Laws of Notion
This episode explores how the Cameron Peak and East Troublesome Fires of 2020 created a far-reaching crisis in Colorado's watersheds, impacting both mountain communities and those downstream along the Front Range. Discover the intersection of fire, water, and policy - and the surprising ways wildfire continues to shape the state’s landscapes long after the flames go out. Learn more about the podcast at and . Sign-up for the . Follow us on , , , . If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible . The Institute for Science &...
info_outline United by Fire: After the Fire: A Community Rebuilds (S4 Ep4)Laws of Notion
Four years after the East Troublesome Fire, many Grand County residents are still grappling with the aftermath, from insurance disputes to the emotional toll of loss. We explore the long-term impact of the fire on individuals and the broader community as they strive to recover and rebuild. Learn more about the podcast at and . Sign-up for the . Follow us on , , , . If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible . The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society’s...
info_outline United by Fire: The Fire's Edge (S4 Ep3)Laws of Notion
In October 2020, the East Troublesome Fire exploded, forcing a mass evacuation of Estes Park as ash rained from the sky. In this episode, we explore how the town responded to the dual threats of a wildfire and a pandemic, and the hard choices they faced in order to protect their community. Learn more about the podcast at and . Sign-up for the . Follow us on , , , . If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible . The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society’s greatest...
info_outline United by Fire: House of Cards (S4 Ep2)Laws of Notion
The summer of 2020 was one of Colorado’s hottest and driest on record, setting the stage for a devastating series of megafires. The Cameron Peak Fire ignited in the Roosevelt National Forest and burned for nearly four months, consuming almost 209,000 acres. In this episode, we’ll hear from people who stared into the Cameron Peak fire and the difficult choices they faced. What should we try to protect? And what risks are we willing to accept? Learn more about the podcast at and . Sign-up for the . Follow us on , , , . If you like...
info_outline United by Fire: Rethinking Fire (S4 Ep1)Laws of Notion
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...
info_outline Trailer: United By Fire Launching October 9Laws of Notion
Wildfire is here to stay, but on whose terms will it burn? Join us for , 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 and . Sign up for the . Follow us on , , , . If you like our work, consider making a tax-deductible . The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions to society’s greatest...
info_outline Clearing the Air BONUS: The Right to BreatheLaws of Notion
In this special bonus episode, we talk with Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, founder and director of The based in South London, UK. We first met Rosamund in episode 4, . 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...
info_outline Clearing The Air BONUS: Dry AirLaws of Notion
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...
info_outline Clearing the Air: Steps Forward (S3 Ep8)Laws of Notion
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 . Sign up for the . Follow us on , , , . If you like our work,...
info_outline Clearing the Air: A New Wave (S3 Ep7)Laws of Notion
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...
info_outlineAn 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.
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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