Meg R. Dolman

Can fire-gutted suburbs rebuild safer? Here's what the experts say Though no community can be made fireproof, discarding past urban design practices could make areas abutting wilderness safer from the kind of wildfire that hit Altadena and Pacific Palisades.

Absolutely incredible visuals by @loelebee.bsky.social, with words by @dwharton.bsky.social, showing how fire-stricken suburbs can rebuild safer. Most understandable explainer I've seen on this topic: www.latimes.com/california/s...

My husband was fired from his federal job helping farmers just because he was new | Opinion “These actions are not draining the swamp, they are draining the dreams and livelihoods of our young Idahoans.” | Opinion

I am sharing this with a heavy heart. Grace is a colleague. Please read and share this story.

www.idahostatesman.com/opinion/read...

Thanks so much!

Thanks so much!

Thrilled to share that I successfully defended my PhD today! 🎉

#remotesensing @global-ecology.bsky.social

Stoked to have contributed to this work along with @trevorcaughlin.bsky.social led by @pyroscientist.bsky.social! She demonstrates how to integrate data sources to make maps that identify various built infrastructure types and improve upon existing datasets spatially, temporally, and thematically.

Huge shout out to my great co-authors, including @nkolarik.bsky.social and @trevorcaughlin.bsky.social!

We show that the synergistic use of Sentinel-1 and -2 gives superior classification results, allowing for the identification of residential infrastructure vs. other infrastructure types, and offers improvements spatially, temporally, and thematically over existing LULC datasets.

We compared our product with existing land use and land cov3r (LULC) datasets: National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD), Microsoft Building Footprints, and the Dynamic World dataset.

Using Google Earth Engine, we applied our Random Forest algorithm to create annual maps of built infrastructure from 2015 to 2024, delivered at 10 m resolution, for across the Snake River Plain, in southern Idaho.

I am excited to share our new paper on mapping built infrastructure using remote sensing data integration and open-source cloud computing.

doi.org/10.1016/j.rs...

There are THREE! Count em THREE memoirs coming out in 2025/2026 by women/non-binary folks who have worked as wildland firefighters or hotshots. Here they are, for those interested in pre-orders or learning more about the authors.

Invasive plant hitchhikers: Appalachian Trail thru-hiker knowledge and attitudes of invasive plants and leave No trace practices Hiking and backpacking on American National Scenic Trails has increased in popularity in recent years. To encourage responsible and sustainable outdoo…

Simple practices like cleaning your shoes and gear and sticking to marked recreational trails can minimize the spread of invasive non-native plants.
This paper was the product of my MSc with @ox.ac.uk:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

#wildfire #knowledgetransfer

Creating an Evidence Based Strategy for UK Wildfire Resilience With wildfire strategies emerging across the United Kingdom (UK), there is an opportunity to learn key lessons from countries with decades of experience applying wildfire prevention to property and in...

It was fantastic to be involved in this US-UK knowledge transfer paper 🔥 Thanks to my fellow collaborators, especially Victoria Amato for leading this effort and SWCA Environmental Consultants for supporting it.

Please read here and share widely!
issuu.com/swcaenvironm...

A living lab approach to forest restoration | CNN In Washington’s Central Cascades, The Nature Conservancy is carrying out cutting-edge forest restoration work to reduce wildfire risk, improve watershed health and build climate resilience.

In Washington’s Central Cascades, The Nature Conservancy is carrying out cutting-edge forest restoration work to reduce wildfire risk, improve watershed health and build climate resilience.
www.cnn.com/2024/12/02/w...

New paper in #Ecosystems by Rock, Shoup et al. shows how mountain West US ecosystems are at risk as climate-driven disturbances ( #fires , #barkbeetle outbreaks, etc.) intensify, with effects on water quality and quantity. @steve-carpenter.bsky.social @springer1842.bsky.social

rdcu.be/d2iV2

Fantastic! I did GA-->ME'18!

Driven by a want to study wildfire, I moved to the western US to pursue a PhD. At @boisestate.bsky.social, my research focuses on the complex interactions between humans and wildfire. I use remote sensing to map fire-prone properties and explore causes of human-started fires on public lands.

Those seeds clinging to your hiking socks may be from invasive plants – here’s how to avoid spreading them to new locations Invasive species cause billions of dollars in damage across the US every year. Hikers and backpackers can take simple steps to avoid spreading seeds and making the problem worse.

After hiking, I started my Masters at @ox.ac.uk, returning to the trail to research #LeaveNoTrace principles and hiker practices to reduce spreading invasive non-native plant species along recreational trails:
doi.org/10.1016/j.jo...

@us.theconversation.com theconversation.com/those-seeds-...

Appalachian Trail

Hiking on the Appalachian Trail

After graduating, unsure of my next steps, I chose to go on an adventure and spent six months thruhiking on the Appalachian Trail. On this trail, I experienced two life changing events: meeting the man who would become my husband and my first #wildfire.

Amazon Rainforest, Peru

Pscittaciformes flying

A decage ago, I started my academic journey at @rhulgeography.bsky.social. At the same time I was completing my Gold DofE (@dofeuk.bsky.social), which took me to the Amazon Rainforest, Peru. There I volunteered with the Crees Foundation (www.crees-foundation.org) monitoring macaws and parrots.

As an English girl now living in Idaho, I often get asked 'How did you end up here?'

My peregrination involved new landscapes, rugged trails, and adventure. Here's my story!

🌟 Excited to join the Blue Sky community! 🌈

I'm Meg — a researcher passionate about wildland fire, community resilience, biodiversity conservation, and science communication🔥🌲