Sustainable Future And Burning Issues Episodes

Jan. 22, 2025

185 - Recap on wildfire science

In the aftermath of the LA Pacific Palisades Fire, I've decided that instead of inviting one expert to discuss the event, I will give a voice back to those who already participated in the Fire Science Show and explained this…
Dec. 11, 2024

181 - Regulatory regimes with Vincent Brannigan

I just drove 500 km to have a conversation with Professor Vincent Brannigan from the University of Maryland, a very unique expert who combines law with fire engineering. In this discussion, we go into the complexities of bui…
Nov. 13, 2024

177 - Physics-Based Modelling of Fire Spread with Francesco Restuccia

Wildfire modelling is quite complicated when you wish to integrate different fuel packages with different properties in 'real' environmental conditions while managing the transition to/from smouldering. We have a model for e…
Sept. 11, 2024

168 - Fires in Waste Industry with Ragni Fjellgaard Mikalsen

Fires in the waste industry are not discussed much unless one sees a giant smoke plume in the media, followed by advice to close your windows. In these (rare?) cases, we remind ourselves of the massive industry related to st…
Aug. 28, 2024

166 - Bio-based insulation with Patrick Sudhoff

In the everchanging world every now and then we get a new driver, that dictates most of our choices. In the current built environment and building industry, carbon dioxide feels like such a driver. We don't like it, we want …
June 12, 2024

155 - New Guideline for PV Fire Safety with Grunde Jomaas

Misconceptions in fire science are a strange thing. You present countless proof, publish research papers, and carry conversations, and yet… they live their own lives—spreading with no control and cluttering communication. On…
May 1, 2024

150 - Wind Turbine Fires with Guillermo Rein

Wind turbine fires - are they an issue, or are they not? In this episode, I am joined by Prof. Guillermo Rein of the Imperial College London, who raised this issue 10 years ago at the IAFSS conference, and I believe we still…
April 17, 2024

148 - Building Integrated Photovoltaics with Reidar Stølen

In this episode of the Fire Science Show we go in depth on the Building Integrated Photo-Voltaic systems (BIPV). It is a topic relevant to many fire engineers, and one on which it is very difficult to find a lot of informati…
March 27, 2024

145 - Fire Safety Engineering in South Africa and Beyond with Richard Walls

In this episode, we discuss the stark realities of fire safety engineering in South Africa (and beyond) as we sit down with Professor Richard Walls from Stellenbosch University. Our journey through the recent history of deva…
Nov. 29, 2023

130 - Mass timber fire dynamics with Dr. Carmen Górska

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Carmen Górska from OFR Consultants, the recent IAFSS Phillip Thomas Award recipient for the best paper at the previous IAFSS Symposium. In this interview, we touch on preconceived notions …
Nov. 1, 2023

125 - Enhancing Fire Safety Through Data: EU FireStat Project with Martina Manes and Mohamad El Houssami

Today we go deep into how statistical data about fires is gathered, processed, and used around the world, and what are the ideas on how to improve this in the future. My guests represent the EU FireStat Project - Dr Mohamad …
Oct. 26, 2023

124 - Advancements in Fire Safety of Facades with Eleni Asimakopoulou

In today's episode, I have invited dr Eleni Asimakopoulou from the University of Central Lancashire to discuss her extensive expertise on fire behaviour of facades. In the talk, we will go through Elenis' experiments on vent…
Sept. 6, 2023

117 - Global wildfire emergency and the key role of FSEs with Albert Simeoni

In the midst of horrible wildfire season around the globe, I have reached out to Prof. Albert Simeoni from Worcester Polytechnic Institute for some hands-on commentary on what is happening around, and why fires all over the …
Aug. 2, 2023

112 - Fire Safety for Energy Storage Systems with Ali Ashrafi and Paweł Woelke

Energy storage systems are vital systems in fuel transition and as a part of technology responding to the challenges of climate change. Not only for their capability to store energy but also for exploring strategies like pea…
July 5, 2023

QA5 - Brainstorming fire safe Mars habitats with Ruben van Coile, Jaime Cadena Gomez and Szymek Matkowski

This time we try out something new! Instead of interviewing experts on subjects of their expertise, this time I took world-class risk specialists for a brainstorming session. And while sitting together, we discussed somethin…