Visioning an Ideal Future for Fire Science and Education: A Futuring Exercise

• In Event: Environmental Sociology Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 3: Science, Knowledge, and Expertise

Abstract

To find creative solutions for the increasingly complex challenge of changing fire regimes, it is essential to hear all voices. It has long been recognized that diverse perspectives enrich scientific advancement, and in turn, improve practical outcomes by making research more applicable to reality. Yet fire science has traditionally been a discipline that lacks diversity in research, education, and practice. Efforts to rectify the lack of diversity in the field of fire science must account for the systemic barriers that have limited the participation, representation, and power of certain groups. We argue that accessible education has a role to play in these efforts. However, we believe that to be effective, we need to be transformative in our approach. In this paper, we envision an ideal future for fire science and education, wherein how we define scientific excellence is transformed to include diverse perspectives, transdisciplinarity, and societal impact.

Authors

• Cathelijne Stoof

• Melissa Villarreal, ORISE

• Gareth D. Clay

• Michael Cacciapaglia

• Robert Coates

• Michele Dalla Fontana

• Christine Eriksen

• Aniek Henken

• E.R. (Lisa) Langer

• Fiona E. Newman Thacker

• Isabeau Ottolini

• Nora Schreuder

• Henry de Schrevel

• Serhii Sydorenko

• Kathleen Uyttewaal

• David Flores, United States Department of Agriculture