New MSc in Flood Risk Management launched

The University of Hull has launched a new Master’s degree in Flood Risk Management, building on its world-leading expertise in the subject.

The MSc programme will focus on finding innovative new ways to increase flood resilience and tackle one of the greatest threats facing the planet.

Students on the new course will benefit from the expertise of the University’s renowned Energy & Environment Institute.

With almost 100 researchers now collaborating to tackle the climate change challenge, the Institute is currently leading global research in some of the areas of the world most at-risk of flooding, including Vietnam’s Mekong and Red River deltas, the Parana River in South America, as well as locations much closer to home.

Professor Dan Parsons, Director at the Energy and Environment Institute, said: “With global flood risk set to double by 2050, there is currently a massive shortage of skilled people working in and around flooding. This Master’s degree will equip students with vital knowledge including flood dynamics, catchment management, flood risk reduction, societal responses and flood incident management.

“The University of Hull has a long-standing specialism in world-leading research on flooding, from high-risk communities living in low-lying estuaries and deltas across the world.

“Our research into the devastating floods of 2007, which forced tens of thousands of people out of their homes and businesses, was core to the Pitt Review, and has set UK flood policy for the last decade.

“This new Master’s programme will help nurture and develop the flood managers of the future.”

The new MSc programme, one of only a handful of its kind in the country, will use knowledge of the drivers and impacts of flood hazards to understand the application of innovative new approaches to flood risk management.

In a changing climate, key organisations including the Environment Agency, local authorities and leading consultancies are experiencing a shortage of talented people with the skills required to build resilience into pre-flood event preparation, response and recovery.

Students will gain both practical and academic experience in flood dynamics and catchment management, taught by leading academics and industry experts.

The University of Hull’s expertise in flood resilience and risk management is well-established.

The University hosts the Flood Innovation Centre, a £3.5 million centre focused on research and innovation focused on addressing flood risk, aiding industry and businesses in innovating to address the challenge.

The University is also leading, in partnership with the Fire and Rescue Service, a project to establish Ark, a £15m National Flood Resilience Centre which will provide the emergency services and responders with a controlled environment for simulated training in both urban and rural flood events, were recently unveiled by the University.

The facility will be a base for world-leading research and innovation, focused on enhancing business, societal and community resilience to flooding; vitally needed as the world faces up to a climate change induced doubling of flood risk by 2050.

A joint bid has been submitted for Ark by the University of Hull and Humberside Fire & Rescue Service, backed by North Lincolnshire Council, and discussions have been held at the highest levels in Government to support the new centre.

Professor Parsons said: “The impacts of climate change are being seen right now.

“The devastating impact of storms Ciara and Dennis over the winter highlight the need for greater understanding, and more effective responses and recovery to severe flood events.

“Ark will prove to be a game-changer in how we tackle and recover from these events, which are only going to get worse as we suffer the consequences of climate change.

“It is about becoming more resilient to flooding as a society. We need to learn to get wet better and Ark will help us do that.”

The University has also played a pivotal role in the Living with Water initiative.

A collaboration between Hull City Council, Yorkshire Water, the Environment Agency and East Riding of Yorkshire Council, the University has conducted research into both the 2007 and 2013 floods in Hull. The partnership is involved as one of five globally working with the World Bank, Rockefeller Foundation and Arup, to create a City Water Resiliency Framework for adoption by cities across the world.

The work will build a stronger picture of how cities address their resilience to flooding, and how better to handle future events.

A limited number of scholarships will also be available for the new MSc Flood Risk Management course, with up to £5,000 available for eligible applicants.

For more details please see the course page.

You can also find details of the existing MSc in Renewable Energy, hosted by the Energy and Environment Institute, here.