A.G. Steig

A.G. Steig is a PhD student in sociocultural anthropology and science and technology studies at the University of Arizona. She studies how ecological principles and available resources inform how land management is practiced. Her research looks at the adaptation of North American landscapes to disaster. She has an MA in anthropology from UA and a BA in environmental studies from Yale University. 

Fire on the Ground in Northern California and the Bay Area

This project examines the practices and challenges of people who are working today to reintegrate what they call good fire into California. Intentional or prescribed burning is used for varied land stewardship purposes, including to reduce flammable debris, to discourage invasive plants and encourage native plants, and to connect practitioners with cultural practices. This project works with networks of prescribed burn associations, which share resources, opportunities, and training among budding professionals and non-professionals alike. Participants expand the reach of wildfire prevention and disaster resilience beyond government agencies into a broader public. I investigate how community-scale good fire projects aim to reach and sustain ecological and cultural fire in an uncertain future.