Partnership Invitation:

Supporting the Design for Wildfire school

A Pioneering School for a Global Challenge

Wildfires are one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, growing in frequency, scale, and intensity across the globe. As climate change accelerates and urban expansion continues, the need for innovative, resilient, and nature-inspired solutions for building wildfire resilience has never been greater. The Design for Wildfire school is launching in 2025 to advance new ways of thinking about architectural and urban resilience in fire-prone landscapes.

We invite research organisations, universities, industry leaders, and forward-thinking companies to partner with us in this groundbreaking initiative. By joining forces, you can play a critical role in shaping the future of wildfire resilience while positioning your organisation at the forefront of cutting-edge research, technology, and design solutions.

A Pioneering Approach to Wildfire Resilience

At the heart of the Design for Wildfire school is an innovative, interdisciplinary curriculum inspired by Pyrophytic Architecture™, which evolved from Panarchistic Architecture, a pioneering nature-based approach that draws on the strategies of plants and ecosystems that have evolved to live with wildfire over millennia. Combining wildfire science, engineering, sensing technology, and ecological design, our school equips students from academia, industry, and government with the tools to create adaptive, resilient solutions for the built environment.

By partnering with us, you’ll be at the forefront of wildfire resilience innovation, gaining access to world-class expertise, collaborative research opportunities, and a network of leaders in sustainability, design, and innovation.

Ways to Partner and Collaborate

We welcome partnerships from organisations that share our vision for wildfire resilience. There are multiple ways you can collaborate with us:

1/ Contribute to Course Materials and Learning Resources

Help shape the curriculum by collaborating on digital and printed content, including case studies and research papers. Whether you specialise in wildfire sensing, modelling, engineering, or materials science, your insights and expertise can enrich our teaching and provide real-world applications for students.

Potential collaborations include:

• Co-developing online and printed learning materials

• Contributing to virtual lectures, masterclasses, and multimedia content

• Contributing on white papers and seminal publications

2/ Partner on Research and Testing of New Technologies

Wildfire resilience demands constant innovation. We seek research organisations and industry partners to collaborate on testing and developing new materials, technologies, and design solutions that improve fire resistance and adaptation.

Opportunities include:

• Conducting joint research projects on wildfire-resistant materials, sensors, and smart building technologies

• Trialling new engineering solutions in real-world fire-prone environments

• Integrating emerging technologies, such as AI-driven wildfire monitoring and predictive analytics, into our learning programs

3/ Host or Sponsor Field Trips and Pop-Up Learning Experiences

Unlike traditional institutions, the Design for Wildfire school is nomadic, operating both online and through field trips and pop-up learning experiences in wildfire-prone regions. This approach offers an immersive, hands-on training in fire ecology, hazard mitigation, and resilient design.

Ways you can support this initiative:

• Co-hosting field schools at your research facilities, testing sites, or fire-prone locations

• Providing access to facilities and equipment for hands-on learning experiences

• Sponsoring students or researchers to participate in field trips

4/ Support Public Lectures and Community Engagement

Building wildfire resilience is not just about designing better buildings — it’s about fostering wider public understanding and action. Our public lectures, workshops, and open-access learning materials will help bring wildfire science and design to a broader audience, and in a way that’s as compelling as it is educational.

Opportunities include:

• Sponsoring public lecture series or community outreach programs

• Providing expert speakers for webinars, panels, and industry roundtables

• Funding the creation of educational resources that raise awareness of nature-inspired design

5/ Support Scholarships and Funding Initiatives

Investing in education is an investment in a safer, more resilient future. Organisations can support our students and school through scholarships, research grants, and funding for wildfire science and design initiatives.

Ways to contribute:

• Endowing scholarships for students

• Providing research grants for wildfire innovation projects

• Sponsoring access to digital learning platforms and materials

Why Partner with Us?

By collaborating with the Design for Wildfire school, your organisation will:

• Lead the way in wildfire resilience innovation, working alongside top experts in science, engineering, and design

• Gain visibility and credibility within the growing global community of wildfire resilience professionals

• Access a network of interdisciplinary researchers and practitioners dedicated to tackling wildfire challenges

• Demonstrate corporate responsibility by actively contributing to solutions that address climate resilience and community safety

Be Part of a Global Movement

The Design for Wildfire school represents the new frontier of wildfire resilience education. Our hybrid model, blending virtual learning with field-based experiences, ensures that students and professionals gain the skills, knowledge, and practical experience to make meaningful change.

By partnering with us, your organisation will be part of an international network committed to designing a future where humans and wildfires can coexist sustainably.

Let’s Build a More Resilient Future Together

We are seeking visionary partners who share our mission to revolutionise wildfire resilience through cutting-edge research, education, and innovation. Whether you’re a university, research institution, company, or government agency, we invite you to join us in pioneering new solutions for fire-prone landscapes.

For more information on partnership opportunities, contact us today.

Together, let’s redefine how we live with fire and shape a safer, more sustainable future.

Yours in resilience and renewal,

Melissa Sterry

Founder, Design for Wildfire school

Reimagining Resilience through Nature-Inspired Design