Matching Models to Objectives: A showcase of four fire modeling approaches
As wildfires grow in scale and complexity, the models we use to understand them must be equally diverse. From predicting fire spread in threatened communities to projecting century-long shifts in forest composition, fire science relies on computational approaches tailored to vastly different questions, scales, and stakeholders.
Through comparative case studies, this workshop will illuminate a fundamental truth of fire science: there is no single “best” model, only tools matched—or mismatched—to the problems we’re trying to solve. Whether you’re a researcher seeking methodological insights, a fire operations professional seeking decision-support tools, or a policymaker navigating risk and resilience strategies, this session offers a rare opportunity to understand how model choice shapes what we can know about fire’s past, present, and future.
This workshop will bring together several researchers advancing fire science through diverse modeling approaches:
- Dr. Michael Gollner – Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
- Dr. Robert Scheller – Associate Dean for Research, North Carolina State University College of Natural Resources
- Dr. Melissa Lucash – Research Assistant Professor, Environmental Studies and Geography, University of Oregon
- Dr. Trent Penman – FLARE Wildfire Research, University of Melbourne
- Dr. Alexandra D Syphard – Director of Science, Global Wildfire Collective and Senior Research Scientist, Conservation Biology Institute
Featured Panelists from the GWC:
