aodwuor

I defended my PhD!

In November, I defended my dissertation entitled “Wildfires in California’s Sierra Nevada: Fuels, Emissions, and Management Strategies.” I am now an Air Pollution Specialist at the California Air Resources Board as Dr. Audrey Odwuor 🙂

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Check out my first-ever peer-reviewed publication

My first publication is out! Our research, studying the 2021 KNP Complex Fire, supports the idea that wildfires in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains are becoming more severe largely due to fuel buildup and climate warming, which can have serious consequences for our natural resources and communities. 

Giant sequoia burns in Windy Fire, which occurred simultaneously with the KNP Complex Fire. Noah Berger/AP Photo

Although these results aren’t exactly fun news, it’s evidence that fuels that have built up for decades drive emissions in some wildfires and gives us reason to further target these fuels with treatments like prescribed fire. In my current research, I’m investigating how the composition of fuels in prescribed fire affects emissions. So far, we’re seeing similar results – it’s large, old fuels driving emissions. Together, these tell us that we have more work to do if we want to get California’s forests back to a state that inhibits the large, high-intensity fires and promotes a healthy ecosystems and simultaneously protects communities.

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I won second place in this year’s UCI Grad Slam Finals!

I presented my prescribed fire research as a 3-minute pitch to a panel of judges and an in-person and virtual audience as one of ten finalists in the UCI Grad Slam 2023 Finals. I competed last year, too, and this time around I tied for second place! Watch my portion of the competition (intro video, pitch, and live interview) here beginning at 57:26

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I was recently appointed as a Graduate Student Engagement Fellow on the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force

As a Fellow, I am mentored by Lenya Quinn-Davidson, who is a member on the Task Force’s Science Advisory Panel. The Science Advisory Panel works with community members, Indigenous leaders, policy- and decision-makers, and more to take the best science on wildfires and forest health and help create solutions for fire and forest management in California. They critically evaluate potential solutions to the wildfire problem in California and provide guidance for their implementation. I’m excited for the chance to work with Lenya and the Science Advisory Panel to see how science, communication, and policy come together to address the challenges posed in California by intensifying wildfires.

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I’m on the radio now!

As part of my fellowship with the American Geophysical Union Voices for Sciences Program, I’ve been trained in communications and engaging with media and journalists to share the value of Earth and space sciences with the general public. Most recently, I joined the team at Earth Calling on KUCI 88.9 FM, Irvine, a radio show aiming to help listeners understand the Earth sciences and climate crisis through music, media, and interviews. As a co-producer on the show, I help find guests to talk about their interests and work in climate science and policy, interview them live on the radio with my co-hosts DJs JoJo and Kenzie, and edit and post the recorded shows to our website.

I became introduced to the show when I was a guest earlier this month talking about wildfire and prescribed fire. Listen to the recorded show here!

Now as an official member of the Earth Calling team, I’m live every Wednesday from 8-10pm PST with DJs JoJo and Kenzie on KUCI. Tune in on 88.9 FM in Irvine or online everywhere at kuci.org! We’re always interested in taking questions and chatting on air at our call-in line and hearing ideas for future show topics and guests. Don’t be shy!