Current Research

Individual and organizational influences on the success of science delivery, and on the use of science by fire managers in the USFS, NPS, and BLM. This draws from theories on human behavior, communication, and organizational culture and management.

Research Interests

Understanding the capacity for managers to access and use research, Organizational communication, learning, and innovation in the context of public land management, Organizational effectiveness of wildland fire management

Education

• University of Montana, Ph.D. Organizational Culture, Innovation & Communication, Technology Transfer, Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Management 2015
• University of Montana, M.S. Organismal Biology and Ecology - Multi-scale study of avian habitat use 1996
• University of Montana, B.S. Wildlife Biology 1992

Professional Experience

Featured Publications & Products

• Wright, Vita. 2008. Personal and organizational influences to the use of fire and fuels research by federal agency managers.
• Larson, Gregory; Wright, Vita; Spaulding, Cade; Rossetto, Kelly; Rausch, Georgi; Richards, Andrea; Durnford, Stephanie. 2007. Using social science to understand and improve wildland fire organizations: an annotated reading list.
• Wright, Vita. 2007. Communication barriers to applying federal research in support of land management in the United States.
• Tempel, Douglas; Wright, Vita; Neilson, Janet; Mildenstein, Tammy. 2008. Linking wilderness research and management-volume 5. Understanding and managing backcountry recreation impacts on terrestrial wildlife: an annotated reading list.
• Cole, David N.; Wright, Vita. 2004. Information about wilderness visitors and recreation impacts: is it adequate.
• Lake, Frank K.; Wright, Vita; Morgan, Penelope; McFadzen, Mary; McWethy, Dave; Stevens-Rumann, Camille. 2017. Returning fire to the land: celebrating traditional knowledge and fire.
• Adams, Theodore Ted; Butler, Bret W.; Brown, Sara; Wright, Vita; Black, Anne. 2017. Bridging the divide between fire safety research and fighting fire safely: How do we convey research innovation to contribute more effectively to wildland firefighter safety.

Publications

• Wright, Vita. 2012. A social network approach to understanding science communication among fire professionals.
• Wright, Vita; Thode, Andrea; Mottek-Lucas, Anne; Fallon, Jacklynn; Matonis, Megan. 2012. A social network approach to understanding science communication among fire professionals (Abstract).
• Wright, Vita. 2012. Applying the best available science to fire management: Individual and organizational influences to success.
• Wright, Vita. 2012. Applying the best available science to fire management: Individual and organizational influences to success (Abstract).
• Kocher, Susie; Toman, Eric; Trainor, Sarah; Wright, Vita. 2012. Wildland fire science and management in the U.S.: Spanning the boundaries through the regional knowledge exchange network (Abstract).
• Wright, Vita; Kolden, Crystal; Kipfer, Todd; Lee, Kristine; Leighton, Adrian; Riddering, Jim; Schelvan, Leana. 2011. Enhancing fire science exchange: The Joint Fire Science Program's National Network of Knowledge Exchange Consortia.
• Wright, Vita. 2011. Enhancing fire science exchange: The Northern Rockies Fire Science Network poster.
• Wright, Vita. 2010. Challenges to implementing "best available science".
• Cole, David N.; Wright, Vita. 2003. Wilderness visitors and recreation impacts: baseline data available for twentieth century conditions.
• Osborn, Sophie; Wright, Vita; Walker, Brett; Cilimburg, Amy; Perkins, Alison. 2002. Linking wilderness research and management-volume 4. Understanding and managing invasive plants in wilderness and other natural areas: an annotated reading list.
• Canton-Thompson, Janie; Jones, Greg; Smith, Jane Kapler; Rice, Peter; Harrington, Mick; Sutherland, Elaine Kennedy; McKelvey, Kevin; Ortega, Yvette; McCaughey, Ward; Pfister, Robert; Jones, Greg; Swanson, Larry; Wright, Vita. 2001. ECO-Report - One ranger's experience in summer 2000.
• Hourdequin, Marion; Wright, Vita. 2001. Linking wilderness research and management-volume 1. Wilderness fire restoration and management: an annotated reading list.
• Puttkammer, Annette; Wright, Vita. 2001. Linking wilderness research and management-volume 2. Defining, managing, and monitoring wilderness visitor experiences: an annotated reading list.
• Puttkammer, Annette; Wright, Vita. 2001. Linking wilderness research and management-volume 3. Recreation fees in wilderness and other public lands: an annotated reading list.
• Wright, Vita. 2000. The Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute: a national wilderness research program in support of wilderness management.