A helicopter with water bucket attacks a forest fire.
Spring rain may have dampened wildfires burning in BC and Alberta, but the dangers of dry forests and swollen rivers remain.
Wildfires are abundant in Alberta, while many areas in BC are on flood watch. It seems the changing climate is becoming less predictable and more volatile as each year passes. UBC Okanagan has several professors available to comment on heat, wildfires and associated issues.
Phil Ainsley, Professor of Environmental Physiology, Co-Director of Centre For Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences
Areas of expertise:
- Heat and pollution and their isolated and combined influence on physiology and human health
- Effect of temperature and oxygen availability on physiology, pathology and performance
- Acclimatization, adaptation and maladaptation to environmental stress
Email: philip.ainslie@ubc.ca
Tel: 250 878 6171
Mathieu Bourbonnais, Assistant Professor, Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences
Areas of expertise:
- Wildfire risk, suppression and mitigation
- Firefighting and use of satellites for wildfire detection and monitoring
Email: mathieu.bourbonnais@ubc.ca
Tel: 778 583 0272
Greg Garrard, Professor of Environmental Humanities, Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies
Areas of expertise:
- Environmental literature
- Culture and climate change (including skepticism)
- The cultural ecology of wildfire
- Political polarization
Email: greg.garrard@ubc.ca
Tel: 250 863 2822
Kevin Hanna, Associate Professor, Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences
Areas of expertise:
- Vulnerable infrastructure
- Risk and disaster assessment wildfire management and policy
- Climate change and risk events
Email: kevin.hanna@ubc.ca
Tel: 250 807 9265
Mary-Ann Murphy, Associate Professor, Social Work Sociology
Areas of expertise:
- Dealing with the emotional trauma of wildfires
- Lessons from evacuees
- What to pack when evacuating
- Caring for seniors in extreme heat
Email: mary-ann.murphy@ubc.ca
Tel: 250 807 8705
David Scott, Associate Professor, Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences
Areas of expertise:
- Effects of wildfire on hydrology and erosion
- Evaluation of fire site rehabilitation methods in terms of controlling erosion and sedimentation
Email: david.scott@ubc.ca
Note: Dr. Scott is only available for interviews via email.
Dwayne Tannant, Professor, School of Engineering
Areas of expertise:
- Landslides, rockfalls
- Post-wildfire debris flow mitigation
Email: dwayne.tannant@ubc.ca
Tel: 604 801 4301
