In Ford's work with the Coweeta station and Washington office, she communicates research results to the public via press releases, correspondence and interviews. she is involved with field demonstrations, tours, consultations and experiments in adaptive management.
Graduate School Magazine: you've a varied background. what inspired you to become a scientist?
Graduate School Magazine: how did you get tapped to work for the Global change research Program?
ford: Interestingly, I wasn’t a very good student when I was young. I just wasn’t interested in school. that all changed in the sixth grade; in sixth grade I was first exposed to science. And, it was like a light bulb went off. Learning suddenly had a structure (the scientific method) and a defined and crucial place for inquisitiveness. Before I was exposed to science in school, I was an average student… I wasn’t really engaged. In the sixth grade, everything turned around; and, I know that a large part of that transition was science. I’ve also had some really inspiring science teachers throughout my education. In short, I’ve always been interested in science… and, well, I just kept doing what I enjoyed.
ford: the Us Global Change Research Program (UsGCRP) was tasked with the effort of providing a report on climate change in the U.s., the national Climate Assessment (nCA) report, to Congress no less frequently than every four years by the 1990 Global Change Research Act. to this end, all of the 13 federal agencies that conduct science must participate in this effort, typically by synthesizing their own science in the form of technical input products. When the UsGCRP asked the UsDA Forest service for participation, both the project leader of Coweeta and I were proffered as scientists who would participate and help the UsGCRP with the 2013 national Climate Assessment.
Graduate School Magazine: what is the ultimate job for you—what do you aspire to?
Graduate School Magazine: what role will you play in washington during this assignment (in organizing a mass of data and research)?
ford: this is going to sound rote, or maybe shortsighted, but the job I have is the one I’ve always wanted. And, I’ve worked hard to get here. I’ve never wanted a career in academia. I’ve always wanted to be a scientist in a federal or state agency. I want to conduct basic science, but always find an application for that science that is useful to society. the Forest service has this vision at the heart of their mission statement. And, I wholeheartedly believe in the mission of the Forest service—in caring for the land we are serving the people.
ford: My role will mainly be in facilitating the process. Federal agencies aren’t the only ones who will be able to produce technical input products that could be considered for inclusion in the 2013 nCA. A request for information recently was released by the UsGCRP soliciting input from anyone who was interested in participating. this means that monitoring networks, private institutions, and any other group or individual could produce a technical input product.
the Center is charged with evaluating, explaining, and predicting how water, soil, forest, and aquatic resources respond to ecosystem management practices, natural disturbances, and the atmospheric environment; and identifying practices that restore, protect, and enhance watershed health. UGA Graduate School Magazine w i n t e r 2 012
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