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Thomas W. Swetnam facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Thomas W. Swetnam, born in 1955, is a famous scientist who studied trees. He was a professor at the University of Arizona. He learned about how forests change over time. He also led a special lab that studies tree rings for many years.

Learning and Degrees

Thomas Swetnam went to the University of New Mexico to study biology and chemistry. Later, he went to the University of Arizona. There, he earned two more degrees. He studied how to manage water areas and how to learn from tree rings.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Swetnam has received many important awards for his work. He got the A.E. Douglass award from the University of Arizona. He also received the W.S. Cooper award for his work on how living things interact with their environment. He was given the Henry Cowles award for his studies in geography. In 2015, he became a Fellow of the American Association For the Advancement of Science. This is a special honor for top scientists. He also received two lifetime achievement awards in 2016. These awards recognized his long and important work in tree-ring science and fire ecology.

Helping Others and Research

Dr. Swetnam has helped many groups with his knowledge. He was part of boards that advised on forest health and climate change in Arizona. He also worked with groups that publish scientific papers.

He has written or helped write over 120 science papers. These papers are about how forests are affected by things like fires. One important paper he wrote was about how fires have happened in the Southwestern United States since the 1700s. This research helps us understand how forests have changed over a long time.

He also helped edit books about tree rings and how they connect to the environment.

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