Comic:
This assignment required me to explore different modalities in science communication and art to effectively interpret peer-reviewed literature for a chosen audience. I had to craft a persuasive scientific narrative, utilize a specific artistic modality, and provide a public implementation plan. I chose to showcase this information through a comic.
This was created in my Special Topics- Inspiring Engagement: The Art of Making Science Matter course in the Spring of 2019.
Human-caused wildfires create an average of 61,375 fires each year (NIFC, 2018). There is an average of 4.6 million acres burned by wildfires each year, with human-caused wildfires being the cause of 55% of those total acres burned (Evans, 2018). In 2009 there was a sudden increase with human-caused wildfires being responsible for 82% of total acres burned (Evans, 2018). And that was only one year after San Diego county was hit with three major wildfires that burned around 207,000 acres (Evans, 2018). With the amount of acres being burned every year animal habitats are quickly disappearing and leaving the animals with few to little alternatives. Human-caused wildfires are decreasing animal habitat and having animal species leave the area prior to others which interferes with the food web. The biggest day for human-caused wildfires is the Fourth of July, with 7, 762 fires ignited on this day over the past 21 years (Daley, 2017).
People enjoy camping and enjoy lighting campfires as part of the recreational experience (Evans, 2018). However, people are not extinguishing the campfires properly and campfire turned wildfires are the single most human caused wildfire with 44% of human-caused wildfires starting from campfires (Evans, 2018). Wildfires caused by humans tend to be close to roads whereas wildfires caused by lighting tends to be further in forests. When it comes to human-caused wildfires 91% are started within a half mile of a road, 77% within a quarter mile of a road and when it comes to campfires 80% of those wildfires are started within a quarter mile of a road (Evans, 2018).
Human-caused campfires affect animals’ habitat such as the puma and jaguar. It is difficult to find these species in the wild which makes their population numbers unknown. Because of this it is vital that these species are protected, especially when human- caused wildfires can be prevented. Humans are powerful enough to create wildfires, therefore they are also powerful enough to prevent them. Smokey the Bear began as face to prevent wildfires and now 74 years 96% of the adult population knows who he is, so that action was a success in getting people to know that "only you can prevent wildfires" (Evans, 2018). Focusing on some other animals might remind people that it is more than just Smokey the bear that is affected by wildfires, and that southern California does have jaguars, they just need protecting.
The targeted audience are adults in San Diego county, specifically those that go camping and build campfires. Adults were chosen because they can spread the message of fire prevention to their families. They were also chosen because they grew up with Smokey the Bear and having a reminder that they can prevent wildfires and realizing that this is still an ongoing issue may give them the spark to change. Adults living in wildfire zones are more likely to care about wildfires since their homes and property can be at risk. They are also more likely to come into contact with wildlife so again they may be more willing to change their ways and help prevent human-caused wildfires.
A comic was chosen to be a fast way to display the information but easy enough to be understood. The images from a comic will be able to grab the attention and then draw in the reader. Everyone likes pictures, so adding important information and a conservation message can allow people to look at what they enjoy and walk away with more knowledge than before and hopefully a want to change their behaviors and do what they can to prevent wildfires. Since the comic will focus on other animals it will grab the reader's interest by being something new yet something they can recognize, as well as having Smokey the Bear which they already know.
The comic and conservation message will be shared with the public through flyers. Common places for the rural community to visit will post these, places like grocery stores, gas stations, libraries, camping or adventure stores and anyplace that sells firewood. Flyers will also be posted in emergency services areas like police stations, fire stations and hospitals, to remind those employees and the people who visit them the dangers that these people can face or become a part of working on and that they can help spread the message of preventing human-caused wildfires. Flyers will also be mailed out to every rural resident to ensure that the message is spread around for everyone to see.
References
Daley, Jason. “Study Shows 84% of Wildfires Caused by Humans.” Smithsonian: Smart
News, Smithsonian Institution, 28 Feb. 2017, www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/study-shows-84-wildfires-caused-humans-180962315/.
Engstrom, R. T. (2010). First- order fire effects on animals: Review and recommendations. Fire
Ecology,6(1), 115-130. doi:10.4996/fireecology.0601115
Evans, Alexander. “Increasing Wildfire Awareness and Reducing Human-Caused Ignitions
in Northern New Mexico.” Forest Stewards Guild, Mar. 2018, www.forestguild.org/publications/research/2018/Wildfire_awareness_2018.pdf.
Smokey the Bear cries.... (2018, August 11). Retrieved from
http://www.sierrasentinel.com/2018/08/smokey-bear-cries.html