Work by the Cabot Institute, looking at how environmental modelling can make us better prepared for natural disasters, is featured in an extensive report for Universities Week which runs until Sunday (19 June).

The Big Ideas for the Future report by Research Councils UK and Universities UK highlights research currently taking place in universities which is likely to have a major impact on the UK and the world in the future.

The Cabot Institute has been working with the Willis Research Network to develop risk models for major catastrophes, linking the environment, capital investment and the insurance industry.

Professor Paul Bates, Director of the Cabot Institute at the University of Bristol, said: "It’s great for our work to be recognised by the Research Council UK in this way. 

“The use of computer models to shape all sorts of decision making will be a major feature of the 21st century and the UK is well placed to be a global leader here.

“We can’t prevent natural disasters, but we can be more prepared and more resilient.

“If we understand what makes us vulnerable to environmental change we can mitigate the risk.

“Environmental models now underpin much of our decision making.  These models affect almost everything that we, the general public, do.

“A good example is how much we pay for our house insurance.  Models are used to determine, by postcode, how much flood risk a house is susceptible to or what its risk of subsidence is.”

Big Ideas for the Future demonstrates the value of public investment in higher education and research and the positive impact this has on economic growth and the social wellbeing of the UK.

It coincides with Universities Week which showcases the excellent work taking place in higher education across the country and highlights the contribution universities make to UK society and the economy.