PML joins the Willis Research Network
4th November 2009
PML has become an associate member of the Willis Research
Network (WRN), with 9 other leading scientific
institutions from the UK and New Zealand, deepening the integration
of public science with the risk and insurance sectors to confront
the challenges of natural hazards and extreme events.
The addition of these world-renowned institutions reinforces the
network`s position as the largest partnership between academia and
the insurance industry, marking a major expansion in the network's
ability to provid research, expertise, applications and data
to end-user industries. This is expected to grow beyond the
risk and insurance sectors as governments, populations and
businesses confront the challenges of living with climate change
and natural hazards.
The organisations joining the network are:
- British Geological Survey (geological
risks, groundwater flooding
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
(flooding, pollution)
- UK Met Office (climate and weather risk
research, climate forecasting services)
- National Centre of Earth Observation
(remotes sensing, satellite data and imagery)
- National Centre of Atmospheric Science
(climate and weather risk research)
- National Oceanography Centre (tropical
cyclones, tsunami, uncertainty)
- Ordnance Survey (geographic data,
geospatial analysis and communication)
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory (marine
pollution, aquaculture)
- Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory (storm
surge, sea level rise)
- GNS Science, New Zealand (Asia-Pacific geo
hazards)
Prof Stephen de Mora, Chief Executive of PML, commented: "PML is
delighted to join the WRN. With the expanded research
capabilities of the WRN, PML's science will serve the needs of
society even further by addressing the interactions between
the marine environment and people, to sustain marine ecosystems,
their services and societal benefits.
Welcoming the 10 new members into the Network, Rowan Douglas,
Managing Director of Willis Re and Chairman of the Willis Research
Network, said: "We have had the enormous pleasure and privilege of
working with most of these world-leading institutions for some
time. Collectively, they are a mighty force and are bringing major
improvements to the understanding and evaluation of natural hazard
risks in our sector. We are delighted to welcome them into the WRN
where we hope they will enjoy even greater collaboration with our
worldwide membership and international insurance and reinsurance
industry partners."
The Willis Research Network (WRN) is focused on evaluating the
frequency, severity and impact of major catastrophes. From flooding
to hurricanes and earthquakes, the network seeks to help
society at local and global levels, manage these risks and share
the costs of these events via public and private sector approaches.
To achieve this mission, Willis has teamed up with 32 leading
institutions across a full range of disciplines from atmospheric
science and climate statistics, to geography, hydrology and
seismology.