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![]() Ian Halm As the Forest Service's HBEF site manager, Ian Halm has seen a lot of moose. "I was chased by a moose one day. I was on the Watershed 7 (see map) trail and I got between a bull (male) moose and his cows during" the mating season. Knowing the moose can't see well but can run quickly over short distances, Ian ran behind a large yellow birch tree, positioning it between him and the moose. "All I could concentrate on were the points on his antlers." After a short time the moose lost interest and walked away. While most days at the HBEF aren't this exciting, Ian nonetheless enjoys being a scientist at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. He became interested in science in high school, where his favorite classes were Biology and Internal Combustion Engines. "Both classes taught me how to take things apart and see how they work." As site manager, Ian now uses what he learned in those classes - both to collect long-term data for the Forest Service, and to maintain the equipment and facilities that other scientists use in their research.
After high school Ian entered the Coast Guard and served for a number of years on an icebreaking ship in Antarctica. "That fulfilled my goal of learning how major machines work. I then went to Forestry school at the Thompson School of Applied Science to learn about forestry and how ecosystems work. This really interested me, so I went on to the University of New Hampshire (UNH) to learn more about ecosystems and how to manage forests." In 1990, Ian started working for the Forest Service and entered UNH. In 1995 he graduated, and has continued to work at the HBEF. Currently he splits his time between research and site management. "In research, my role is to collect long-term data. I also try to find new methods of collecting data by trying out new equipment and devices. I am currently trying to install an electronic encoder on a recording rain gauge so the information it gives will be electronic." Currently rain gauges record data using an often messy pen and paper. One of the greatest things about Ian's job is the variety involved in it. "Every workday is different. Depending on the season or the day of the week, I can be snowmobiling or hiking to collect data, entering data in computers, working with GIS programs, giving tours of the forest, helping scientists find a good place for their study, or working on a chainsaw in the shop. Every day is fun, but the best days are when I have to work in the forest after a fresh blanket of snow has fallen, the sky is blue, and the views of the surrounding mountains are crisp and clear." A career in science?When we asked Ian if he had any thoughts about what it takes to have a career in science, he remarked, "The advice I have for students is to take advantage of the classes they have available to them, and try to intern at" places that are interesting to them. If you have questions for Ian, you can reach him at: ihalm@fs.fed.us | |||||
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