Join CRB Nexus: Where Policy Meets Research for a live virtual discussion featuring Dr. Craig Clements, Dr. Michael Méndez and Dr. Nícola Ulibarrí as they discuss Wildfires and Natural Disasters in policy and practice.
In support of a vibrant community of practice, this event will NOT be recorded. When you register, a URL for the online event will be sent via email.
CRB Nexus is a community of California researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and organizations committed to public policy solutions informed by data-driven research. They come together to connect, build professional relationships, and share information. Together, they translate evidence into action and foster the next generation of public scholarship aimed at identifying and solving policy issues.
Panelists
This panel brings together leading experts to examine wildfires and natural disasters from scientific, policy, and planning perspectives. Discussion will explore wildfire behavior and fire weather under changing climate conditions, the impacts of disasters on vulnerable communities, and how governance, infrastructure, and planning systems can better support resilience and risk reduction. Together, panelists will offer insights into how research can inform more effective preparedness, response, and long-term policy solutions.
Dr. Craig Clements, San José State University
He is a professor in the Department of Meteorology and Climate Science at San José State University and serves as Director of both the Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center and the Fire Weather Research Laboratory. His research focuses on wildfire meteorology, fire–atmosphere interactions, extreme fire behavior, fire weather forecasting, and the use of remote sensing and unmanned aircraft systems to monitor extreme fire environments. Dr. Clements leads nationally recognized, federally funded research efforts examining wildfire behavior, plume dynamics, and fire weather under changing climate conditions. His work directly informs wildfire forecasting, emergency response, and resilience planning, supporting state, federal, and utility partners engaged in wildfire risk mitigation and disaster preparedness.
Dr. Michael Méndez, University California, Irvine
He is an associate professor of urban planning & public policy at the University of California, Irvine. With more than a decade of experience in policymaking — including service in the California State Legislature and on the Sacramento City Planning Commission — his research focuses on climate change, environmental justice, and the impacts of disasters on vulnerable communities. He has advised state and national climate initiatives and is the author of Climate Change from the Streets (Yale University Press).
Dr. Nícola Ulibarrí, University California, Irvine
She is an associate professor of urban planning & public policy at UC Irvine. Her interdisciplinary research examines how environmental planning, infrastructure, and governance systems can be redesigned to better meet diverse social and environmental needs. With experience spanning the U.S. Department of the Interior, the World Bank, and grassroots river protection work in New Mexico, her scholarship bridges policy, sustainability, and community resilience.
