Jen Pierce

Dr. Jen Pierce is a Professor in the Department of Geosciences at Boise State University where she directs the Earth, Wind and Fire Laboratory and leads the Idaho Climate Literacy Education Engagement & Research (i-CLEER) initiative. Her research examines interactions between wildfires, climate, and landscape response, with focus on soil carbon storage and climate change education.

Research Programs:

• NSF-funded dryland ecosystem studies on carbon-water interactions
• Wildfire impacts on erosion and landscape evolution
• Development of K-12 wildfire curriculum integrating climate science
• Soil carbon sequestration in agricultural and natural systems

Educational initiatives include the Molecular World Building program using 3D-printed models to teach molecular concepts, and climate literacy programs reaching over 100 classrooms. Research has been implemented in multiple national parks and science museums.

Field sites include Reynolds Creek Critical Zone Observatory and Dry Creek Experimental Watershed where her team investigates post-fire erosion patterns and carbon cycling processes.