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[Warning: text sometimes reflects excessive exposure to academia.]
Photographs copyright © 2002, 2005, and 2014 by Terence Yorks
| Professional Experience |
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1990-
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Principal Scientist, High Level Research, Smithfield, Utah, USA, Currently: Tangentially, albeit with more modest practical value, the years of developing representative databases for ecological and management systems produced a surprisingly deep overlap with information flows in creating indexes for academic books. That has provided mutually satisfying results for authors at several universities, specifically including: Ducks, Geese, and Swans of North America (Guy Baldassarre, with Kathleen Capels); The United States of Plutocracy: Inequality’s Betrayal of America’s Promise (Ronald P. Formisano); Growing Up Amish (2nd ed, Richard Stevick), all for Johns Hopkins University Press; Darwin and His Children (Tim Berra), Oxford University Press, and American Oligarchy: The Permanent Political Class (Ronald Formisano), University of Illinois Press. In another parallel, capturing visual data from our world observed continues to expand accuracy, beauty, and depth by utilizing new tools, with an example being:
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Blending into completed tasks:
Documenting, quantifying and refining calculations expanded across longer term environmental and medical consequences from human activities. Winnowing relative factors allowed deriving strategies for less destructive behavior patterns. These have illustrated long-term vegetation changes and
other aspects of disturbed area rehabilitation efforts, especially for threatened and endangered species, across a variety of habitats. These efforts have included improved documentation via electronic formats. Those tasks--whose more detailed examples follow--have been accomplished through direct contracts with end users and/or subcontracts with Ecotone and Limbus Environmental Consultants, Bellingham, Washington and Logan, Utah; Western Ecological Services, Millville, Utah; Galli/Shipley Associates, Bountiful, Utah; the Colleges of Science & Natural Resources and USU Press at Utah State University, Logan; the USDA Forest Service at various locations; Best Care Med, Logan, Utah; and Pte Hca Ka, Inc., Gettysburg, South Dakota. One culmination was to deduce a single equation that allows quantitative comparisons among various motorized classes to less intensively powered land use alternatives, integrating their overall resource impacts. The preperatory exhaustive distillation of experiential research literature has been widely used by other researchers. Graphics from results folded in practical backgrounds for the calculation pathways, making conclusions more readily understandable to land managers and others, reaching across many levels of scientific understanding. Similarly effective database evaluation and statistical tools, but at a smaller scale, also allowed re-evaluating published medical information for both physicians and patients on a private contract basis. That provided more clearly understood disease-specific diagnostic
accuracy, relative overall risks, and possibliities from newer therapeutic pathways. Specific targets have been treatments for rarely ruptured posterior tibialis tendons; sclerosing
cholangitis; comparisons among endometrial biopsy methods; and lasers as a tool in potentially reducing periodontal
damage, hordeolum, chalazion, herpes outbreaks, and osteonecrosis from bisphosphonate chemotherapy. |
Even more generally applicable information has been made quantitatively accessible about rangeland
vegetation, livestock use, wildlife, air purity, water quality, toxic materials,
soils,
and noise levels for BIA, BLM, Utah DOT, Wyoming Highway
Department, and Forest Service decision-makers. Results have been utilized within NEPA Environmental
Assessments and Impact Statements that covered proposed prairie dog control; cattle and wildlife management
strategies; gas and petroleum well development; long distance pipeline construction; wetland rehabilitation;
and for primary U.S. highway reconstruction in Colorado, South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho,
and Utah.  |
On an another quite practical basis, an independently design was created for
a comprehensive long-term, bison-based range management, meat processing, and value-added
marketing system, in thorough detail, for the Cheyenne River (Lakota) Sioux Tribe.
This became a conclusive link in obtaining and utilizing
a $1.5 million USDA grant for a mobile slaughter and processing plant, built to be utilized by
a business consortium of enrolled members. |
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More academically, and in briefer list format, directly measured current production while re-evaluating long-term vegetation data from Utah and Idaho
wildlands. Comparisons used innovative graphical and statistical analytical approaches to clearly delineate the role of species diversity, particularly highlighting compensation
for environmental changes by production shifts among plant groups.| 1989- 1990 |
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan. |
Designed
research strategies, using refined classic field methods, to more accurately
understand landscape-level, long-term ecological responses to climate
and human management choices. Rediscovered and re-evaluated a uniquely representative
35 km backcountry vegetation transect that had been established in 1933.
Highlighted changes and similarities through the statistical analyses, computer graphics, and photographs for
peer-reviewed and popular text. |
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| 1988 |
Consultant and Contract Instructor, PVRI, Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
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Compared
and corrected past estimates of large-scale agricultural and natural productivity.
Drafted a system-level response to global needs to reduce U.S. fossil
fuel use rates by 90%, while preserving complex natural ecosystems worldwide,
yet allow for increased human health and physical comfort. To successfully
accomplish this modest goal, separated underlying functions from common
assumptions on how to fulfill related needs. This let otherwise unexpected
possibilities emerge. Detailed the most promising practical energy and
land use reforms. Taught biological resource evaluation at Simon's Rock of Bard College. |
| 1985- 1987 |
Systems Scientist, Range Management, University of Wyoming, Laramie. | Guided graduate-student programmers to create a model of forest/rangeland function and a more easily accessible database of ecological details about animal use, vegetation, and soils for each of the state's 130+ range site types. |
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Physically
re-examined grazing exclosures throughout Wyoming. Photographed them analytically
and representatively. Translated previous quantitative conclusions into
visual terms, using carefully selected side-by-side recent repeat and
older images to clarify long-term repercussions of management choices. By invitation, produced additional seminars on refining field photographic techniques. Taught graduate, undergraduate, and high school classes in range management and natural resource analysis. |
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| summer 1986 | Consultant on Rangeland Management, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Safat, Kuwait. | Related
early-season rainfall to consequent vegetation growth and proper domestic
animal stocking rates through computer models. Detailed data acquisition
needs to validate the models. Initial results suggested unexpectedly large impacts on soils and vegetation from off-road vehicle use. National policy was to be adjusted accordingly. The subsequent local war underlined the accuracy of this impact projection. |
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| 1984- 1985 |
Staff
Officer, National Research Council (National Academy of Sciences),
Washington, D.C. |
Responsible
for selecting highest-level scientists and diplomats for an extended conference
to create a hemisphere-wide agreement to improve producer and consumer
safety for foods in international trade. Administered a initial budget
of $400,000. Secured more than $200,000 in additional support from Federal
and international agencies. Hired and supervised professional and secretarial
staff. Arranged meeting details for conference space, translators and
written translations, international and local transportation, contiguous
lodging, and meals. Made suggestions on scientific and legal material, which were consistently adopted by cabinet-level South, Central, and North American governmental oversight groups. |
| 1983- 1984 |
Senior Technical Information Specialist, InterAmerica Research Associates (contractor to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency), Washington, D.C. | Redesigned a major confidential industrial chemical activity characteristics computer database (Technical Data Information System). Supervised DEC-DPL and ADABAS-NATURAL language encoding of data into that system by 3 technical information specialists. Retrieved and explained chemical and toxicological studies for decision-maker regulatory reviews of new and existing chemicals. |
1981- |
Research Associate, Range Science Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. |
Designed and completed a uniquely complete and consistent computer database of national and international comparative grazing trials that have lasted at least three years. Using it, cross-referenced worldwide wild ungulate and domestic animal behavior to vegetation growth patterns.
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| winter 1982 | Visiting Assistant Professor, Range Science, Utah State University, Logan | Tied together the most nearly quantitative extant descriptions of entire Douglas fir/ponderosa pine potential natural communities as possible models for more complete worldwide comparisons of natural productivity and condition. |
| 1980- 1981 |
Research
Associate, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State
University, Fort Collins. |
Brought
reporting coherency to highly disparate five-year responses among all
animal species (from bacteria on up) to experiment-controlled releases
of sulfur dioxide gas on test Montana grassland ecosystems. Compared conclusions,
collaboratively, with long-term, larger-scale results of uncontrolled
steel mill emissions on forests in Poland. Completed a preliminary-format quantitative description of all U.S. ecosystem types for the USDA Forest Service. This included supervised editing of submissions from more than 100 authors and resolving complex data and text inconsistencies. The resulting volumes have been regularly used at several universities as graduate texts. |
| 1979 | Operations Research Analyst [GS-12], Range Management, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington, D.C. |
Debugged
the operating system and language for a Univac 1100-80 database for
multiple resource outputs in the nationwide Resource Planning Act Assessment,
guiding several FORTRAN programmers and a Sperry support team. Took
just weeks to complete the data handling portion of a Geographic Information
System in which millions of dollars had been invested, but had been
held up for a year by internal glitches. Invited to become an active
part of a team of senior ecologists; adjusted forest and range production/condition
data that had been roughed-out by a series of national workshops. Used
deductive logic to assure harmony of information within that database.
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| 1976- 1978 |
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
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Provided
data for, and completed, an original linear-program CDC-Cyber computer
model of U.S. beef production. Derived detailed estimates, from the literature
and from interviews within the various industries, for energy requirements
to: irrigate crops; manage cattle on rangelands and feedlots; process,
store, transport, and prepare meat for consumption. Extracted sensitivity
analyses. Identified potentials for reduction of fossil fuel inputs to
the system, at all levels from fodder growth to final consumer and commercial
cooking. Projected -- and published -- anticipated trends in the industry, which continue to be borne out in fact. |
| 1971- 1975 |
Graduate Research Assistant, Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station.
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Evaluated
potential for extraction of food-grade protein by mechanized fractioning
of perennial grasses. Compared fossil energy utilization, soil erosion
rates, and nutritional consequences with traditional crop and livestock
production. Successfully combined leaf proteins into extruded human foods
at Rothamsted Experimental Station in England. Tested solar bleaching destruction of carcinogenic aflatoxins, and variably toxic cottonseed gossypol, at Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Odeillo, France. Recognized within the university community for a scientifically-prophetic summary of the harvest potential of Antarctic krill for human food and its ecological consequences. |
1995- 2008 |
Cache
Transmitter Committee, Logan, Utah |
Fundraising
and other creative support for volunteer operated KRCL-FM community radio
in Salt Lake City, successfully preparing to bring their signal
more effectively to northern Utah.
One
letter, written carefully enough to reach U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (not just his staff),
helped break an FM licensing logjam within the FCC, which also notably
aided more than 200 non-profit radio
applicants nationwide in reaching their transmitting goals. |
|
1993- present |
Transportation Issue Lobbyist, Utah |
Organized
local residents and data in opposition to inappropriate gravel mining
and hauling
operations. Documentary photographs proved
egregious legal violations, and resulted in fines large enough
to catch corporate attention. The effort markedly
improved road safety, noise levels, mine reclamation, and air
quality
in the
community, while enhancing profitable commercial activity. |
| 1995- 1996 |
Commercial and Industrial Committee, Cache County Comprehensive Land Use Plan, Logan, Utah. | Developed long-term strategies with area business and government leaders for coordinated responses to ongoing population growth and/or economic expansion. Identified needs and problems, and then formed a coherent set of goals, directions, and alternative plans for the county. |
| 1986- 1987 |
Invited member, Education and Agriculture Roundtables, Wyoming Futures Project, Ucross, Wyoming. | Met in extended, small-group retreat sessions to examine likely problems related to the future of Wyoming. Developed specific plans of action in intense workshops with state legislators, agency heads, and community leaders. |
| 1980- 1983 |
Volunteer
Firefighter, Poudre Park rural fire district, Colorado. |
Participated in numerous state and local training sessions for residential, range, and forest fire behavior and suppression. Earned Forest Service “red card” status. Assisted fighting several intense fires, and personally saved at least one life. |
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1980-
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Consultant, Preserve Our Poudre, Fort Collins, Colorado. | Edited,
printed, and distributed a quarterly newsletter which evaluated proposals
to build major dams in the 10,000 square mile Cache la Poudre watershed,
and advocated protection under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Computerized,
maintained, and expanded a 1,400-contributor mailing list. Produced a
statewide-travelling slide/text/poetry presentation to encourage citizen
interest in the present value of the resource. Critiqued two previous $250,000 engineering-economic studies, and gave testimony about mistakes in their assumptions to the state legislature, which resulted in dismissal of those proposed damming plans as hopelessly flawed. Subsequently enacted restraints on development have been cited by retired Colorado Senator Hank Brown as one of his most important achievements. |
| 1967- 1969 |
Vice-President, Peace Action Now, Fort Collins, Colorado. | Physically led one of the largest mid-American marches and other creative demonstrations, visibly helping to change destructive national directions towards a more reasonable way. Worked directly with Joan Baez and David Harris on improving this process locally. |
| 1988 | Contract Instructor, Biology, Simon's Rock of Bard College, Great Barrington, Massachusetts. | Originated portions of a team-taught Introduction to the Natural Sciences by critically evaluating Aldo Leopold's scientific logic for land use choices. Guided student experiments to compare growth on natural areas to that on human-managed plots. |
| 1985- 1987 |
Temporary Assistant Professor, Range Management, University of Wyoming, Laramie.
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Designed
and taught the following courses: |
| 1982 | Visiting Assistant Professor, Range Science, Utah State University, Logan. | Assisted in preparing and teaching Intermountain Wildlands (with Dr. Neil West), presenting an ecological overview of the territory. |
| 1969- 1970 |
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Physics, New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas. | Responsible for laboratory General Physics and Introduction to Astronomy. Recognized by permanent staff for success with creation of interest among students who had no previous math or science, and in bringing previously silent Native Americans and Chicanos into active class discussions. Also substitute-taught general science at West Las Vegas High School. |
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| New
York State Regents Scholarship (1965); National Merit Scholarship finalist
(1965); Colorado State University Creative and Performing Arts Scholar
(1967-9); first Texas A&M University international graduate exchange
student [to England, and to France] (1972); election to Phi Tau Sigma,
national food science honorary society (1973); election to Sigma Xi,
national science honorary (1976); finalist, Mitchell Prize Competition
(1977); inclusion in American Men and Women of Science (1986); proposal
selected in open competition for a new course at the University of Wyoming
Summer Institute (1987); proposal (A Mobile Slaughter Plant for Bison
and Other Tribally-Owned Animals) prepared for the Cheyenne River Sioux
Tribe and Pte Hca Ka, Inc. funded by the United States Congress through
special appropriation to the Rural Development Administration of the
United States Department of Agriculture for $1.5 million (1994). |
| Photographic and graphic design work commissioned by: |
| The DeMenil Foundation (1973-74); Peaceable Kingdom Foundation (1973-76); Texas World Speedway (1973); Willie Nelson Festival (1974); USDA Forest Service (1980); University of Wyoming (1986 and 1996); USDI Bureau of Land Management (1987); Utah State University College of Natural Resources (1995-2005); Ecotone Environmental, Logan, Utah and Limbus Environmental Consultants, Bellingham, Washington (1993-2006). |
| One-man exhibitions of fine prints at galleries in: |
| Fort Collins and Estes Park, Colorado (1978, 1979); Logan, Utah (1991, 2009). |
| Languages: |
| Two years college Spanish; three years H.S. French and one year German; undergraduate scholarship winner for effective use of written and spoken English. |
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Apple/Mac OS-9, OS-X, and iOS; Windows 95, NT, XP, Vista; MS-DOS; and before them Unix/IBM/CDC direct operating systems. Using within these registered or trademarked software, with a high level of mastery, including: ArcView GIS (ESRI certified) |
| In the end, there are things that I don't yet understand, like these patterns on the pasture north of our home, after a very cold snowfall at the end of November 2005 ... |
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Latest Update - 5 December 2019.