UBC experts on wildfires
UBC experts are available to comment on wildfires and associated issues.
- Disaster preparedness
- Environmental and ecological impacts
- Health
- Smoke
- Wildfire management, climate change
Disaster preparedness
Dr. Amy Kim, PhD, PEng
(She/Her/Hers)
Associate Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering
Email: amykim@civil.ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- Evacuation, and specifically transportation issues with evacuation.
* Available Tuesday to Fridays after 3 p.m., Friday afternoon
Dr. Sara Shneiderman, PhD
(She/Her/Hers)
Associate Professor, Dept. of Anthropology and School of Public Policy & Global Affairs
Email: sara.shneiderman@ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- Social and cultural elements of disaster preparedness and response
- Disaster governance
- Disaster-induced displacement and mobility
- Cultural heritage and reconstruction
* Available until Aug. 7
Dr. Babak Mohamadpour Tosarkani, PhD
(He/Him/His)
Assistant Professor, UBCO School of Engineering
Phone: 236-865-7531
Email: babak.tosarkani@ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- Emergency supply chain preparedness, disaster relief operations
Dr. Felix Wiesner, MEng, PhD
Assistant Professor, Dept. 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
Environmental and ecological impacts
Dr. Adam Ford
(He/Him/His)
Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Wildlife Restoration Ecology, UBCO Department of Biology
Email: adam.ford@ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- Effect of fire on wildlife and habitat
Health
Dr. Jennifer Baumbusch, PhD, RN
(She/Her/Hers)
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
Dr. Michael Brauer, ScD
Professor, School of Population and Public Health
Email: michael.brauer@ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- Air quality and health impacts from smoke
- How to minimize exposure to smoke
Dr. Christopher Carlsten, MD, MPH
Physician; Professor and Head of Respiratory Medicine, Dept. 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. Sarah Henderson, BASc, PhD
(She/Her/Hers)
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. Michael Koehle, MD, PhD
(He/Him/His)
Professor, Dept. of Family Practice, Division of Sport & Exercise Medicine
phone: 604-822-9331
Email: michael.koehle@ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- Sport medicine
- Exercise physiology
- Exercising in extreme heat, air pollution and/or wildfire smoke
Smoke
Jalena Bennett
(She/Her/Hers)
Spokesperson, Weather Forecast Research Team
Email: bluesky@eoas.ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- Smoke forecasting, smoke dispersion, fire weather forecasting
* Available 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, unavailable July 26 and 29
Prof. Nadine Borduas-Dedekind, PhD
(She/Her/Hers)
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Chemistry
Phone: 604-822-4435
Email: borduas@chem.ubc.ca
Interview languages: English, French
Expertise:
- Chemistry of wildfire smoke, effects of wildfire smoke on cloud formation, wildfire smoke indoors
* Unavailable in August 1-11
Wildfire management, climate change
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
* Limited availability July 23-24
Dr. Rachel White
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
Email: rwhite@eoas.ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- Heatwaves
- Climate
- Climate change
- Atmospheric circulation
Dr. David Scott
Associate Professor, UBCO Dept. of Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences
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
