Science in Seattle

The 3rd Human Dimensions in Wildland Fire Conference was held in Seattle on 17-19 April 2012. This biennial conference brings together practitioners from rural fire and land management agencies, as well as leading social scientists conducting bushfire-related research with a people dimension.

Given that a great deal of related research is being conducted here in Australia by the Bushfire CRC, our Dr Noreen Krusel was part of the conference steering committee. In all, 17 presentations from Bushfire CRC researchers and end-users were on the program. These focused on policy developments in Australia and the findings from social research projects conducted at RMIT, Melbourne and Latrobe Universities, ANU and the University of WA.

Successful community engagement and development initiatives from North and South America, Australia, New Zealand and Britain were also described.

It seems, at least amongst those attending, that there is strong support for a ‘stay and defend if well prepared’ approach for those faced with a manageable bushfire threat.