Fire After Fire: The Global Wildfire Challenge and the Hidden Risks of Recovery

From immediate response to longer-term risks

The International Science Reserve plans to compare experiences from the 2026 wildfire season across regions including North America, the Mediterranean and Australia. The discussion will look at chemical residues, contaminated drinking water and longer-term public-health consequences alongside the practical challenge of rebuilding.

The organizers also intend to consider how early warning and predictive science are changing, and what Indigenous fire stewardship can teach modern wildfire management. Insurance, infrastructure and public-health monitoring are on the proposed agenda, linking recovery decisions to preparation for future fires.

Further reading: Fire After Fire: The Global Wildfire Challenge and the Hidden Risks of Recovery - NYAS ↗ · Fire After Fire: The Global Wildfire Challenge and the Hidden Risks of Recovery ↗

Different disciplines at one virtual table

The listed panelists bring different research and practical backgrounds to the conversation. Mike Flannigan studies fire and its interactions with weather and climate; David P. Eisenman directs UCLA’s Center for Public Health and Disasters. Victor Steffensen, a traditional knowledge practitioner and author of Fire Country, is a descendant of the Tagalaka people of North Queensland.

Marina Vance’s research includes indoor air quality and exposure to airborne pollutants. Andrew Whelton, an engineering professor at Purdue University, studies chemical hazards in infrastructure after wildfires; his team’s work includes water, soil and building safety assessments. Nicholas Dirks, president and CEO of The New York Academy of Sciences, is listed as moderator.

The organizers have not assigned specific topics to individual speakers, and say speaker confirmations are still to follow.

Further reading: Fire After Fire: The Global Wildfire Challenge and the Hidden Risks of Recovery ↗