Ten science groups join Willis

Ten leading scientific institutions from the UK and New Zealand, including the UKs’ Met Office and Ordnance Survey, have joined the Willis Research Network (WRN).

The ten 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)

Willis claims the network is the largest partnership between academia and the re/insurance industry.

It said the ten joining marked “a major expansion in the network's ability to respond to the needs of the international re/insurance and risk sectors”.

Seven of the institutions are affiliated with the Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC), the UK's main agency for funding and managing research, training and knowledge exchange in the environmental sciences.

Ordnance Survey

Vanessa Lawrence CB, CEO, Ordnance Survey said” “Ordnance Survey is delighted to now be a collaborative member and contributor to the Willis Research Network, which is leading the way in research and innovation within the insurance and reinsurance sector.

“With more and more insurers now taking advantage of geographic information to underpin their decision-making, I believe Ordnance Survey has a very active role to play.”

UK Met Office

Professor Julia Slingo, chief scientist, UK Met Office, said: "The Met Office is delighted to join the Willis Research Network and to have the opportunity to contribute to the excellent work that the Network is doing to bring the best science to the insurance industry.

“Our membership in the WRN fits perfectly with our mission to make sure that everyone, everywhere, has access to the best weather and climate information that we can provide.

“As we push ahead with developing the UK Climate Service, we know that interacting with the insurance sector is crucial for ensuring that we enable the industry to manage its risks effectively.

“Being part of the WRN helps us to fulfil that goal and I'm really excited, personally, to have the opportunity to work again within the Network.”

New Zealand’s GNS Science

Andrew King, section manager, Active Landscapes at GNS Science, New Zealand, said: “GNS Science, New Zealand is pleased and privileged to join the Willis Research Network as its most distant outpost.

“GNS sees many potential synergies between the earthquake, volcanology, landslide and tsunami modelling-and-loss evaluation that we do in New Zealand and South East Asia and the work of other Network members, some of whom are already forming into productive collaborative efforts.

“Being based in New Zealand, the distance from potential collaborative partnerships was of concern but web-based communication is currently adequate and the complementary university-to- research institute relationships appear to be providing additional strengths to both sectors through the Network.

“We at GNS Science look forward to more complete participation in the Network activities and possibly hosting a suitable Willis Fellow in the relatively near future.”

A mighty force

Rowan Douglas, managing director, 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."