The Delivery of Fire Research in
the PNW
Transforming science into meaningful
action through a two-way exchange
of knowledge and information
Dr. Janean Creighton
Oregon State University Extension Specialist
Director, NW Fire Science Consortium
The “situation…”
Lots and lots and lots of good fire science and
research out there…BUT
“We get a fire hose of information,
and it’s often delivered with the
fog nozzle on.”
Change the nozzle setting…
• Needed: a new way to connect, engage, and
exchange information between research and
diverse user groups.
• Needed: a formula to enhance the exchange
of existing fire science and technologies in the
region.
• Needed: an approach that encourages fire and
land management to evaluate and adopt
relevant fire science.
“The best available science is of little use if it
gathers dust on the shelves of library stacks or
is deeply embedded on an obscure website.”
Northwest Fire Science Consortium
• Part of a national effort
• Regionally focused
• Based on ecological
rather then
administrative
boundaries
• Serve as filters of
information not relevant
to the northwest
JFSP Fire Science Delivery Network
Guiding Principles
1. Be inclusive, making sure all relevant partners have the opportunity to be
involved
2. Serve as neutral science partners
3. Be customer driven, both in how they are structured and how they
function
4. Operate collaboratively, fostering joint management and science
communication
5. Be innovative, pursuing new and creative ways to disseminate knowledge
6. Facilitate the flow in fire science information, dialogue of new science
findings, and needs of resource managers and policymakers
Partners: i.e. the folks doing the work
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Oregon State University Extension
PNW Research Station
University of Oregon
Sustainable Northwest
Region 6 Ecology Program (NFS)
Center for Natural Lands Management
Washington State University Extension
Bureau of Lands Management
Why assess needs?
• Variety of fire science
users
• Limited understanding
of:
– Who users are
– What users need
– Access and use of existing
delivery mechanisms
Approach
Agency or interest
# of interviewees
Federal land management agencies (USFS, BLM, NPS,
USFWS)
27
State agencies (ODF, WDNR, etc.)
12
Counties and municipalities (including local fire
districts)
5
Tribal entities
2
Conservation NGOs
7
Community forestry NGOs / community-based
collaborative entities
4
Private contractors / consultants / timber interests
8
Landowners /small woodland owner NGOs/ active
community members
5
Academia / extension / rural development
4
Total
74
Needs assessment: Summary of results
• Diversity in information needs, access, and institutional
barriers
• Good deal of existing information; needs new ways to search,
access, and become aware
• Site-specific information used for strategic planning, project
planning, and dealing with on-going debates around activities
• Refinement of existing modeling tools and consolidation,
rather then developing new tools
• Synthesis of existing science (evidence based review)
• Limited and/or unequal access to information
Activities ahead…
Objective: Improve information access, awareness,
and delivery
Objective: Increase two-way communication
between research and the field
Objective: Promote opportunities for participatory
and collaborative research
Objective: Evaluate consortium activities and adapt
FIRE SCIENCE NEEDS IN THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST
EWP.UOREGON.EDU/PUBLICATIONS/WORKING
ECOSYSTEM WORKFORCE PROGRAM WORKING PAPER # 33
[email protected]
Thank You!
[email protected]