Cancellation of National Fire Fuels Science Forum

After considering the evolving situation with the current COVID-19 pandemic situation the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC and the Australian Academy of Science have decided to cancel the upcoming National Fire Fuels Science Forum scheduled to be held in Canberra on 23 and 24 March. 

This is unfortunate as the breadth of expertise that was to be gathered would have created a valuable outcome that would have provided significant support to the many reviews and inquiries currently underway. However, it is prudent to proceed cautiously in this dynamic climate with the chief concern of the CRC and the AAS being the health of all those who would have attended. We are also aware that travel and meeting restrictions are being imposed, or may be imposed in coming weeks, across governments and academic institutions.

For these reasons the CRC and the AAS have decided that the risks in holding the event are only going to increase. The cancellation of the event was decided as early as possible to enable those who have made travel arrangements to cancel their plans.

The CRC and the AAS apologise for any inconvenience that this decision will have caused, particularly to those who have been asked to prepare material for the event.

As one of the primary objectives for this forum was to supply material for the reviews, and many of these reviews are likely to have concluded before rescheduling is possible, we will wait until the outcomes are known before deciding on whether to hold the event later in the year or to find an alternative way for input to be provided.

Dr Richard Thornton, CEO Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC
Anna-Maria Arabia, Chief Executive Australian Academy of Science