Mark Twery, Silviculturist

A silviculturist studies how to grow forests.

Most important to my research is my desire to make what I do useful. Being able to apply the results and see a difference out in the world is aided by good listening skills and a creative approach to the work.

How do plants on the forest floor respond to different growing conditions caused by a variety of tree-cutting activities?

I use computers to help me get a broad picture of conditions in the forest and to predict how things might change. I also use a special measuring tape to measure the diameters of trees in the forest.

Although some forest plants may be less common after a disturbance such as tree cutting, none disappear. They all recover in a fairly short time as forest conditions return to what they were like before.

After college I spent several years doing other work. I made furniture and built houses. However, I wanted my career to include more intellectual activity, and being a scientist allows me to ask and answer more of the “why” and “how” questions I have.