Wildfire and Human Health in a Changing Climate

Posted on November 14, 2023, updated on March 29, 2024

Project Website(s)

  • Project Description

    The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), in collaboration with partners at Oregon MESA (MESA), Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), the World Forestry Center (WFC), and AB Cultural Driver (ABCD), is leading Wildfire and Human Health in a Changing Climate, a new project to promote public understanding of environmental health research and its relevance to the health impacts of large and severe wildfires. This project is made possible by a five-year Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Project deliverables include: a bilingual (Spanish/English) mid-size traveling exhibition, project website, and educators’ guide for museum staff and classroom teachers. Following the project’s five-year development, the exhibition will begin an eight-year national tour, reaching more than one million people.

  • Abstract

    The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), in collaboration with partners at Oregon MESA (MESA), Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), the World Forestry Center (WFC), and AB Cultural Drivers (ABCD), proposes Wildfires and Human Health in a Changing Climate, a project to promote public understanding of environmental health research and its relevance to the health impacts of large and severe wildfires. This project is made possible by a five-year Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
    Project deliverables include:

    • Bilingual (Spanish/English) 1,400 ft.2 traveling exhibition
    • Project website
    • Educators’ guide for museum staff and classroom teachers

    The exhibition and programs will focus on current research on the health impacts of large and severe wildfires, and will reach a national audience of family visitors, with a special emphasis on youth underrepresented in STEM ages 11–17. The project will be developed biculturally and bilingually (Spanish/English) to provide accessibility to Latine and Spanish-preferring audiences. The visitor experiences will be co-developed with youth using a human centered design process and tested with youth and family audiences.

    The project has four specific aims that primarily target youth (ages 11–17) and their families:

    • Foster public understanding of the health impact of wildfire and smoke exposure, especially on vulnerable and
    sensitive populations.
    • Promote health strategies to assess risks and minimize harms of wildfire and smoke exposure.
    • Foster public understanding of how land use practices and climate change contribute to more catastrophic wildfires.
    • Promote and explore strategies to mitigate and adapt to wildfire and climate change, especially in fire management
    and forest restoration.

    A collaborative, multidisciplinary team from MESA, OHSU, WFC, and ABCD with OMSI personnel with expertise in informal science education and bilingual exhibit development, will work together to ensure that current science is accurately interpreted and effectively presented to reach intended audiences. The project will foster better public understanding of the health impacts of large and severe wildfires, and awareness of its causes and strategies for mitigation and adaptation. Visitors will explore wildfire and human health through a variety of forms—multisensory hands-on interactive exhibits, graphic panels, real objects, personal stories from frontline communities, and an accompanying website. Following the project’s five-year development, the exhibition will begin an eight-year national tour, reaching more than one million people.

  • Dissemination Strategies

    At the end of the award period, OMSI will tour the Wildfire and Human Health traveling exhibition to up to three venues each year for a minimum of eight years. Based on the audience numbers for similar projects, we conservatively estimate that over one million people will visit the exhibition during the national tour.

Project Audience

Wildfire and Human Health will focus on reaching a youth audience aged 11–17 and their families with an emphasis on students underrepresented in STEM. Our community partner, Oregon MESA, defines students underrepresented in STEM as students of color, girls, non-binary students, impoverished populations, and future first-generation college students. Project deliverables will be created in Spanish and English to provide a more welcoming and accessible experience for Latine families.

Subjects Addressed

The project will inform museum visitors about the growing health risks of wildfire smoke and how land use and climate change are driving more catastrophic wildfires. The exhibition will also promote resilient and positive strategies to mitigate and adapt to wildfires and climate change and to support positive health outcomes.