Bridging Science and Practice in California: A CFSC Student Research Showcase

The California Fire Science Consortium (CFSC) strives to accelerate the awareness, understanding, and adoption of fire science information by decision-makers across the region. Applying research to land management decisions can be challenging due to limited actionable findings, information overload, researcher-practitioner disconnects, and findings that don’t always align with local conditions. Meanwhile, students are addressing these barriers by producing innovative research, yet face limited platforms to share their work with land managers, decision-makers, and the broader research community.

This special session highlights student-led research in fire and fuels management across California’s landscapes, with a focus on actionable solutions for decision-makers. The session is divided into two themes: Session 1, Prescribed Fire Across California, and Session 2, Fire and Fuels Management for Restoration and Resilience. Presentations will cover topics such as forest resilience, post-fire reforestation, prescribed burning windows, and more.

This special session provides a platform to engage with the next generation of fire scientists who are helping to shape the future of land and fire stewardship in California. By highlighting student-led projects with clear management implications, we aim to emphasize the value of applied, collaborative science, while encouraging more researchers to engage with land managers in the research process.