• Fire Ecology
• Fire Management
• Landscape Ecology
• Landscape Dynamics

Penny Morgan is a professor in the College of Natural Resources at the University of Idaho. She directs the University’s Wildland Fire Program. The fire program has been educating and working with leaders in fire education, research and outreach for more than 30 years. Penny was born, raised and educated in the West. She earned her bachelor of science and master of science degrees from Utah State University and holds a doctorate from the University of Idaho. Her current research focuses on some of the broad challenges facing people in the West: How will the changing climate influence fire occurrence and severity? Where, when and why do fires burn severely? How do bark beetles affect crown fire hazard in forests and burn severity? What drives landscape dynamics, and how can we best manage landscape change? How does vegetation recover following large fires, and how does post-fire management affect weeds and other vegetation regrowth? Penny is committed to helping people understand and use science in natural resources management in Idaho, the western U.S., and beyond.

• Holden, Z.A., Morgan, P., Smith, A.M.S. and Vierling, L.A., Beyond Landsat: Multi-scale Assessment of Four Satellite Sensors for Detecting Burn Severity in Ponderosa Pine Forests of the Gila Wilderness, NM, USA. International Journal of Wildland Fire. Accepted Pending Revisions.
• Lentile, L.B*., Smith, A.M.S*., Hudak, A.T., Morgan, P., Bobbitt, M., Lewis, S.A. and Robichaud, P. [* Equal Contribution] Remote sensing for prediction of 1-year post-fire ecosystem condition, International Journal of Wildland Fire. In press.
• Kobziar, L.N, A.Thode, M. Rocca, C. Dicus, C. Hoffman, N. Sugihara, J. M. Varner, P. Morgan. Challenges to educating the next generation of wildland fire professionals in the US. Journal of Forestry. Accepted pending revision.
• Pocewicz, A. P. Morgan and S.D. Eigenbrode. 2009. Local and landscape effects on butterfly density in northern Idaho grasslands and forests. Ecological Entomology. Journal of Insect Conservation DOI 10.1007/s10841-008-9209-7
• Heyerdahl, E.K., P. Morgan and J.P. Riser, II. 2008. Multi-season climate synchronized widespread historical fires in dry forests (1650-1900), Northern Rockies, USA. Ecology. 89(3):705-716.

• FRAMES: Fire Research and Management Exchange System: http://frames.nbii.gov, a one-stop source of fire information, data and tools. Ongoing, 2003-present, Oversight
• Online courses for fire professionals http://401series.net and http://www.cnr.uidaho.edu/wildlandfire
• Fire and aquatic ecosystems: a synthesis of recent science http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/boise/AWAE/workshops/FireAquaticEcosystems.shtml. Contributor.
• Smoke Management: Development of Online Training Resources and Workshops http://www.cnr.uidaho.edu/wildlandfire/fact.htm, Oversight.
• International Advisory Committee for the Fire Paradox project funded by the European Union
• Associate Editor, International Journal of Wildland Fire; Reviewer for 6 scientific journals.
• Chair, Program Committee, The Fires of ’88: Yellowstone and Beyond, sponsored by the International Association of Wildland Fire, September 22-27, 2008.
• Member, Education Committee, Association for Fire Ecology, 2007-present
• Proposal review panel for USDA/USDI Joint Fire Science Program, 2005, 2006, 2009

• Outstanding Research Award, College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho, 2009.
• Outstanding Teaching Award, College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho, 2008.
• University Award for Excellence in Outreach, University of Idaho, 2007.
• Outstanding Advisor Award, College of Forestry, Wildlife and Range Sciences, University of Idaho, 1997.
• Jackson Hole Award for Creativity, given by Cultural Council of Jackson Hole and Jackson Hole Fine Arts Guild to the Morgan family: John, Georgie, Wendy, Kaidi, Penny, Cindy, and Lisa, 1996. 
• Honor Award for Public Service, USDA Forest Service, 1995.

*You can view a full list of awards, and publications in Penelope's CV.