Wildfire and Human Health in a Changing Climate

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Project Summary The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), in collaboration with partners at Oregon MESA (MESA), Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and the World Forestry Center (WFC), 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, and WFC, 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.