{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-article-entry-tsx","path":"/article/wildfires-the-science-behind-predicting-fire-behaviour/","result":{"data":{"contentful":{"article":{"sys":{"id":"2xcDUudKpsUAonuqRRsLoJ","publishedVersion":29},"headSnippet":null,"title":"Wildfires – the science behind predicting fire behaviour","urlSlug":"wildfires-the-science-behind-predicting-fire-behaviour","metaDescription":"Nicola Sulivan speaks to fire ecologist Shana Gross about the Bioeconomy Science Institute's role in developing tools to aid firefighters and communities, including fire danger rating systems","byline":null,"heroBlurb":null,"eventDate":null,"contentType":{"sys":{"id":"1SYTApJiYGwV5qPzu1RTOs","publishedVersion":8},"name":"Podcasts","singularName":"Podcast"},"podcast":{"channel":{"applePodcastUrl":"https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/scigest-plant-food-research-podcasts/id1299894180","spotifyPodcastUrl":"https://open.spotify.com/show/5FdJI8XCh2IQxPTstEl2lF","rssUrlSlug":"rss-podcasts","label":"Scigest","description":"Welcome to Scigest - podcast-sized servings of digestible science from the Bioeconomy Science Institute. Join us as we explore the advancements and impact our scientists are making in advancing innovation in agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, biotechnology and manufacturing; protecting ecosystems from biosecurity threats and climate risks; and developing new bio-based technologies and products. Listen to our scientists as they share and discuss current research in Aotearoa New Zealand, and beyond in this award-winning podcast collection. Make sure to visit www.plantandfood.com/scigest for even more information on Scigest!\n\nTo help you discover the podcast topics and research that interests you, Scigest is split into series, each covering different scientific topics. The series are as follows: \n\nPPF: People|Planet|Food\nFTS: From the sea\nFTL: From the land\nBDIS: Biosecurity, disease and insect science\nSTK: Science in the kitchen\nNT: New technologies\nID: International development\nSLFM: Science life for me (Our people)\nSMAS: Science movers and shakers\nSIS: Starting in science","author":"New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science Limited","email":"scigest@plantandfood.co.nz"},"file":{"title":"Wildfires – the science behind predicting fire behaviour","url":"https://downloads.ctfassets.net/y9no91j9bwnp/17ezbu6nxY00WBVcRkFGcz/04473ab159e0fb649c3b4b1df1cc0427/wildfires-the-science-behind-predicting-fire.mp3"},"description":"Wildfires can be devastating for New Zealand’s communities and landscapes and they’re becoming more frequent, with the country experiencing an average of 3400 wildfires annually over the past 31 years, burning 5700 hectares of land. Understanding how wildfires behave is key to helping people prepare for and cope with their impact.\n \n In this episode of Scigest, host and scientist Nicola Sulivan speaks to fire ecologist Shana Gross about the Bioeconomy Science Institute's role in supporting firefighters and communities, including publishing national-scale wildfire hazard potential data and developing a toolkit to enhance understanding of wildfire behaviour. Gross also discusses the impact of human activities, climate change and the importance of community preparedness when it comes to wildfires.\n\nTo view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest\n","title":"Wildfires – the science behind predicting fire behaviour"},"cardImage":{"sys":{"id":"2AePcpQe3XG2cK2W85HXAp","publishedVersion":5},"url":"https://images.ctfassets.net/y9no91j9bwnp/2AePcpQe3XG2cK2W85HXAp/b771542d6747584eabf5a14be1a4b423/podcast-2026-wildfires-the-science-behind-predicting.jpg","title":"Wildfires – the science behind predicting fire behaviour","height":2531,"width":4500,"contentType":"image/jpeg"},"shareImage":{"url":"https://images.ctfassets.net/y9no91j9bwnp/2AePcpQe3XG2cK2W85HXAp/b771542d6747584eabf5a14be1a4b423/podcast-2026-wildfires-the-science-behind-predicting.jpg"},"publishDate":"2026-06-17T00:00:00.000-12:00","content":{"json":{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"target":{"sys":{"id":"01O22IlovRrifDWDmiZq4Q","type":"Link","linkType":"Entry"}}},"content":[],"nodeType":"embedded-entry-inline"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"}],"nodeType":"document"},"links":{"entries":{"inline":[{"__typename":"Contentful_Link","sys":{"id":"01O22IlovRrifDWDmiZq4Q","publishedVersion":8},"label":"For more information:","externalUrl":"https://www.bioeconomyscience.co.nz/news-and-events/news/2026-news/new-data-provides-opportunities-for-wildfire-hazard-analysis","internalPageQueryString":null,"openInNewTab":true,"internalPage":null,"variant":"Text","buttonSize":"default","file":null}],"block":[]}}},"contactBlock":{"__typename":"Contentful_BlockGetInTouch","sys":{"id":"3vtnDWOEZfTHV2fURsAIO1","publishedVersion":39},"heading":"Get in touch","subHeading":"Interested?","colourway":{"label":"Purple"},"callToAction":{"__typename":"Contentful_Link","sys":{"id":"6duaiOQrpF2reo5g7x0uRd","publishedVersion":7},"label":"Contact Us","externalUrl":null,"internalPageQueryString":null,"openInNewTab":null,"internalPage":{"__typename":"Contentful_Page","urlSlug":"contact-us"},"variant":"Primary","buttonSize":"large","file":null},"image":{"__typename":"Contentful_ImageWithFocalPoint","sys":{"id":"57Egf2RaZ9AoZ0DHpZMbAz","publishedVersion":3},"focalPoint":{"focalPoint":{"x":1201,"y":388}},"image":{"sys":{"id":"2auskQdAfK9HTQwqy8X1eW","publishedVersion":4},"url":"https://images.ctfassets.net/y9no91j9bwnp/2auskQdAfK9HTQwqy8X1eW/1f04e3f46bb9358358ac9173464795d0/image3.png","title":"Get in Touch","height":792,"width":1440,"contentType":"image/png"}}},"creditsCollection":{"items":[{"title":null,"firstName":"Nicola","lastName":"Sullivan","urlSlug":"nicola-sullivan","bio":"Kia ora, I have been working at Plant & Food Research Lincoln since 2007 as an entomologist in the Ecological Pest Management Group. I work on various integrated pest management projects including developing a mealybug pheromone lure, and investigating biotremology of the passionvine hopper.\n\nIn 2026, I successfully defended my PhD on spider biodiversity in crop ecosystems, supported by a Food Transitions 2050 scholarship through Lincoln University, Plant & Food Research, and Bioprotection Aotearoa. I am a Scigest interviewer, and working group lead for the Lincoln site for our 'TONO in the regions' initiative.","photo":{"sys":{"id":"7gUil6YVWyVD1WrbmVAndy","publishedVersion":11},"url":"https://images.ctfassets.net/y9no91j9bwnp/7gUil6YVWyVD1WrbmVAndy/e592e88482735133da783a4afa588ebe/profile-photo-nicola-sullivan.jpg","title":"Nicola Sullivan","height":1545,"width":1545,"contentType":"image/jpeg"}}]},"marketingTeamCredit":false,"researchAreasCollection":{"items":[]},"sectorsCollection":{"items":[]}}}},"pageContext":{"id":"2xcDUudKpsUAonuqRRsLoJ","preview":false,"language":"en-nz","intl":{"language":"en-nz","languages":["en-nz","en-au","pt-br"],"messages":{"usefulLinksHeading":"Useful Links","footerNewsletterSubscribeHeading":"Subscribe to our newsletter","footerNewsletterSubscribeSuccess":"Thanks for subscribing!","formValidation.unexpectedError":"An unexpected error has occurred. 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