Forestry Professor Delivers Inaugural Professor Lecture

Michael R. Kuhns, professor in the Department Forest, Range and Wildlife Sciences in USU's College of Natural Resources, opened the university's 2005-06 Inaugural Professor Lecture Series Oct. 18 with a talk at the President's Home. Family, friends and colleagues joined Kuhns, who recounted his professional journey - complete with photos from the 1970s and 80s, in which he sported era-appropriate hairdos.

Kuhns joined Utah State as an assistant professor and Extension forestry specialist in 1992. He previously served on the University of Nebraska's faculty in the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Wildlife as an Extension specialist.

"Early in my career, I was involved with basic research," said Kuhns. "Today, my work involves applied research and educating the people of Utah about trees and forestry."

Actively involved in educational efforts in urban/community forestry, private forest landownership, wildland/urban interface issues and environmental issues, Kuhns wants to know what people think and care about.

"My role is an extension specialist isn't to tell people what to do," he said. "I want to hear what Utah residents have to say and what motivates their decisions."

As residents of one of the country's fastest growing states, Utahns are facing the challenges of living a modern, urban lifestyle in and near wildlands. "We're building many of our communities in forests and rangelands prone to wildfire. We're living among wildlife. We expect clean water in abundant and readily accessible quantities," Kuhns said. "All of these expectations require some re-thinking on our part."

Kuhns' educational efforts in firewise landscaping, which include literature, Web information and statewide workshops, broaden awareness of residential and commercial landscaping methods that conserve water and reduce the risk of damage from wildfires.

Over the course of his career, Kuhns has spoken to thousands of youth and adults about various aspects of environmental and conservation education at numerous conferences, workshops and camps.

An expert on tree physiology, Kuhns' book, A Guide to the Trees of Utah and the Intermountain West, is a comprehensive guide to virtually every native and introduced tree species from the eastern slope of the Rockies to the Sierra Nevada. He recently issued the "USU TREEBrowser," an interactive database on CD that features extensive information on Intermountain trees.

Kuhns' efforts have been recognized with a number of awards, including President's Award, Utah Community Forest Council, 2004; Innovative Program Award, USU Extension Specialist Association, 2004; Merit Award, Intermountain Society of American Foresters, 2004; and the Silver Award Web Page, Association of Natural Resources Extension Professionals, 2004.

USU's Inaugural Professor Series highlights the accomplishments of university faculty and is open to those who have been promoted to full professor in the past year. Other professors scheduled for the remainder of the year include Mark Brunson, Environment and Society; Ilka Nemere, Nutrition and Food Sciences; Paul Wolf, Biology; Diane Alston, Biology; John A. Smith, Elementary Education; Thorana Nelson, Family, Consumer and Human Development. Twelve additional lectures are scheduled for 2006.