Throughout April, faculty, staff and students are sharing what research and creative activity at Boise State means to them.
Mojtaba Sadegh is an associate professor of civil engineering whose prolific and impactful research as head of the Hydroclimate Lab is advancing the study of wildfire and related smoke science for the world. Sadegh also leads the Boise State Grand Challenge ‘Healthy Idaho’ initiative.
Q and A
Q: What is your favorite memory related to research and/or creative activity at Boise State?
A: “In early days of my Boise State tenure, I met Jen Pierce of the Geoscience Department and we started telling stories and sharing research ideas. One thing led to another, and we ended up finding wildfire research as a common interest. Long story short, I have been working on wildfires ever since. It was a new topic to me, but it had so much potential. And here I am now a wildfire scientist…”
Q: What motivates you to explore new ideas or create something original?
“Scientific discovery has a great potential to positively impact society, improve lives, and inform management decisions. I wake up every day in the pursuit of making a contribution that makes this world a better place to live in.”
Q: How do you think research and creative activity contribute to society?
A: “We provide the tools (models, data, information) that managers use to plan for, respond to, and recover from wildfires.”
Q: Research and Creative Activity are impossible in a vacuum. Is there anyone you would like to thank for supporting, mentoring, inspiring, or otherwise shaping your work?
A: “One specific person is my collaborator and friend, Dr John Abatzoglou of University of California Merced.”