The Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science invites the community to a public presentation titled Climate Change, Forest Fires and Water: An Ecohydrological Perspective.
What: Climate Change, Forest Fires and Water: An Ecohydrological Perspective
Who: Dr. Keith Smettem, Emeritus Professor, University of Western Australia
When: Thursday, September 12, 7 to 8 pm
Where: Kelowna Innovation Centre, 460 Doyle Ave.
After the forest fires and then landslides of 2021, the connection between wildfires and destructive water events is a vivid reality for many people living in BC.
Now, UBC Okanagan is bringing in an Australian expert who can explain the science between climate change, wildfires, water management and how they can permanently change landscapes.
Dr. Keith Smettem, Emeritus Professor, University of Western Australia, is a world leader in ecohydrology—the study of how the movement of water impacts the land.
Hosted by UBCO’s Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, Dr. Smettem will detail the connections of climate change, forests and water with his knowledge in ecohydrology. He will also discuss potential mitigation strategies for the Okanagan Valley.
Dr. Smettem has extensive experience in catchment hydrology, plant water use, irrigation management, water resource assessment and soil physics. He is currently funded by the National Research Foundation of Luxembourg as a visiting international expert, working on issues relating to water quality and development of new environmental sensor systems.
The event takes place Thursday, September 12 at the Innovation Centre in downtown Kelowna. A Q&A will follow, with the evening concluding with a brief reception. This is a free community event, but pre-registration is required.
To register, visit: events.ok.ubc.ca/event/climate-change-forest-fires-and-water-an-ecohydrological-perspective
