The IGNIS project — a pioneering initiative blending science, technology, and Indigenous knowledge — has been named a finalist in the 2025 WA Premier’s Science Awards under the Science Engagement Initiative of the Year category.
Led by Edith Cowan University (ECU) in partnership with NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, and four Australian universities, IGNIS is redefining how Australia monitors and understands fire ignition across vast landscapes.
At the heart of the project is a network of lightning detectors deployed across Western Australia. The system combines satellite data, ground-based sensors, and thermal imaging to confirm fire ignition events in real time. This scientific approach is guided by the deep cultural and ecological wisdom of the Noongar Boodja Rangers from Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management, who have played a key role in aligning modern technology with traditional knowledge of Country.
The IGNIS initiative has also created hands-on opportunities for the next generation of scientists. More than 130 students from Years 7 to 11 across 23 schools in WA have participated in the project, contributing directly to field data collection, analysis, and community science engagement.
The collaboration has been further strengthened by the enthusiastic support of local farmers and regional communities who have embraced IGNIS as a vital tool for environmental management and bushfire resilience.
In a social post, ECU Executive Dean, School of Engineering, Professor Paulo de Souza said, “This recognition celebrates not just science and technology, but deep community engagement, cross-continental collaboration, and the power of Indigenous knowledge in shaping the future of environmental monitoring.
We’re proud to be part of a project that connects sky to land, data to culture, and science to society.”
We’re proud to be part of a project that connects sky to land, data to culture, and science to society.”
Image: ECU Executive Dean, School of Engineering Professor Paulo de Souza (centre) with Ibrahim Ali (L) and Khush Hirani (R) at the ECU stand at the Indo-Pacific Robotics, Autonomy, AI, Cyber Conference and Exhibition
