Kantak is the fire supervisor for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). “In Iowa, we do have a fire issue. It’s just that our population lives closer together and we have a better infrastructure to manage it, so our fires stay at a tenth of an acre to two acres instead of 10,000,” says Kantak.
Gail Kantak is Iowa’s first female fire supervisor, and one of few women serving in such a role nationwide. She says collaboration is key to her position’s success.
Below: Ryan Schlater’s fire truck shows his allegiance to ISU as he travels the state conducting prescribed burns. Kantak (‘82 forestry, MS ‘86) studied computer science when she first arrived at Iowa State University. She used her unique background in her master’s thesis project by creating a data-collection program to identify timber volumes, explore management practices, and estimate the impact of those decisions on the value of the timber. Timber Inventory, Growth Estimation and Economic Review (known as Iowa TIGER) is still in use today. In 2000, Kantak became the first female fire supervisor in Iowa. She is currently one of few women serving in such a role nationwide. She previously worked as a district forester and had experience collaborating with regional and national wildfire agencies as a member of the Big Rivers Forest Fire Management Prevention Committee. She says her work is mainly behind the scenes and falls into two categories: wildfire and prescribed fire. Kantak creates prescribed fire plans and develops and administers policy for smoke management, risk management, certifications, awareness and education, and fire use. Prescribed burns are used in Iowa much like other parts of the country – to improve wildlife habitat and mitigate the risk of wildfire. Such burns are often an essential part of management plans for land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program. Burning the landscape eliminates dead vegetation, returns nutrients to the soil, and nurtures native plants. Invasive plants and trees are deterred by the flames, which promotes healthy biodiversity and attracts wildlife. “This position requires considerable partnership and network building – not just locally, but regionally and nationally,” Kantak says. “In Iowa only volunteer fire departments have fire suppression responsibilities in wildland areas – the DNR doesn’t have that authority or responsibility. Building partnerships brings in federal dollars to support Iowa’s volunteer fire departments that suppress Iowa’s wildland fires and provides valuable training and information to support natural resource managers.” Kantak oversees training, grants, and equipment for fire departments and other wildfire suppression agencies. This includes managing the transfer of military equipment that has been modified for wildfire suppression and loaned to small fire departments. The publication “Firewise on the Farm” is an example of how Kantak has tailored educational materials to best serve her Midwest audience. “I wanted to create a resource that addresses where the bulk of our fires happen, and that’s on the farm,” says Kantak. “Whether you’re burning debris, or you have combine bearings that get hot, if you take some basic precautions fires are preventable.” “Firewise on the Farm” and other educational resources created by Kantak and the Iowa DNR are available on the department’s website, in addition to fire prevention resources available via the U.S. Forest Service website.
HARNESSING THE POWER OF FIRE
Ryan Schlater, of Cambridge, Iowa, is a contract fire specialist. In Iowa, Schlater (‘02 animal ecology) says most wildfires spark from purposefully set fires – prescribed burns or brush fires – that get out of control. “Private landowners don’t always understand the weather before they light a prescribed burn,” Schlater says. “Many think a calm day is a good day to burn, but that’s not necessarily true. Fire creates its own wind. Even on a calm day, those fires can get out of control if not watched.” Schlater works for the Iowa DNR managing the system that tracks qualifications for certifying wildland firefighters (“red-carding”) and instructs certification courses. He manages the hiring of seasonal crew members and dispatches crews to support fire incidents. He’s also the assistant fire chief in Cambridge, Iowa, a certified EMT, and an active wildland firefighter leading crews to battle blazes from coast to coast. “I was in college when 9-11 happened,” Schlater says. “I knew then I wanted to work in fire and help people. I decided to make this my career.” His business, Ring of Fire Consulting, specializes in grassland burning on private lands and supports U.S. Forest Service fire suppression efforts. When asked what makes a good crew member, Schlater says it comes down to flexibility. “You need someone who can operate in a high-stress, chaotic environment. But it’s not all exciting,” Schlater says. “There’s a lot of hurry up and wait. You have to take in information quickly during briefs, and sometimes you end up on the back line mopping up and finding hot spots. You need a lot of patience and someone who can overcome difficulties.” Since 2004, Schlater has responded to a number of major wildland fire incidents. He’s had a few close calls. During the Liberty Fire in Montana in 2017, he says the wind unexpectedly switched direction and the fire engulfed him and his crew. They escaped without injury, but the crew behind them had to be lifted out by helicopter. “In 2021, I worked on the Greenwood Fire up on Superior National Forest and spent time in the Plumas National Forest on the North Complex Fire in California in 2020,” Schlater says. “The Gatlinburg Fire in 2016 was the first one I experienced that caused the death of residents. More than 1,400 homes were destroyed. Fourteen people died, and twelve were discovered while we were working.” The inherent danger of wildfire fighting is undeniable. National incident commander Houseman says his most challenging duty is also his most important. He and his team in the U.S. Forest Service provide support to families who have lost a loved one in the line of duty. “Last summer my team was requested to conduct a memorial service for a smokejumper [a firefighter trained to parachute into remote locations] who lost his life on a wildfire in New Mexico,” Houseman says. “We worked with members of the family and local unit to plan a service that included an agency honor guard, procession, Cordon of Honor, and speakers. This part of our work, though difficult, demonstrates the core values of duty, honor, and respect for the fallen.” Houseman, Schlater, Kantak, and Lange all agree that it’s the desire to serve others that drives their work to battle the flames and harness the natural power of fire. Through cooperative management, science-based decision making, and clear communication they’ll keep working to help people and fire safely coexist in their local ecosystems.
LANCELOT AND ELAINE PAPER SWANS
As a member of the LegaCY Club, your child, grandchild, niece, or nephew will receive age-appropriate gifts from time of enrollment until age 18. Parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles who are members of the ISUAA can enroll their little Cyclone in the LegaCY Club for a one-time fee of $35. Email legacyclub@iastate.edu for details or visit us online at www.ISUalum.org/Legacy.
Scan the QR code for the directions and a template to make your own
Lancelot and
Elaine paper swan.
You’re invited to email us a photo of you and your Lancelot and Elaine Paper Swans to legacyclub@iastate.edu. You could be featured in future ISU Alumni Association print or digital communications!
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