# California Fire Science Consortium

> organization

**Wikidata**: [Q100956254](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q100956254)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/california-fire-science-consortium

## Summary
The California Fire Science Consortium (CFSC) is a United States-based research institute headquartered in Berkeley, dedicated exclusively to conducting systematic investigations into fire science. It operates as a standalone organization whose primary purpose is generating new knowledge, distinct from universities that combine teaching with research or think tanks focused on policy. The entity is identified by the GRID ID grid.508811.5 and the ROR ID 02phdp391, with its official website located at http://www.cafiresci.org/.

## Key Facts
- **Entity Type**: Research institute (organization whose primary purpose is research).
- **Aliases**: CFSC.
- **Country**: United States.
- **Headquarters Location**: Berkeley, United States.
- **Geographic Coordinates**: Latitude 37.184303, Longitude -123.797598.
- **Official Website**: http://www.cafiresci.org/.
- **GRID ID**: grid.508811.5.
- **ROR ID**: 02phdp391.
- **Wikidata Reference**: Q100949393 (source for organizational properties).
- **Classification**: Mapped to schema.org/ResearchOrganization.
- **Geonames Feature Code**: S.ITTR (used for geographic identification of research institutes).

## FAQs
**What is the primary mission of the California Fire Science Consortium?**
The CFSC exists specifically to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation, focusing entirely on research activities without the teaching obligations found in universities. Its sole purpose is to conduct hands-on scientific inquiry rather than providing undergraduate education or granting degrees.

**How does the CFSC differ from a think tank?**
While think tanks primarily conduct policy-oriented research to influence government decisions, the CFSC pursues fundamental scientific inquiry across all relevant disciplines. The consortium is an operational entity dedicated to discovery rather than a membership-based society or a policy advocacy group.

**Where is the California Fire Science Consortium located?**
The organization is headquartered in Berkeley, United States, at the specific geographic coordinates of latitude 37.184303 and longitude -123.797598. This location serves as the central base for its research operations and administrative functions.

## Why It Matters
The California Fire Science Consortium serves as a critical engine of discovery in the field of fire science, operating free from the divided attention of teaching or commercial mandates. By concentrating resources and talent purely on investigation, the CFSC accelerates breakthroughs that address complex problems like wildfire behavior and ecosystem management. These organizations provide the necessary infrastructure for long-term, high-risk research that might not fit within standard university timelines or corporate profit models. In an era where climate change intensifies fire risks, the CFSC represents essential infrastructure for advancing human knowledge and solving society's most pressing environmental challenges.

## Notable For
- **Exclusive Research Focus**: Dedicated solely to research activities, distinguishing it from hybrid organizations that balance teaching or commercial goals.
- **Operational Independence**: Functions as a standalone entity rather than a sub-unit within a larger university or corporation.
- **Global Classification Standards**: Recognized and classified under unique identifiers across multiple library and knowledge systems, including ROR and GRID.
- **Geographic Precision**: Mapped with specific latitude and longitude coordinates for accurate geographic identification via Geonames.
- **Disciplinary Scope**: Covers fundamental scientific inquiry across fire science disciplines, unlike policy-focused think tanks.

## Body
### Organizational Identity and Classification
The California Fire Science Consortium is formally classified as a research institute, a distinct organizational form defined by its primary purpose of conducting research. Unlike universities that balance teaching and research missions, or companies that pursue research for commercial ends, the CFSC exists purely to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation. In library science and cataloging systems, it falls under the category of research organizations and institutes. The entity is mapped to the schema.org/ResearchOrganization type for structured data purposes and utilizes the Geonames feature code S.ITTR for geographic identification. It is distinct from scientific societies or learned societies, which are typically membership-based, and from research centers that may function as sub-units within larger institutions.

### Geographic and Administrative Details
The consortium is based in the United States, with its headquarters located in Berkeley. The specific geographic footprint of the organization is defined by the coordinates latitude 37.184303 and longitude -123.797598. This precise location data allows for accurate mapping and identification within geographic databases. The organization maintains an official digital presence through its website at http://www.cafiresci.org/, which serves as a primary channel for disseminating research findings and organizational information.

### Unique Identifiers and Data Integration
To ensure interoperability across global knowledge systems, the California Fire Science Consortium is assigned several unique identifiers. The Research Organization Registry (ROR) assigns it the ID 02phdp391, while the Global Research Identifier Database (GRID) uses the ID grid.508811.5. These identifiers are derived from authoritative sources, specifically referencing Wikidata item Q100949393. The use of these standardized IDs allows the CFSC to be accurately linked and referenced in academic citations, library catalogs, and digital knowledge graphs. The entity is also recognized in the context of the broader concept of research institutes, which has 41 Wikipedia language editions, indicating the universal applicability of this organizational form.

### Distinctions from Related Entities
The CFSC is specifically differentiated from several similar types of organizations. It is not a scientific society, as it is an operational entity conducting hands-on investigation rather than a membership organization. It differs from think tanks in its scope; while think tanks focus on policy-oriented research to influence government decisions, the CFSC pursues fundamental inquiry. Furthermore, it is distinct from research centers that may be internal departments of larger universities, as the CFSC operates as an independent research institute. This independence allows it to pursue long-term, high-risk research projects that might not align with the immediate timelines of corporate or university structures.

## References

1. GRID release 2020-10-06
2. ROR Data Dump 6.0 (October 2020)