Eight projects from the suite of research covering the key issues of the Black Summer bushfires shared their main findings during two webinars in early March.
The webinars, covering Culture, people and recovery and Bushfire prediction and behaviour, saw a combined audience of 666 attendees hear from research leaders across the multi-disciplinary program. If you missed the webinars or want to catch the insights again, watch the replays below.
WEBINAR 1: CULTURE, PEOPLE AND RECOVERY
Speakers:
- Oliver Costello, Jagun Alliance Aboriginal Corporation: how can cultural land management be empowered in south-east Australia?
- Barry Hunter, North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance: how can emergency management agencies better collaborate with Indigenous practitioners?
- Dr Josh Whittaker, NSW Rural Fire Service: how were people affected and what actions did they take?
- Dr Kate Brady, University of Melbourne: how can community be better supported in their recovery?
Facilitator: Dr Kat Haynes, Node Research Manager, Natural Hazards Research Australia
WEBINAR 2: BUSHFIRE PREDICTION AND BEHAVIOUR
Speakers:
- A/Prof Marta Yebra, Australian National University: how dry was the vegetation?
- Dr Mika Peace, Bureau of Meteorology: what was the influence of the atmosphere on bushfire spread?
- A/Prof Owen Price, University of Wollongong: did prescribed burning help?
- Dr Tim Neale, Deakin University: how was fire prediction used?
Facilitator: Loriana Bethune, DELWP Program and Node Research Manager, Natural Hazards Research Australia
This research, as well as the entire multi-disciplinary Black Summer research program, will guide how bushfire risk can best be managed through better science, policy and practices. The program was undertaken by Natural Hazards Research Australia and the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre in the years since the 2019-20 fire season, with funding from the Australian Government and partners.
The report – Understanding the Black Summer bushfires through research – summarises the research findings from 23 projects. The report presents an integrated view of the way forward from the fires, including exploring why the 2019-20 fire season was so devastating, what new capabilities can be implemented and how Australia can best learn from its worst fire season on record. A Hazard Note briefing paper and reports from all 23 projects are available on the Black Summer page.