Population Health

June 9, 2021

Population Health Initiative grants boost wildfire and climate research

Image of teenagers in Twisp, WA, finding fun and relief from wildfire smoke-filled airIn March 2021, the Population Health Initiative awarded eight faculty-led projects pilot research grants. Three of the research teams provided awards include researchers from the University of Washington Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (DEOHS), addressing critical environmental challenges.

Among these projects are two projects that examine the impact of prescribed wildfires. One project examines the impact of prescribed fires in rural communities, characterizing the risks of smoke exposure on community members in Washington’s Okanogan Valley.

The other project examining wildfires looks at how prescribed burning contributes to air pollution and strives to advance equitable land management. Their project entails atmospheric modeling and will identify the communities disproportionately impacted by such pollutant exposure in Washington and California.

The third DEOHS project looks to advance equitable climate action by establishing a “collaboratory” between the UW and Front and Centered, a coalition of environmental justice organizations in Washington State.

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