Make a difference.
Chasing fires to better study and understand the free-range human experience.
My main research goals are to capture a comprehensive physiological understanding of the free-range human experience across a wide range of environments.
My research team works to discover the physiological responses of humans during physical stress, work and/or exercise. Our research helps to uncover the unique human capabilities in competitions and during hard work in the mountains and across deserts.
I’ve been chasing wildland firefighters for over 25 years across fires in the West. The Montana Center for Work Physiology and Exercise Metabolism has become a leading scientific resource documenting the overall rigors of wildland fire work. Our research has uncovered the unique physiological stress that fire crews battle every day on the firelines. Along the way, I have developed friendships and strong working relationships with firefighters, crews, safety personnel and many others on Smokey’s team.
“I do research with wildland fire crews to improve safety and to make a difference in their day-to-day operations.
I study the free-range human condition because its just plain harder than winding up lab techs and letting them play in the lab.
I’m not in the business of raising my students to be scared to leave the lab.”
— brent