A conversation with Dr. Winslow Hansen and Dr. Kathleen Weathers, guided by Dr. Linda Greer.
Audio of a talk presented at Cocktails & Conversation with Cary Institute.
Winslow Hansen discusses how fire has been a natural and essential part of ecosystems for hundreds of millions of years, with many species adapted to and dependent on it. However, a century of fire suppression—combined with the loss of Indigenous burning practices and the impacts of climate change—has led to more severe, destructive wildfires and fewer beneficial ones. Today, the challenge is not just understanding fire’s role, but managing it effectively.
Winslow Hansen explains how he founded The Western Fire and Forest Resilience Collaborative (WFFRC) to address this gap, bringing together scientists and land managers to develop practical, science-based solutions. While the group has made strong scientific progress, it is now focusing on increasing real-world impact by improving collaboration with managers and delivering faster, decision-relevant tools. Emerging technologies, including satellite monitoring and AI, offer new opportunities to identify and manage beneficial fires. The goal is to help communities coexist more safely with fire while restoring ecological balance.
Kathie Weathers talks about how scientists traditionally have linked harmful algal blooms to nutrient-rich conditions, particularly excess nitrogen and phosphorus, and warmer temperatures in lakes. However, recent research has revealed a surprising pattern: harmful blooms are also occurring in nutrient-poor, or oligotrophic, lakes where these conditions are not present. Scientists discovered that certain cyanobacteria can access phosphorus stored in lake sediments and fix nitrogen directly from the atmosphere, allowing them to thrive independently of external nutrient inputs. This finding challenges long-standing assumptions about what drives algal blooms.
The Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON) seeks to to better understand these dynamics. Using sensor-equipped buoys and community-based observations, scientists can track how lakes “breathe”—measuring photosynthesis and respiration in real time across diverse environments. This collaborative, global approach has revealed that cyanobacterial blooms in low-nutrient lakes are widespread, prompting a shift in scientific understanding. Ultimately, this research highlights the importance of integrating technology, local knowledge, and international collaboration to better predict and manage freshwater ecosystem changes.
