Today we get to learn from Robin Lee Carlson.

Robin is a biologist, science writer, and scientific illustrator. In all aspects of her work, Robin transforms scientific information into stories to help people see the natural world in new ways. We can see her scientific illustration work and writings on posters, interpretive panels, and informative species cards used by the California Department of Transportation.

Robin is also the author and illustrator of The Cold Canyon Fire Journals: Green Shoots and Silver Linings in the Ashes.

In The Cold Canyon Fire Journals, Robin takes us to her local nature preserve that has twice experienced the type of fast-moving and expansive wildfires seen more and more often in California.

Through her illustrations and text, Robin takes us on a tour of the canyon before and after the fires and teaches us about fire ecology in an engaging way.

How did Robin’s relationship with Cold Canyon begin?

How did her illustrations and field notes become a book?

Who should be part of the conversation when it comes to fire management?

Let’s find out.

LINKS

Robin Lee Carlson Illustration

Robin on Instagram (@anthropocenesketchbook)

Reading the Ashes | The Common

California Wilderness Coalition Bundle (Book + Bandana)

A couple of great podcasts about fire and controlled and cultural burning:

• Living with Fire

• Life with Fire Podcast

Book resources for cultural fire:

• Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge and the Management of California’s Natural Resources

• Forgotten Fires: Native Americans and the Transient Wilderness

• Fire Country: How Indigenous Fire Management Could Help Save Australia

MUSIC:

So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License.

LIVE CAPTIONS:

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Section Image Credit: @benkuo