UBC experts on wildfires and disaster preparedness
Federal and provincial governments are expected to issue updates on wildfires and seasonal hazards today.
UBC experts are available to comment on wildfires, disaster preparedness and related topics.
Dr. Adeniyi Asiyanbi (he/him)
Assistant Professor, Geography
UBCO Department of Community, Culture and Global Studies
Email: a.asiyanbi@ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- Wildfire governance, public engagement with wildfire, wildfire risk perception, climate change mitigation
* Unavailable May 10
Dr. Jennifer Baumbusch, PhD, RN (she/her)
Professor, School of Nursing
Email: jennifer.baumbusch@nursing.ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- Protecting seniors and other vulnerable people from extreme heat
- Special considerations for older people and people with disabilities during evacuations
Jalena Bennett (she/her)
Spokesperson, Weather Forecast Research Team
Email: bluesky@eoas.ubc.ca
Interview language(s): English
Expertise:
- Smoke forecasting, smoke dispersion, fire weather forecasting
* Available 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday to Friday
Dr. Nadine Borduas-Dedekind, PhD (she/her)
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Chemistry
Tel: 604-822-4435
Email: borduas@chem.ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- Chemistry of wildfire smoke, effects of wildfire smoke on cloud formation, wildfire smoke indoors
Christopher Carlsten, MD, MPH
Physician; Professor and Head of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine
Tel: 604-839-1561
Email: carlsten@mail.ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- Adverse health effects related to heat, smoke, ozone and allergens
- How heat, smoke, ozone and allergens are climate-change related
Dr. Lori Daniels
Professor, Dept. of Forest and Conservation Sciences
Email: lori.daniels@ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- Wildfires and wildfire management
- Forest fires, past and present
- Impacts of climate change on forests
- 2024 wildfire season: what to know
Dr. Greg Garrard, PhD
Professor of Environmental Humanities, English and Cultural Studies
Tel: 250-863-2822
Email: greg.garrard@ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- Culture and climate change (including skepticism)
- Cultural ecology of wildfire
- Political polarization
- Arts and the environment
* Limited availability May 10
Dr. Wendy Hall, RN, PhD (she/her)
Professor Emeritus, School of Nursing
Email: wendy.hall@ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- Effects of heat on sleep
- Promoting good sleep, particularly for children
Dr. Sarah Henderson, BASc, PhD
Associate Professor, School of Population and Public Health
Email: please contact PHSA media line at 778-867-7472
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- Health impacts of wildfire smoke and extreme heat and ways to protect health
Dr. José Martí
Professor, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Email: jrms@ece.ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- Real-time prediction of wildfire spread using drones and satellites
- Risk for communities and infrastructure of wildfire spread
- Autonomous wildfire response for no-road-access areas
- Situational awareness during operations of wildfire responders
* Unavailable May 14 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., May 15 from 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
David Scott
Associate Professor, Dept. of Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences
Tel: 250-807-8755
Cel: 250-808-8741
Email: david.scott@ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- Fire site rehabilitation methods for controlling erosion and sedimentation
- Effects of wildfire on soils, hydrology and erosion
Dr. Babak Mohamadpour Tosarkani
Assistant Professor, School of Engineering, UBC Okanagan
Tel: 236-865-7531
Email: babak.tosarkani@ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- Expertise supply chain preparedness, disaster relief operations
Dr. Felix Wiesner, MEng, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Wood Science
phone: 604-822-9852
Email: felix.wiesner@ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- Fire performance of building materials in the wildland urban interface, wildfire building codes, resilience of wooden infrastructure
* Available May 9 and 10, limited availability May 13-14
