University of Oxford Biochemistry building

ARCC news for May 2014

ARCC network news & events

ARCC Network Assembly 2014 – Urban areas as systems: adapting for the future

10-11 June 2014, Birmingham

This knowledge exchange event will explore how EPSRC-funded research can help to create robust and resilient urban areas. The Assembly is aimed at those working in the built environment and infrastructure sectors, including relevant areas of research, policy and practice. Participants will hear news from EPSRC’s built environment and infrastructure research portfolio, and there will be networking opportunities to nurture new collaborations. The event is free to attend – registration is open.

Knowledge exchange skills for Early Career Researchers – webinar now online

Making better links with stakeholders is a theme that’s been running through ARCC’s series of knowledge exchange events for ECRs this year. This month we held a half-hour webinar – understanding your audience, making an impact – with an excellent presentation by Jonathan Breckon of the Alliance for Useful Evidence. A recording of the webinar, along with a copy of Jonathan’s presentation is available on the ARCC website. A second webinar in the series is planned for early July – keep an eye on the website and ARCCnews for more details.

Project news & events

Health risks of future heatwaves in London

Research arising from the ARCADIA (Adaptation and Resilience in Cities: Analysis and Decision making using Integrated Assessment ) project has highlighted the value of addressing the health risks associated with heatwaves for London. The study considered the risk of discomfort in residential buildings and mortality in Greater London. By comparing simulated futures with and without adaptation, the researchers demonstrated that adaptation could significantly reduce negative impacts.

i-BUILD stakeholder day outputs

i-BUILD (Infrastructure business models, valuation and innovation for local delivery) –  a project to develop new infrastructure business models at a local level – held its second stakeholder event in April. Delegates discussed the latest research, heard perspectives from Core Cities and the UNESCO-IHE Flood Resilience Group, and participated in workshops to promote the co-development of research and case studies. Presentations and notes from the three workshop sessions are now online, as is a helpful blog which summarises and reviews the day’s discussions. The next stakeholder day will be held on 12 November 2014 in Leeds.

Flooding and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Network Annual Assembly

19-20 June 2014, Edinburgh

This Annual Assembly will bring together a diverse range of professionals from across the flood risk management sector, as well as those working in related disciplines. The event aims to share information about on-going research in FCERM and identify knowledge gaps; develop a dialogue between research and research users; create opportunities for networking and the development of novel research ideas; and provide support and encourage development of early career researchers.

Other news & events

Can nature help restore harmony in our cities?

Cities Alive is an ARUP initiative that creates a vision of a sustainable future city, incorporating adaptations that will allow urban areas to become ‘green city ecosystems’ that can adapt to climate and social changes.

The world’s most resilient cities?

report by the property group Grosvenor has ranked the world’s leading cities according to their resilience to, amongst others, climate change (pdf, 3.1 MB). Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary are rated as the three most resilient cities. London is 18th: despite its good adaptive capacity, it suffers because of its lack of affordable housing. The report contains several city case studies.

Researchers develop automatised flood mapping

Could flood-mapping be automated? Researchers in the US have devised a flood-mapping method based on comparison of satellite images to produce almost real-time monitoring and detection of flooding. The approach was tested on the Chobe floodplain in Namibia which experiences seasonal flooding, and the method worked even where the land area was covered by vegetation.

Contemporary Social Science special issue – Call for papers re high-speed rail

Submissions are invited for a special issue of Contemporary Social Science which will focus on high-speed rail and evidence on the impact of this kind of transport development. Contributions on high-speed rail or comparative studies of other large infrastructure projects are invited by 30 September 2014.

Call for case studies – urban reponses to climate change

The Urban Climate Change Research Network (UCCRN), based at the Center for Climate Systems Research at Columbia University, is inviting submissions of examples of climate change responses from cities around the world.  UCCRN published its first an assessment report on climate change and cities, known as ARC3, in 2011 and is now looking to update this work.

Creating the Future: a 2020 vision for science & research

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is seeking views on strategic priorities for long-term science and research capital investment and is looking for evidence to inform the development of a Science Capital Roadmap. Responses must be submitted by 4 July 2014 – see the GOV.UK website for more information.

Knowledge Exchange Fellowship: ESRC and Future Cities Catapult – expressions of interest

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), in partnership with the Future Cities Catapult, invites expressions of interest from eligible applicants for a Knowledge Exchange Fellowship. The partners anticipate supporting one Fellow. The Fellow should be able to commence work by October 2014, deadline for submissions is 19 May.