Australian bushfires – News, Research and Analysis – The Conversation

October 31, 2024

Ancient mud reveals Australia’s burning history over the past 130,000 years – and shows a way through our fiery future

Michela Mariani, University of Nottingham; Anna Florin, Australian National University; Haidee Cadd, University of Wollongong; Matthew Adeleye, University of Cambridge, and Simon Connor, Australian National University

Indigenous land management in southeastern Australia halved forest shrub cover 6,000 years ago, reducing high-intensity bushfires

November 29, 2021

Yes, it’s rocket science: Australia needs eyes in space to monitor our tinderbox landscape

Marta Yebra, Australian National University; James Gilbert, Australian National University; Nicolas Younes, Australian National University, and Rob Sharp, Australian National University

Australia’s bushfire response relies on foreign satellites, which are not designed to assess our highly flammable eucalypt-clad landscapes.

August 30, 2020

California is on fire. From across the Pacific, Australians watch on and buckle up

David Bowman, University of Tasmania and Ross Bradstock, University of Wollongong

California’s bushfire disaster is eerily reminiscent of Australia’s Black Summer. We share the same fiery fate, and must learn to adapt.

March 31, 2020

If you’re worried about bushfires but want to keep your leafy garden, follow these tips

Philip Gibbons, Australian National University and Geoff Cary, Australian National University

With a bit of sensible planning, you can retain plants close to your home without creating a huge bushfire risk.

The beginning of the year has brought not only a cascade of bad news but also a wealth of great memes. With detached humour, people on the internet are identifying a problem, but the question remains: what do do about it? (Shutterstock)

March 16, 2020

Coronavirus, climate crisis, conflicts: Meme‑ing our way through the ‘apocalypse’

Antonio Redfern Pucci, Lakehead University

Despite the nihilism and pessimism of internet memes, people ultimately understand the direness of the danger posed by a powerful virus, climate change and global instability.

February 24, 2020

Want to help save wildlife after the fires? You can do it in your own backyard

Holly Kirk, RMIT University; Brendan Wintle, The University of Melbourne; Casey Visintin, The University of Melbourne; Freya Thomas, RMIT University; Georgia Garrard, RMIT University; Kirsten Parris, The University of Melbourne; Kylie Soanes, The University of Melbourne; Pia Lentini, The University of Melbourne, and Sarah Bekessy, RMIT University

Some threatened species hit hard by the bushfires this summer have populations in and around urban areas, which are now crucial refuges. Here are some tips to help improve their odds of survival.

February 19, 2020

I made bushfire maps from satellite data, and found a glaring gap in Australia’s preparedness

Wallace Boone Law, University of Adelaide and Megan Lewis

A scientist whose Kangaroo Island home was threatened by the summer’s bushfires says there is a ‘knowledge gap’ between satellite data and useful maps that can protect communities.

February 19, 2020

Yes, the Australian bush is recovering from bushfires – but it may never be the same

Grant Williamson, University of Tasmania; Gabi Mocatta, University of Tasmania; Rebecca Harris, University of Tasmania, and Tomas Remenyi, University of Tasmania

The current state of our climate shouldn’t be dismissed as a ‘new normal’. The hard truth is many of our ecosystems will not recover from the damage.

Rather than mandating the building of houses that are less likely to burn down, we should be mandating the provision of good shelters. ANDREW BROWNBILL/AAP

January 29, 2020

Building standards give us false hope. There’s no such thing as a fireproof house

Geoff Hanmer, UNSW

People die protecting homes. They are wrong to believe their homes will protect them.

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