Dr. Adam Coates, Associate Professor
Ph.D., 2017, Clemson University (Major: Forest Resources)
M.S., 2006, Clemson University (Major: Forest Resources; Minor: Experimental Statistics) B.S., 2003, Clemson University (Major: Forest Resource Management; Minor: Urban Forestry) I am a native South Carolinian, hailing from Spartanburg County in the Piedmont region of the state. I have always loved trees and my initial interest in forestry was spurred by that admiration. I stumbled into my fascination with fire when I was exposed to prescribed fire in Table Mountain pine communities as an undergraduate student at Clemson University. Smokey Bear's vintage phrase, "Only you can prevent forest fires," was the only message I had heard regarding fire on the natural landscape. As I saw and experienced fire on the landscape and learned more about the history of forest management in the United States, I really developed a passion for fire and how it can be used as a tool to manage many natural communities. As my interest in fire has grown, I have explored facets of fire history, fire effects (particularly on soils and water), fire behavior, silviculture, and restoration ecology in the Appalachian Mountains, southeastern Piedmont, and southeastern Coastal Plain. It is my goal through our research program at Virginia Tech to advance our understanding of fire, its historic role in shaping the lands we value so dearly, and the management strategies needed to effectively utilize it as a management tool. |