Jason Sharples

Professor Jason Sharples is a Professor at UNSW Canberra in the School of Science. His research focuses on extreme bushfires and the development of mathematical and computational models to understand fire behavior, fire-atmosphere interactions, and fire propagation in complex landscapes. He is actively involved in developing education and training materials for firefighters and has contributed to operational protocols for fire agencies, enabling them to better monitor dangerous weather conditions and anticipate rapid escalations in fire growth and intensity.

Professor Sharples holds a B.Sc., B.Math. (Hons), and PhD. He is recognized as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales, and Fellow of the Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand.

His research addresses the growing global problem of extreme bushfires, exacerbated by climate change and urban expansion. Professor Sharples and his team use sophisticated mathematical and computational models to study dynamic fire behavior, particularly how bushfires interact with the atmosphere to produce dangerous forms of fire propagation. They investigate critical fire weather events such as heatwaves, mountain winds, and frontal systems, and their association with major fire outbreaks like the 2019-20 'Black Summer' fires. His work demonstrates that extreme fires behave fundamentally differently from typical fires, allowing for better anticipation and prediction of their occurrence and behavior.

Analysis of Professor Sharples' recent publications reveals a strong focus on wildfire modeling, fire-atmosphere interactions, and the development of predictive tools for fire behavior. His work spans computational modeling, field studies, and practical applications for fire management. Key themes include fire front dynamics, fuel moisture modeling, fire weather prediction, and the development of visualization tools for fire behavior. His research increasingly incorporates machine learning techniques and interdisciplinary approaches to address complex fire phenomena.

• Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
• Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales
• Fellow of the Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand

Professor Sharples serves as Associate Editor for several prestigious journals including Environmental Modelling and Software, PLoS Climate, and the International Journal of Wildland Fire. He is an active member of multiple professional societies including the International Association of Wildland Fire, the Australian Mathematical Society, and the Australia and New Zealand Industrial and Applied Mathematics Society (ANZIAM). His research has been incorporated into operational protocols for fire agencies, helping them monitor dangerous weather conditions and anticipate rapid escalations in fire growth and intensity.

Professor Sharples leads a research group focused on extreme fire behavior, with particular emphasis on fire-atmosphere coupling and the development of mathematical models for fire spread prediction. His team collaborates with fire agencies and other researchers to translate scientific findings into practical applications for fire management and firefighter safety. The group utilizes advanced computational techniques and field observations to study complex fire phenomena, with the goal of improving fire prediction capabilities and reducing fire-related risks to communities and ecosystems.