As climate change drives more frequent and severe wildfires across forests in Alaska and northwestern Canada, scientists are asking a critical question: Will these ecosystems continue to store carbon, or will they become a growing source of carbon emissions? New research published this week shows that when these northern forests shift from coniferous spruce forests to deciduous aspen and birch forests, they could release substantially less carbon when they burn. The National Science Foundation-funded study, led…

A new study from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean has partly revealed why the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami were so devastating—and how scientists may be able to better understand intense disasters in the future. The study, co-authored by NAU associate professor Christine Regalla of the School of Earth and Sustainability, found that at the Japan Trench—a deep…

NAU’s Cline Library opened a new AI Hub this week to help students, faculty, staff and community members learn how to use the new technology in a practical, welcoming space. The hub adds new capacity for NAU and gives the campus a central place to test ideas, compare approaches across disciplines and get real-time support. Library staff and student AI ambassadors will help visitors get comfortable with generative…

In the remote wilderness of the American West, where chainsaws and heavy machinery can’t go, fire may become the tool of choice. New research from NAU’s Ecological Restoration Institute published in Restoration Ecology shows that managed wildfires in these areas can help restore forest health and lower the risk of future severe fires. As large, unnaturally severe wildfires become more common in the western United States—fueled…

After a three-year hiatus, the School of Hotel and Restaurant Management’s (HRM) Job Shadow Program is back, taking students into the workplace for a day of career learning. This revived initiative pairs students with professionals in the hospitality industry to give them a firsthand look at the responsibilities, challenges and collaboration behind each role. For many students, this is their first opportunity to step inside the environments they’ve only…

In today’s rapidly evolving job market, true career readiness comes from experience. A marketing class at NAU provides students with the opportunity to collaborate directly with entrepreneurs and organizations in need of innovative marketing strategies, equipping them with the skills necessary for success after graduation. McKenzie Cassens, assistant professor of practice at the W. A. Franke…