Australia–Argentina Research Dialogues: bushfires and grassfires

On Monday 26 August, the second Australia–Argentina Research Dialogues webinar took place. It aimed to build a shared understanding of the environmental and health challenges that bushfires and grassfires pose in Australia and Argentina.

It was organised by the National University of Rosario (UNR), the National University of Cuyo (UNCuyo) and the ICBA Cardiovascular Institute of Buenos Aires, together with the Australian Government Department of Education, the Australian Embassy in Argentina and the University of Melbourne, represented by the FLARE Wildfire Research Group.

Dr Arístides Pochettino, Director of UNR's Environmental Studies Platform, welcomed participants and outlined the university's work in the Rosario metropolitan area. Dr Bettina Bongiovanni presented her research on wetland burning in the Paraná Delta, across the river from Rosario.

For UNCuyo, Vice-Rector Gabriel Fidel described how the university works with other national and international institutions. Gabriela Lúquez, General Secretary of UNCuyo's Institute of Environmental Sciences, moderated the Q&A and summarised the discussion.

Dr Mariano Benzadon of ICBA gave a clear, concise overview of the health impacts and risks of bushfires and grassfires. Dr Trent Penman of the University of Melbourne explained how his group researches fire, including forecasting events and their magnitude, and ways to reduce their occurrence or extent.

International collaboration is essential for sustainable development, public policy and, above all, climate change mitigation and adaptation — especially in education, research and policy design. Special thanks to Kassia Hare, Tiago de Barros Cordeiro and Laura Lima for all their work.

More information about the Australia–Argentina Research Dialogues webinars.