Sep 27, 2022

Impactfully No. 11: Putting out fires

We've talked a lot in the past about ways we contribute to climate change, but we haven't spent much time talking about the consequences. Today, we're focusing on wildfires and highlighting companies that are addressing impacts from natural disasters.

It seems especially appropriate this week since Hurricane Ian is about to hit our Tampa Bay headquarters. If you are hunkering down with us, we're especially fond of the Preparedness Guide from the National Weather Service. Be safe!

As the wildfire threat increases, technology is rising to the occasion. People are now using artificial intelligence and machine learning to predict wildfires and detect problems with the electric grid ahead of time, helping head off catastrophe.

This is important because it's increasingly difficult to fight fires on multiple fronts, and the more fires we can prevent, the better. Case in point: militaries around the world are being called up to supplement existing firefighting forces.

We like to interrogate the most pressing issues to drive to root cause and apply sustainable solutions. But you know what? Sometimes you just have to deal with the effects. That's why it's so important to have companies focused on situational awareness and disaster recovery.

See you on the other side of Ian – and bring an umbrella.

- Greg (@gregrancourt)

P.S. Interested in a particular type of job or topic? DM me on Twitter or send us an email at hello@onework.co with your suggestions!

In this issue:

Predicting wildfires with AI
How wildfires affect the water supply
Simulating out-of-this-world disasters
Find a meaningful career

Join the conversation

Join us on Twitter to continue the conversation: What do you do to prepare for nature's unexpected challenges?

This week's reads

How AI can help protect us from future wildfires

Researchers at Stanford University recently developed an AI model for predicting dangerous particle pollution to help track the American West’s rapidly worsening wildfire smoke.

‘The climate crisis is now’: haunting video spotlights California wildfires

The release by a Greta Thunberg-inspired activist group was timed with the global climate strike protests last Friday.

As wildfires grow, militaries are torn between combat, climate change

Europe's militaries are caught between defending against Russia and fighting global warming-driven wildfires. Leaders say the problem will only worsen.

Wildfires quietly threaten a crucial water source in the west

Snow is melting earlier in fire-ravaged areas, with potentially disastrous consequences.

At least it's not aliens

This week's topic reminded me of Sim City because we could trigger natural disasters as part of the simulation. Some people just want to watch the world burn after fighting zoning laws, you know?

Most of the natural disasters were the ones you'd expect: tornadoes, earthquakes, and the like. For some reason, you could also trigger an alien invasion to destroy your city.

The good news? Climate change is unlikely to make the UFOs any worse.

The aliens are displeased with your unimaginative grid layout. Source: public domain.

Find a meaningful career

Squishy Robotics

Squishy Robotics provides sensor robots that can be air-deployed into hazardous areas to furnish persistent, ground-level, real-time data.

Robotics Controls Engineer - Berkeley, CA

Embedded Systems Engineer - Berkeley, CA

UI and Data Analytics Engineer - Berkeley, CA

Full Stack Software Engineer - Berkeley, CA

Mechanical Design Engineer - Berkeley, CA

Saildrone

Saildrone is a US business that designs, manufactures, and operates a fleet of the world’s most capable, proven, and trusted uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs).

Technical Program Manager - Remote

Machine Learning Lead - Remote

GL Accountant - Alameda, CA

Production Control Coordinator - Alameda, CA

Software Engineer C++ - Alameda, CA