Wildfire Futures Hallmark Research Initiative

Seed Funding 2022

Wildfire is an intrinsic part of the Australian landscape and has shaped our natural environment for thousands of years. However, the number, size and intensity of wildfires is changing, which presents many complex environmental, social, and economic challenges.

The Wildfire Futures Hallmark Research Initiative (WF HRI) is located at the University of Melbourne and was established in 2022 to address these challenges by bringing diverse knowledge and disciplines together to create new ways of living with fire. The Initiative is chaired by FLARE leaders Professor Trent Penman and A/Professor Lauren Bennett, and the convenor is Dr. Tom Fairman.

The WF HRI will support high-quality research that pushes the boundaries of fire research and the communication of that research to diverse audiences. To achieve this, the WF HRI is providing seed funding grants to support innovative and interdisciplinary research at the University of Melbourne that improves our knowledge about wildfire futures.

Research of interest for this seed funding round

  • Future fire behaviour including interactions with changing climate
  • Future fire impacts (immediate and beyond) on a broad range of values (e.g., cultural, health, built environment, natural environment, institutions, economy) including combined impacts with changing climate
  • Human relationships with fire including how we might live with future fires
  • Responses to future fire events and fire regimes including future-orientated solutions (e.g., society, management, technology, governance) to fire challenges.

Seed funding details

The WF HRI is making available funding to support three to four projects that address and explore interdisciplinary topics relevant to wildfire futures. The winning proposals will each receive once-off seed funds from the WF HRI of up to $20,000.

We allow flexibility in how the funds are used. This includes costs associated with:

  • hosting workshops or forums or events (including facilitation and catering);
  • employing research staff to undertake the project or casual staff to provide support;
  • field research;
  • travel costs (for collaboration); and
  • equipment (with specific justification).

Criteria and eligibility

Ensure you read the full guidelines document, and complete the application form.

  • Your team must appoint a Coordinating Investigator holding an academic position (ongoing, fixed term, or casual) at the University of Melbourne for the duration of the project. If the Coordinating Investigator leaves the University, this responsibility must be transferred to another member of the team.
  • Teams must be interdisciplinary – preference will be given to teams with representation from different academic fields.
  • Your team must have two or more members, and the inclusion of diverse backgrounds and career stages will be highly regarded.
  • Teams are strongly encouraged to have an Early Career or Mid-Career Researcher lead for the project.
  • There are no restrictions on other members of the proposed project team (including international team members) and it is encouraged to include external organisations (e.g., industry, government, non-government, community groups, Indigenous communities).
  • Your project must represent new research or a new collaboration rather than supporting existing research.
  • Successful projects will provide brief reporting on the progress and completion of their project, and contribute to the Wildfire Futures HRI 2023 seminar series.

How to apply

  1. Read the Seed Funding Guidelines to ensure your eligibility.
  2. Complete the Application Form and submit to the Convenor of the WF HRI before the closing date (30th November 2022)
  3. Applications will be shortlisted, and the Selection Committee of the Wildfire Futures HRI will notify the successful candidates before the 23rd December 2022.

Applications should be submitted via email to the Convenor of the Wildfire Futures Initiative: Tom Fairman – thomas.fairman@unimelb.edu.au

Key Dates

  • Submissions close: 30th November 2022.
  • Decisions made and notification of applicants: 23rd December 2022
  • Research completed: 31 December 2023

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