Conference: “Forest Fires: Origins, Meteorological Factors and Mitigation Strategies”

As part of the III Conference Cycle of the Post-Graduate Programme in Investigation and Safety Against Disasters, Crises, and Accidents, the Instituto Superior Miguel Torga will hold an event on 28 April 2026, at 6:00 pm, titled “Forest Fires: Origins, Meteorological Factors, and Mitigation Strategies”. The session will take place online and aims to deepen the technical and scientific understanding of the phenomena that influence the spread and impact of rural fires.

The conference will feature a presentation by Leila Carvalho, from the University of California (USA). The speaker is an expert in Atmospheric Sciences and Climate Change, developing research focused on climate variability, extreme phenomena, and the physical mechanisms governing monsoon systems and atmospheric rivers. Her analysis will address how anthropogenic forcing intensifies environmental risks and extreme weather events on a global scale.

The opening and moderation of the debate will be led by Noémia Salgado Cunha, the scientific coordinator of the Post-Graduate Programme. The event will also include comments from the lecturer of the Post-Graduate Programme and Commander of the Coimbra Firefighters (Sapadores), Paulo Palrilha. Participation in this initiative is free of charge, reinforcing the institution's commitment to sharing specialised knowledge and raising awareness for risk management and public safety.