A University of Tasmania research team, led by Professor David Bowman, has been nationally recognised at the inaugural Natural Hazards Research Awards for their groundbreaking work aimed at enhancing the safety and resilience of fire-prone communities.
Their project, funded by Natural Hazards Research Australia, reimagines bushfire safety by integrating diverse scientific disciplines to develop practical tools and training, including a widely used app that helps residents assess and mitigate their bushfire risk.
Media release – UTAS, 25 June 2025
Groundbreaking bushfire research recognised as best in class
University of Tasmania research team with the clear goal of making fire-prone communities safer and more resilient has been recognised nationally in the inaugural Natural Hazards Research Awards.
Led by Professor David Bowman, the University’s Fire Centre Research Hub team was recognised for its work on a project funded by the Australian Government’s Natural Hazards Research Australia (NHRA) – the national centre for natural hazard resilience and disaster risk reduction.
The project reimagines bushfire safety in Australia’s increasingly fire-prone landscapes.
Using Hobart as a case study, the team integrates biological, geophysical and social science to develop practical tools and training aimed at protecting communities on the bushland-urban interface around Australia.
“We’re thrilled to be recognised for research that is both rigorous and useful,” said Professor Bowman.
“The NHRA’s mission is about impact, not just ideas, and this award tells us we’re on the right track.
“The team behind our project is incredibly diverse – spanning disciplines, career stages, and cultural experience yet united by a shared goal: making fire-prone communities safer and more resilient,” Professor Bowman said.
While the project is still in progress, the team has already produced influential publications, and tangible resources have already been developed and are now being used by both practitioners and the public.
One of the outputs is an app that anyone can use to analyse their own backyard and surrounds. It can help to determine their bushfire risk and be used as a guide for selecting plants that could be used to reduce risk.
This plant flammability guide was developed as part of a project called ‘Sparking Conversations’: using the UTAS team’s research, and with collaborative input from the federal government and the Greater Hobart councils.
“This is about serving the community,” said Professor Bowman.
“In Tasmania we’re in the firing line. This work is a real way to make the future not only safer, but more environmentally sustainable.”
The Natural Hazards Research Awards celebrate innovation and excellence in reducing disaster risk and building community resilience.
Featured image above: Dr Stephania Ondei testing the flammability of common garden plants in the Fire Lab at The University of Tasmania.
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