UC San Diego Wildfire Experts
October 1, 2008
Atmospheric Scientists
V. Ramanathan, Professor of Climate and Atmospheric Science, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, is leading the study of airborne smoke using unmanned aircraft.
Media contact: Robert Monroe, scrippsnews@ucsd.edu, (858) 534-3624
Kimberly Prather, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Division of Physical Sciences and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, developed the instruments used to measure and analyze smoke particles and posted the data feed during last year’s fires.
Contact: kprather@ucsd.edu (858) 822-5312
Media contact: Susan Brown sdbrown@ucsd.edu (858) 246-0161
Hugo Hidalgo, Project Scientist, Scripps Institution of Oceanography can discuss the climate forces that are accelerating drought and expanding the arid portions of the American West. He has found that prevailing dry conditions will creep further into forests and could potentially create more fuel for wildfires.
Media Contact: Robert Monroe, scrippsnews@ucsd.edu (858) 534-3624
Mark Thiemens, Dean of the Division of Physical Sciences and Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, can talk about chemical analyses to pinpoint the source of smoke.
Contact: mthiemens@ucsd.edu 858-534-6882
Media contact: Kim McDonald kmcdonald@ucsd.edu (858) 534-7572
Respiratory Health
Patricia W. Finn, M.D., Director of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, can discuss the importance of continued research regarding particulates and other environmental effects on the lung and long-term health, particularly in regards to exposures early in life.
Media contact: Kim Edwards kedwards@ucsd.edu (619) 543-6163.
Timothy Morris, M.D., Clinical Service Chief for Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and Medical Director of the Respiratory Care and Pulmonary Function Laboratories. Media contact: Kim Edwards kedwards@ucsd.edu (619) 543-6163.
Timothy Bigby, M.D., Chief of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, VA San Diego Healthcare system, can discuss health effects of exposure to smoke inhalation as well as offer practical preventative measures.
Media contact: Kim Edwards kedwards@ucsd.edu (619) 543-6163.
First Responders
Raul Coimbra, M.D., PhD., F.A.C.S., professor of surgery, Chief, Trauma/ Burn/ Surgical Critical Care Division <http://trauma.ucsd.edu>, Department of Surgery, can discuss the importance of San Diego County’s cutting-edge trauma system and the major advances in trauma, worldwide.
Media contact: Kim Edwards kedwards@ucsd.edu (619) 543-6163.
Bruce Potenza, M.D., associate professor of surgery and Clinical Director of UCSD Regional Burn Center, can discuss advances in burn treatment and the key role the Regional Burn Center plays serving San Diego County as well as portions of Riverside County, Imperial County and Mexico.
Media contact: Kim Edwards kedwards@ucsd.edu (619) 543-6163.
Irving “Jake” Jacoby, M.D., Emergency Medicine physician and Medical Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response and Therese Rymer, R.N., RN, C. FNP, COHN-S, MAS, Director, Emergency Preparedness & Response, UC San Diego Medical Center, can discus the importance of personal and public preparedness, as well as offer practical tips.
Media contact: Kim Edwards kedwards@ucsd.edu (619) 543-6163.
Real-time information for first-responders
Chaitan Baru, Distinguished Scientist at the San Diego Supercomputer Center, directs SDSC’s Science Research and Development Division. In addition to data analysis of 9-1-1 emergency calls, Baru is involved in national-scale projects developing cyberinfrastructure for the geosciences, hydrology, earthquake engineering and environmental science fields.
Contact: (858) 534-5035 or cbaru@ucsd.edu
Media contact: Jan Zverina (858) 534-5111 or jzverina@sdsc.edu
Hans-Werner Braun is a Research Scientist at the San Diego Supercomputer Center. His current focus is on the High Performance Wireless Research and Education Network (HPWREN) as Principal Investigator.
Contact: (858) 534-5000 or hwb@ucsd.edu
Media contact: Jan Zverina (858) 534-5111 or jzverina@sdsc.edu
Political Science, Economics, Urban Studies
Steve Erie, political scientist and director of the UCSD Urban Studies and Planning program, can talk about the region's unpreparedness, which he says results from a population that is particularly tax-averse and local governments that don’t support funding of infrastructure, particularly equipment and fire-firefighting personnel.
Contact: Steve Erie, (858) 551-0324.
Media Contact: Barry Jagoda, (858) 534 8567, bjagoda@ucsd.edu
Richard Carson, professor of economics and immediate past president of the American Association of Resource and Environmental Economists, studies preparation for, and response to, disasters. Carson and his family were evacuated during a recent firestorm. Carson says there is an absence of pre-planning and coordination with the military and with outside firefighters and equipment when it has been obvious that they would be needed.
Contact: Richard Carson, (858) 549-3070.
Media Contact: Barry Jagoda, (858) 534-8567, bjagoda@ucsd.edu
