Natural Hazards Research Australia, Media Release, 21 February 2023

Science is shaping how Australia can better prepare for devastating bushfire seasons. In January, Natural Hazards Research Australia published its report on the 2019-20 bushfire season, Understanding the Black Summer bushfires through research.  

The research 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.

This webinar series is your chance to hear about the key findings from the leaders of selected research projects.

Register below to join one or both Zoom webinars.

Webinar 1: Culture, people and recovery

Date: Tuesday 7 March
Time: 12:30-1:30pm AEDT
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?

Webinar 2: Bushfire prediction and behaviour

Date: Thursday 9 March
Time: 12:30-1:30pm AEDT
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?

Register for one or both webinars here.

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.