Don’t miss our exciting annual event Confluence 2022 to showcase the many exciting projects we are working on and the impact they are having in the region.
This will be in-person on Thursday 22 September, 9am – 4.15pm, in the Nexus Building, Discovery Way, at the University of Leeds campus.
We would also like you to tell us about the current catchment-related challenges you face, future opportunities to develop solutions and how we can work together to influence major investments.
There will also be a chance to join four short workshops with the themes – Climate and Net Zero, Energy, Green Finance, and Nature Recovery – and to discuss the integrated catchment solutions associated with these themes.
Agenda for Confluence 2022
9am – Registration
9.30am – Welcome and house keeping
9.35am – The direction of iCASP – successes and new developments
9.50am – Making a difference in our region and further afield
10am – Guest speaker – Dr Gareth Old, Senior Hydrologist from UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology – new investment in Flood and Drought Research Infrastructure
10.15am – WaterLANDS
10.30am – Communicating Flood Risk
10.45am – Flood Innovation Programme
10.55am – New opportunities and horizon scanning
11.15am – break
11.30am – 12.30pm – Workshops – Climate and Net Zero, Energy, Green Finance and Nature Recovery
12.30pm lunch
Afternoon 1.30pm – 4.15pm
1.30pm – Welcome back
1.35pm – Nick Plant, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation Professor, University of Leeds
1.45pm – Helen Batt, Yorkshire Area Flood Risk Manager, Environment Agency
2pm – Three modelling projects – Upper Rother, Swinton Estate, Backstone Beck followed by questions
2.30pm – Console / DEFRA Test and Trials
2.45pm – break
3pm – Workshops – Climate and Net Zero, Energy, Green Finance and Nature Recovery
4pm – Feedback, conclusions and looking to the future
4.15pm – end
Guest Speakers
Helen Batt – Yorkshire Area Flood Risk Manager, Environment Agency
Helen is a Yorkshire Area Flood Risk Manager for the Environment Agency (EA). She currently leads on the South Yorkshire catchment approach to flood risk management and the Adaptation Pathways pilot for Yorkshire. In her previous role at the EA, she led the Area team responsible for the delivery of the capital flood defence programme for Calderdale, including Mytholmroyd Flood Alleviation Scheme and the production of the Calderdale Flood Action Plan. Helen joined the Agency just prior to the Boxing Day floods 2015 from a background of environmental social enterprise and voluntary organisations. She was a founder and the Chief Executive of the River Stewardship Company, worked as a Fund Manager for Groundwork Sheffield, and started her environmental career as a project officer for a small environmental charity in Sheffield.
Dr Gareth Old – Principal Hydrologist at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
Gareth is a principal hydrologist at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. He currently leads the UK Floods and Droughts Research Infrastructure initiative for National Environment Research Council. His research has focused on catchment hydrology, observing hydrological processes under extreme events to enable their representation in models and an assessment of their ecological impacts. He has worked on projects for DEFRA and Natural England that have involved the collection and assessment of evidence for the effectiveness of agri-environment mitigation schemes and the specification of appropriate monitoring programmes. His current research focuses on the effectiveness of nature based solutions in mitigating hydrological extremes.
Lightning Talks
Dr Emma Bramham
Dr Bramham is a Researcher and Lecturer in Applied Geophysics and Structural Geology at University of Leeds. Emma brought together the multi-speciality, cross-faculty Geothermal Leeds Research Group and is involved in geothermal research across a range of geothermal settings. Emma has many years of experience using geophysical and geological data to explore the subsurface, with a particular interest in active volcanic areas such as Iceland and Ethiopia. She also leads the Planetary Exploration Group at Leeds and is involved in pioneering research focusing on ancient volcanic systems in Mars. Her research helps us to understand the linkages and differences between Martian volcanic systems and volcanic systems on earth and other planets. Emma is a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and has previously worked in industry as an offshore geophysicist.
Dr Stephen Carver
Dr Carver has over 30 years experience of using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for landscape evaluation with topical research interests in environmental management and modelling applications, rewilding, wild land mapping and public participation. He is now a Senior Lecturer in Geography at the University of Leeds, the Director of the Wildland Research Institute and is Co-Chair of the World Wilderness Congress’ Science and Stewardship Symposium. Notably he is the Co-Author of the best selling text book “An Introduction to Geographical Information Systems” and sits on the editorial board of the International Journal of Wilderness.
Prof Iain Clacher
Professor Clacher is the Pro Dean for International at Leeds University Business School and Head of the University’s new Centre for Financial Technology and Innovation. Iain is an internationally recognised expert in pensions and retirement savings. His work has been published widely in international journals, notably his expertise on sustainable pension systems, retirement decision making and trustee governance. Iain’s research has been used to advise a range of businesses and policy makers – he is often cited on issues of pensions, finance, and economics. More recently, Iain is a leader at the UK Centre for Greening Finance and Investment leading on the development of climate and environmental risk analytics.
Amelia Duncan
Millie is a Researcher for the Place-based Climate Action Network (PCAN) based at the University of Leeds. Her research is focused on the transition to net zero through the establishment of Climate Commissions, which bring together public, private and third sector organisations to stimulate collaborative climate action on the ground. She has recently been involved with publishing a Climate Action Plan for the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission and Net Zero Roadmaps for cities, including Leeds, Belfast and Edinburgh.
To find out more information about the event or any of our work, email: icasp@leeds.ac.uk