Standing in the Command Post Pub on the campus of the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland, chatting up a storm with old and new friends alike, I see a newer friend enter the room, arm wrapped in protective bandage to shield what’s underneath – a tattoo of the Science to the Station (aka Nerdstock) “nerdbird” logo. The event branding gives strong festival vibes, that is, if you can imagine a festival designed to bring together the best and brightest of the fire service research community with the fire service leaders tasked with implementing the findings back home – both groups working to support the health and safety of firefighters. It’s a unique mashup, but it works.
Not far from campus, this new friend (and others!) had gotten inked to commemorate and celebrate the event and, as it seemed from my perspective, the camaraderie and friendship aligned with a shared mission to support firefighters. It doesn’t hurt that the nerdbird is pretty damn cute – a bespectacled pigeon perched above a lightbulb. It’s perhaps a perfect offset to the talon-bearing eagle in the U.S. Fire Administration logo. Dr. Sara Jahnke, the event creator and director, made sure to clarify, in jest, the differences between the birds during her time at the podium.
It is in this duality that Science to the Station proves powerful. It’s a different kind of event – different format, new voices, groundbreaking research – unfolding on a historic campus where countless fire service leaders and legends have converged over the years to discuss and debate the issues of the day. What might surprise some: There are no egos here, nor territory wars over new vs. old. The respect for fire service leaders of years past is undeniable, in part, because those leaders continue to show up, pushing the advancement of the fire service.
In one moment, fire service leaders like Chiefs Frank Leeb from the First Responder Center for Excellence and John Oates from the International Public Safety Data Institute speak on the most pressing issues facing the fire service. In the next, a research associate professor shares the latest on thermal degradation of foams, followed by an assistant chief from the United Kingdom detailing the research underway across the pond. All the while, prior U.S. fire administrators, IAFC presidents and other organizational leaders take it all in from the audience. I can only imagine the changes they have witnessed over their decades of service, not to mention what it’s like to see so many fresh voices take the stage.
It is the passion of Dr. Jahnke and her team at the Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research at the National Development and Research Institutes (NDRI) that makes these connections possible. The Science to the Station attendees, not to mention the patrons of the Command Post Pub, have found their people, some many years ago, some only recently. “Nerd” is a welcome term here – a signal of continuous learning – and a nerdbird tattoo is just one way of embracing the collective mission.
It reminds me of Lt. Aaron Zamzow, my co-host on the Better Every Shift podcast, when he speaks to our band of “misfits” – the listeners who are committed to the betterment of the fire service. We sometimes question whether we are part of the majority or the minority. What percentage of firefighters are actively engaged in improving themselves, their crews, their department and the fire service as a whole? At Science to the Station, it’s easy to feel like the majority.
It’s also easy to set aside our differences, even our competition. Our angles and approaches to certain topics might diverge, but we can align on the core issues that require attention across the brands – a direct result of U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell’s One Voice mission. As a member of the USFA Fire and Life Safety Communicators Initiative, I see firsthand the commitment from various fire service organizations and media outlets to focus on consistent messages for the community to improve life safety outcomes. It’s happening right now in real time, and we are all witnesses to the shift.
It is in the FLSCI monthly meetings, the Science to the Station gatherings and other industry events, like Women in Fire and Fire-Rescue International, where we can find our people – the self-described nerds and misfits among us who can make a difference. And while you don’t need to get a tattoo to prove your passion, you do need to show up.
I encourage you to find your people within the fire service or larger public safety community, support each other and work toward continuous improvement. It may take years, even decades, but the impact is real – and it is within these groups that the change begins. Find your people and consider what change you want to see in the fire service.
As Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
