On March 27th The Geographical Sciences Committee hosted an online workshop that explored: the history of wildland fire research in the United States, the priorities for future research and state of the science, and how to translate scientific research to better management practices in the field.

The keynote speakers were Stephen Pyne of Arizona State University and Jennifer Balch of the University of Colorado, Boulder. 

Workshop Welcome and Introduction

• Remarks from Planning Committee Chair (Dar Roberts)
• Forest Service Remarks (Dep. Chief Rodriguez-Franco)
• Forest Service Remarks (Chief Tidwell)
• The Origins of Forest Service Wildland Fire Research (Diane Smith)

Introduction of Keynote Speakers

• Fire Science’s American Century (Stephen Pyne), Q & A with Stephen Pyne
• Future of fire in the United States (Jennifer K. Balch), Q & A with Balch

Panel 1 Intro: Understanding Fire: State of the Science and Research Priorities (Moderator: Monica G. Turner (NAS), University of Wisconsin-Madison)

• Fire regimes and the ecological role of fire in US landscapes (Meg Krawchuk, Oregon State University)
• Predicting and mapping fire and fire effects (Mark Finney, U.S. Forest Service)
• Fire and fuels management: What works where? (Scott Stephens, University of California, Berkeley)
• Panel 1 Q&A: Understanding fire - Panel 1 (Krawchuk, Finney, Allen, Stephens)

Panel 2 Intro: Living with Fire: State of the Science around Fire-Adapted Communities (Moderator: Jeffrey Rubin, Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue)

• Changing environmental drivers, tipping points, and resilience (Craig Allen, U.S. Geological Survey)
• Understanding the wildfire policy context: Where are we now? (Toddi Steelman, University of Saskatchewan)
• Community variation in relationships and response to wildland fire (Travis Paveglio, University of Idaho)
• Translating fire science into fire management: State of the field, challenges, and opportunities (J. Kevin Hiers, Tall Timbers Research Station & Land Conservancy)
• Wildland fire risk perceptions and mitigation behavior (Patty Champ, U.S. Forest Service)
• Panel 2 Q&A, Living with fire - Panel 2 - (Steelman, Paveglio, Hiers, Champ)

Workshop Closing