Today's megafires raise questions about how we manage our forests and where we choose to live. In 2020, Colorado experienced the two largest wildfires in the state's history: Cameron Peak and East Troublesome. Together, these high-intensity blazes ripped through communities and challenged what we thought we knew about how wildfires behave.

Fire has devastating power, but it's also a necessary part of our ecosystems. Can we learn to live with it?

In this episode, we begin to explore that question through the eyes of wildfire survivors, researchers, and policymakers navigating this uncertain future.

Learn more about the podcast at institute.dmns.org/united-by-fire and lawsofnotion.org.

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The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions to society's greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Episode Credits:

Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock

Reporting, writing, editing: Carson Frame

Editing, marketing: Tricia Waddell

Production support: Nicole Delaney

Fact-checking: Kate Long

Sound design: Seth Samuel

Original music: Ryan Flores

Additional music: Epidemic Sound

Audio recording: Denver Community Media

Wildfire is here to stay, but on whose terms will it burn? Join us for United by Fire, a new series where we investigate the two biggest wildfires in Colorado's history and explore hard truths about our landscapes and ourselves. Season four of the award-winning podcast Laws of Notion starts Oct. 9.

Learn more about the podcast at institute.dmns.org/united-by-fire and lawsofnotion.org.

Sign up for the Institute for Science & Policy's mailing list.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.

If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.

The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions to society's greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Credits:

Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock

Reporting, writing: Carson Frame

Editing, marketing: Tricia Waddell

Production support: Nicole Delaney

Fact-checking: Kate Long

Sound design: Seth Samuels

Original music: Ryan Flores

Additional music: Epidemic Sound

Studio recording: Denver Community Media

In this special bonus episode, we talk with Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, founder and director of The Ella Roberta Foundation based in South London, UK. We first met Rosamund in episode 4, The Road to Change. She and her legal team made history when a coroner found a direct link between her nine-year-old daughter Ella Roberta's death from a fatal asthma attack due to the air quality near her home along one of London's busiest roads. Ella then became the first person in the world to have air pollution appear on a death certificate as a cause of death.

Eleven years after this tragic life-changing event, Rosamund reflects on her journey to becoming a global clean air advocate in honor of her daughter's legacy. From her calls for greater government accountability to raising awareness of air pollution as a critical health issue, we discuss where she has seen progress and where there is still work to be done.

This episode also features the song "Air" from the Hope 4 Justice EP. The EP was created and produced by the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in collaboration with leading artists and local young people. Learn more about this project here.

Learn more about the podcast at clearingtheair.org.

Sign up for the Institute for Science & Policy's mailing list.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.

If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.

The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions to society's greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Episode Credits:

Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock

Producing, marketing: Tricia Waddell

Additional reporting and fact-checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate Long

Sound design: Seth Samuel with tracks from Epidemic Sounds

The San Luis Valley has always had dust storms, for as long as humans have been there. The problem now is that as water dwindles, temperatures warm, a multi-decade drought rages on, and people continue altering the landscape, dust is increasing. Dust and sand storms impact farming economies by reducing valuable topsoil, and breathing in dust can have immediate and long-term respiratory and health impacts. We talk with farmer and rancher Kyler Brown and Dr. Lisa Cicutto about the impact of dust on public health and the state of farming in the Valley, along with the constant challenge of embracing change and uncertainty amid climate change.

Learn more about the podcast at clearingtheair.org.

Sign up for the Institute for Science & Policy's mailing list.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.

If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.

The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions to society's greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Episode Credits:

Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock

Producing, marketing: Tricia Waddell

Additional reporting and fact-checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate Long

Sound design: Seth Samuel with tracks from Epidemic Sounds

Audio engineering: Jesse Boynton

From supporting the wickedly smart and engaged next generation to learning how to work together in new and more meaningful ways, our last episode explores what it means to truly empower people to solve our air quality issues. Change has been slow and incremental, but change is happening. And while bad air affects us all, no matter where we live, the burden is not equal. Since our air is often invisible, it can be easy to ignore. But as we gain knowledge, it just might be harder to look away.

Learn more about the podcast at clearingtheair.org.

Sign up for the Institute for Science & Policy's mailing list.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.

If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.

The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society's greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Episode Credits:

Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock

Producing, marketing: Tricia Waddell

Additional writing: Meredith Sell

Additional reporting and fact-checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate Long

Sound design: Seth Samuel with tracks from Epidemic Sounds

Audio engineering: Jesse Boynton

Often there is a cultural catalyst that sparks change. And that catalyst can come from people being empowered with data, knowledge, and opportunity. From Pueblo to Aurora to other parts of Colorado, communities are finding traditional and new ways to engage in the change they want for their future. This could be things like a closer collaboration with the government to install a community air monitoring network, training individuals on how to engage in policy, or pushing for large-scale change, such as the energy transition, which can have the co-benefits of helping with both climate change and local air pollution.

Learn more about the podcast at clearingtheair.org.

Sign up for the Institute for Science & Policy's mailing list.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.

If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.

The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions to society's greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Episode Credits:

Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock

Producing, marketing: Tricia Waddell

Additional writing: Meredith Sell

Additional reporting and fact-checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate Long

Sound design: Seth Samuels with tracks from Epidemic Sounds

Audio engineering: Jesse Boynton

Colorado is the fifth largest oil-producing state in the country, and the state's economy benefits from keeping the industry running. But oil and gas are also a major source of emissions to local air quality and climate change. And we all have a vested interest in reducing emissions, which has economic and social costs to our health and environment. So how do we balance the demand for energy with the realities on the ground? What does the dance look like between the speed to clean up operations, the transition to new innovation, the limitations of business models, the standardization of data, and the need to protect the health of each other and our planet?

Learn more about the podcast at clearingtheair.org.

Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy's mailing list.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.

If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.

The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society's greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Episode Credits:

Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock

Producing, marketing: Tricia Waddell

Additional writing: Meredith Sell

Additional reporting and fact-checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate Long

Sound design: Seth Samuels with tracks from Epidemic Sounds

Audio engineering: Jesse Boynton

Whether you've had a direct experience with bad air, followed the air quality index on your phone, or formally learned about the importance of clean air, awareness can be a key driver for change. But once we know how poor air quality can impact our health, what does it take to change our behaviors — either to reduce our exposure or how we contribute to it?

Learn more about the podcast at clearingtheair.org.

Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy's mailing list.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.

If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.

The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions to society's greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Episode Credits:

Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock

Producing, marketing: Tricia Waddell

Additional writing: Meredith Sell

Additional reporting and fact-checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate Long

Sound design: Seth Samuels with tracks from Epidemic Sounds

Audio engineering: Jesse Boynton

An estimated 4.2 million premature deaths are associated with outdoor air pollution each year. And traffic emissions are one of the leading contributors, with those living within a quarter mile or so of a busy road at greatest risk. But statistics and facts will only get you so far. To change perceptions and policy, the issue must be brought to a human level. And while our air quality has improved over the years, there is still work to be done, especially with communities most at risk.

Learn more about the podcast at clearingtheair.org.

Sign up for the Institute for Science & Policy's mailing list.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.

If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.

The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society's greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Episode Credits:

Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock

Producing, marketing: Tricia Waddell

Additional writing: Meredith Sell

Additional reporting and fact-checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate Long

Sound design: Seth Samuels with tracks from Epidemic Sounds

Audio engineering: Jesse Boynton

There is a long history of disproportionately impacted neighborhoods, which are predominately communities of color and low income, experiencing the unequal impact of pollution. This has been the case for many communities in Colorado when it comes to air quality. And while there are competing interests, values, and needs when it comes to deciding what to do, it's critical to consider who gets represented and heard. Do the policies truly address the issue? And who bears the cost?

We all have the right to clean air, no matter where we live. But safeguarding our air is about making hard decisions. It's about changing our thinking and our behaviors. It's about looking at the issues from multiple angles. People often want there to be a single source or single industry to blame for air pollution, but unfortunately, the air doesn't work that way.

Learn more about the podcast at clearingtheair.org.

Sign-up for the Institute for Science & Policy's mailing list.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.

If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible donation.

The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society's greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Episode Credits:

Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock

Writing, marketing: Tricia Waddell

Additional reporting and fact checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate Long

Sound design: Seth Samuels with tracks from Epidemic Sounds

Audio engineering: Jesse Boynton