School of Social and Political Science

Description

Controversies in the Data Society 2026 series - Session 4

About this session

Predictably intensifying floods, fires and storms of recent years have focused attention of the vulnerability of our built environment and physical infrastructure to climate change impacts. We clearly need way to translate the complex scientific models of the climate into practical tools to inform policy and business responsible for this. 

In this session, we hear from leading University of Edinburgh scholars, from the School of Mathematics - Professor Chris Dent - and Edinburgh Business School - Professor Raffaella Calabrese - on the challenges of translating climate modelling into practical tools for climate change mitigation, one in the field of protecting the electricity infrastructure, and the other in mortgage markets.

About the speakers

Chris Dent is Professor of Industrial Mathematics in the School of Mathematics. He is broadly interested in the application of data science across energy system and planning, and has a particular interest in how approaches from data science can productively be taken to practical application in government and industry.

Raffaella Calabrese is Professor of Statistics and Data Science at the Edinburgh Business School. She is a leading international expert in credit risk modelling, digital and sustainable finance. Her research expertise includes climate stress testing, the use of AI for credit-risk modelling, and access to finance for small businesses.