SUNY Potsdam Joins FIRE-NET Network to Advance Wildfire Resilience and Environmental Justice in the Adirondacks
SUNY Potsdam to Participate in FIRE-NET: Adirondack Fire Futures, Funded by National Science Foundation Grant
Potsdam, NY (12/17/2025) — SUNY Potsdam announced today its participation in FIRE-NET: Adirondack Fire Futures, a National Science Foundation-funded regional collaboration focused on understanding wildfire risk and strengthening community resilience across Northern New York. This project, funded through NSF Award #2536051, will develop a network of scholars, practitioners and community partners to address current and future fire-related challenges in our region.
SUNY Potsdam brings distinctive leadership in environmental justice, experiential learning and community-engaged environmental science to the project.
"Participation in FIRE-NET will give our students the opportunity to engage with a critical environmental issue that affects social, ecological and economic systems in the Adirondack region," said Dr. Katherine Cleary, an associate professor in the Department of Environment and Sustainability.
SUNY Potsdam's contribution to FIRE-NET is rooted in a commitment to ensuring that vulnerable populations -- from low-income families to elderly residents -- are considered in every step of resilience planning. The college's interdisciplinary environment and sustainability major integrates scientific expertise with policy, communication and community partnership. Through internships with local farmers, environmental nonprofits, schools and the Department of Environmental Conservation, SUNY Potsdam students are already embedded in the very communities that must adapt to a changing climate.
FIRE-NET offers SUNY Potsdam a platform to connect this work with regional partners in forestry, engineering, ecology and policy. The network allows SUNY Potsdam to contribute research on climate communication, smoke impact, and community preparedness, while gaining access to complementary expertise in fire ecology, landscape management and monitoring technologies.
Participation in the Adirondack Fire Futures symposium in the summer of 2026 will further strengthen Potsdam's connections across campuses and prepare students to join interdisciplinary resilience efforts.
"By joining this regional collaboration, SUNY Potsdam is helping build a shared foundation of expertise and resources so our North Country home can better adapt to changing fire regimes," Cleary said. "Our participation keeps community knowledge at the core and creates meaningful opportunities for students to explore career paths in wildfire resilience."
About SUNY Potsdam:
Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges -- and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.
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Dr. Katherine Cleary, an associate professor of environment and sustainability at SUNY Potsdam, is collaborating on FIRE-NET: Adirondack Fire Futures, funded by a National Science Foundation grant.
SUNY Potsdam
Alexandra Jacobs Wilke, (315) 267-2918, news@potsdam.eduShare this Story
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