Modelling Global Floods - MScR in Global Environmental Challenges

About the Project
Floods are the costliest and most deadly class of natural disaster, affecting 78.1 million people and causing $59Bn in damages in 2016 alone. Mapping areas at risk from flooding is critical to reducing these losses but is only well advanced in a handful of countries globally. For most of the world, and overwhelmingly in developing countries, flood hazard and risk are almost entirely unmapped. This project seeks to address urgent challenges in global flood risk modelling using the latest satellite and socio-economic data to improve our ability to address this important issue.

Why Choose this Opportunity
You will have the opportunity to work with a techn start-up, Fathom Global, that provides flood risk data to insurers, multi-national companies and NGOs such as the World Bank and Red Cross/Crescent.

About You
Good candidates for this project will be numerate graduates with good computer programming skills (or at least the potential to develop these). Prior experience in at least some parts of hydrology, hydraulics, exposure and vulnerability data, risk analysis, remote sensing or GIS will likely be essential for success.

About the programme
The Cabot Institute Masters by Research is a unique opportunity to work with a leading supervisor to deliver a one-year research project that you are passionate about. The programme will bring together exceptional students from all backgrounds with a common mission – protecting the planet and securing our future. As well as learning from your supervisor, you will learn from your fellow students; coming together to share your ideas and developing your problem-solving skills as part of an interdisciplinary team over the year. As well as being hosted within the Cabot Institute you will have a direct relationship within the relevant School for your research area, allowing you to fully take advantage of a wide-ranging research community.
Alongside your research project, you will benefit from a unique personal development and transferable skills training schedule. These unaccredited, optional events will give you the opportunity to come together with your peers to improve your research skills and develop an innovative approach to the global challenges we face today. You will also be encouraged to propose your own interests for a seminar series, giving you a unique platform to mould your studies and get involved directly with the programme. The training schedule will focus on:
• Interdisciplinarity & Collaboration
• Innovation & Enterprise
• Making your research a success
• Research communications
• Ignite your interests (your chance to propose ideas for a seminar series)
You will also gain access to the Cabot Institute’s network of experts across academia, government, business and industry via networking events. These opportunities will not only support your research, but give you the edge in your future career, whatever that may be.