date: Fri, 22 May 2009 18:01:05 +0100
from: "Stephen Dorling" <s.dorling@uea.ac.uk>
subject: Re: NERC Knowledge Transfer Partnership: Call for Insurance 
to: "Phil Jones" <p.jones@uea.ac.uk>

   Thanks Phil,



   I'll digest over the weekend.



   Couple of other things:



   1. You mentioned, in the 'climate at uea' meeting with Bob Watson, Trevor et al the other
   week, the recent finding that humidity was declining in the measurement record. What should
   I refer to on that topic? Atmospheric chemistry types are talking about increases in
   absolute humidity (driven by warmer temps and more evap) driving changes in methane in the
   future - so why the observed declines and are those declines in absolute or relative
   humidity?



   2. Ruth Leavett, current MSc Climate Change student, has volunteered to be weatherquest's
   experimental "climate correspondent" (don't laugh!) until she finishes her thesis in
   August. We're sort of mimicing a similar thing the BBC have done. The idea is that Ruth
   will monitor and keep weatherquest staff up to date (through a web page) with



   - Latest status of key indices (ENSO/NAO/CET/EWR/Grosswetterlagen) etc

   - Latest on climate negotiations (only very brief!)

   - Climate research findings/press releases emanating from CRU/Tyndall/ENV (its surprising
   how often we're caught out on the radio when we're asked about a UEA study we haven't yet
   heard about)

   - a few handpicked rss feeds



   It sounds a bit pathetic that we can't do this ourselves but I've been surprised how
   all-consuming an operational roster is. We'll see how it goes but if it is successful then
   we might like to recruit a replacement for Ruth, again from the MSc CC programme, when the
   next cohort arrive (perhaps paid this time!) Any comments on this? How's recruitment going?
   Any sign of additional assistance for the coming year?



   Still no date for UKCP?

   S

   ----- Original Message -----

   From: [1]Phil Jones

   To: [2]s.dorling@uea.ac.uk

   Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 4:14 PM

   Subject: Fwd: NERC Knowledge Transfer Partnership: Call for Insurance Intellectual Capital
   Initiative

      Steve
          I thought just what CRU does! Then I read it - seems more what
      Richard did. It isn't inadequate climate data, it's the claims data!
      Cheers
      Phil
     Inadequate historical data
     The types of events that generate large losses for the types of facilities in question
     are few and far between.  As such, traditional curve fitting based methodologies fall
     somewhat short in describing the risk.  In addition, following events that cause major
     losses, engineering and risk management practices are updated to reduce the likelihood
     of reoccurrence, in theory lending less value to the few existing historic data points.

     Subject: NERC Knowledge Transfer Partnership: Call for Insurance Intellectual Capital
     Initiative
     Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 15:54:13 +0100
     X-MS-Has-Attach: yes
     X-MS-TNEF-Correlator:
     Thread-Topic: NERC Knowledge Transfer Partnership: Call for Insurance Intellectual
     Capital Initiative
     Thread-Index: AcnaHBcFP8wtPjo/QB27+Pre46vzIAAA7SsQACVO6RAAC08KcA==
     From: "Goodwin Nicholas Dr \(ACAD\)" <N.Goodwin@uea.ac.uk>
     To: "Burgess Jacquelin Prof \(ENV\)" <Jacquie.Burgess@uea.ac.uk>,
              "Goodess Clare Dr \(ENV\)" <C.Goodess@uea.ac.uk>,
              "Jones Philip Prof \(ENV\)" <P.Jones@uea.ac.uk>,
              "Bateman Ian Prof \(ENV\)" <I.Bateman@uea.ac.uk>,
              "Asher Minns" <A.Minns@uea.ac.uk>,
             "Few Roger Dr \(ODG\)" <R.Few@uea.ac.uk>
     Cc: "Dorling Stephen Dr \(ENV\)" <S.Dorling@uea.ac.uk>,
              "Darch Janice Dr \(SCI\)" <J.Darch@uea.ac.uk>,
              "Watkinson Andrew Prof \(ENV\)" <A.Watkinson@uea.ac.uk>
     <<Call for the Insurance Intellectual Capital initiative.doc>>
     Dear All,
     Please forward this to anyone you think might be interested and contact me at the
     earliest opportunity. Details attached.
     **Climate Change Risks and the Insurance Industry - Knowledge Transfer Partnerships**
     Deadline for Outline Proposals is Friday 12th June
     450,000 is available for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) in a new funding call by
     NERC, the Technology Strategy Board and the Insurance Intellectual Capital Initiative
     (IICI, a partnership including Lloyds and other main insurers).
     Normally you would require an industry partner, but this call operates more like a
     normal research grant with IICI acting as the industry partner. The call has identified
     four main challenges they wish to address that might align with research in ENV,
     particularly CRU and Tyndall:
     (1) Inadequate historical data
     (2) Complex heterogeneous risks (reference to environment)
     (3) Complex non-linear hazard/loss relationships
     (4) Socio-economic trends
     The School of Computing is keen to do this with help from ENV. CMP works closely with
     Aviva.
     Projects would be for 2-3 years and employ an associate at post-doc level. Funding is at
     the full 100% fEC.
     Outlines are short (700-800 words) and very targeted.
     Kind regards,
     Nick
     __________________________________________________________________
     Dr Nick Goodwin, Business Development Manager (Science)
     University of East Anglia
     Tel: 01603 591560  |  Mobile: 07826 510640  |  Fax: 01603 591550
     Email: n.goodwin@uea.ac.uk  |  Web: [3]www.uea.ac.uk/business
     Research, Enterprise & Engagement Office, The Registry, University of East Anglia,
     Norwich, NR4 7TJ.
     __________________________________________________________________
     This email may contain privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient
     please notify the sender and delete all copies.

     Prof. Phil Jones
     Climatic Research Unit        Telephone +44 (0) 1603 592090
     School of Environmental Sciences    Fax +44 (0) 1603 507784
     University of East Anglia
     Norwich                          Email    p.jones@uea.ac.uk
     NR4 7TJ
     UK
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