“Millions are being invested in trying to find the right solution to wildfires. And yet, we are further away than ever from it,” says Carmen Rodriguez. Some are even starting to talk about “the wildfire crisis”. As a scientist exploring the socio-political dimension of wildfires, the question driving Carmen’s research parts ways from cutting-edge AI models, sophisticated drones, and high-tech sensors to ask herself and the wildfire community: Are we looking for solutions in the right places?
Carmen’s research challenges mainstream conceptualizations of the wildfire problem, seeking to see “beyond the flames.” Understanding wildfires as a territorial problem shifts the focus away from emergency response and broadens it to incorporate the complexity of the territories where wildfires occur, including the ecological, social, and economic dynamics that shape them. By shifting the narrative, and placing not wildfire suppression but rather societal needs at the centre, new pathways for (social) innovation and enhanced resilience emerge. Watch the video to learn more.
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