USU & NCHU join forces to tackle the complex challenges posed by wildfires in a changing climate

In a remarkable display of international collaboration, Utah State University (USU) and National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) in Taiwan have joined forces to tackle the complex challenges posed by wildfires in a changing climate. The high-impact research led by USU Professor Simon Wang, which revealed the increasing risks of wildfires in Taiwan due to climate change, not only garnered extensive media coverage but also laid the foundation for further collaborative efforts between the two institutions. Wang has collaborated with Korean and US Department of Energy scientists in developing machine learning prediction for wildfires in the western US, and these efforts are now joined by USU Professor Jim Lutz from the Department of Wildland Resources, who recently partnered with NCHU and National Chia-Yi University scholars with a plan to analyze the western US's unique wildfire patterns. These collaborative research endeavors exemplify the mission of USU's International Partnerships in Agriculture, Climate, and Environment (iPACE) program to foster long-term, fruitful exchanges across a wide range of fields. As the impacts of global warming continue to manifest in the form of more frequent and severe wildfires worldwide, this international collaboration stands as a shining example in tackling the complex environmental issues of wildfires in a changing climate.