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16 - The Risk Prediction Initiative: a successful science–business partnership for analyzing natural hazard risk

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 September 2009

By
Richard J. Murnane  and
Anthony Knap
Edited by
Henry F. Diaz  and
Richard J. Murnane
Richard J. Murnane
Affiliation:
RPI/BIOS, P.O. Box 405, Garrett Park, MD 20896, USA
Anthony Knap
Affiliation:
Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, Ferry Reach, St. George's, GE 01, Bermuda
Henry F. Diaz
Affiliation:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, District of Columbia
Richard J. Murnane
Affiliation:
Bermuda Biological Station for Research, Garrett Park, Maryland
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Summary

Condensed summary

The Risk Prediction Initiative (RPI) has been working with companies active in the catastrophe reinsurance market since 1994. The goal of the RPI is to support scientific research on topics of interest to its sponsors and to provide connections between the scientific and business communities, mainly through science–business workshops on a variety of topics. The major topics of RPI-funded research include paleotempestology, the relationship between tropical cyclone activity and climate, improvement of best-track data, and European storms. A workshop sponsored by the RPI in Bermuda in October 2005 catalyzed the compilation of this volume. This chapter provides an overview of RPI's history, its efforts at making science on natural hazard risk available and understandable to its sponsors, and suggestions for similar endeavors.

Introduction

Extremes in climate and weather have a wide range of societal consequences. Many examples are offered in chapters throughout this book. This chapter focuses on an indirect consequence of an extreme event: the formation of a unique science–business partnership, the Risk Prediction Initiative (RPI), which is part of the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS; formerly known as the Bermuda Biological Station for Research). The RPI was formed, in part, as a consequence of the unexpectedly large insured losses caused by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Here we provide a short history of the Risk Prediction Initiative and an overview of its activities as a science–business partnership that has survived for more than 10 years and proved beneficial for both scientists and business.

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Climate Extremes and Society , pp. 320 - 336
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2008

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