Partnership to help predict and prepare for extreme weather impacts

The Scotland Living Lab, launched on Wednesday 11th November by Newcastle University and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), will bring scientists together with the organisations responsible for forecasting, managing and responding to extreme weather.

As Scotland’s strategic flood risk management authority, SEPA already use scientific evidence, forecasting and modelling to help communities prepare for flooding. The partnership will bring that practical experience into research exploring how Scotland can better anticipate and prepare for increasingly extreme weather.

Turning science into action

The Living Lab forms part of EXTREME-FUTURES, a ten-year research programme led by Professor Hayley Fowler of Newcastle University, which will explore how advances in climate science, modelling and artificial intelligence could transform predictions of extreme weather.

The Living Lab will involve those who use forecasting information from the outset, helping scientists focus on the challenges where better predictions could make the greatest difference.

Professor Hayley Fowler FRS, Professor of Climate Change Impacts at Newcastle University and leader of EXTREME-FUTURES, said:

“Rapid advances in climate science and AI make this research possible now, where it would not have been possible even a few years ago. Improving the prediction of extreme weather on real time to climate change timescales, and particularly focussing on seasonal to multi-annual timescales, will provide useful information for preparation and planning by decision makers across sectors. There is a huge opportunity to make a difference in this space and to save lives. We think it is vitally important to co-develop science with those who will use it, which is why we have set up the Living Lab in Scotland. This will be an ongoing collaboration between the project team and industry, policy and other decision-makers in Scotland.”

Eleanore Cooper, SEPA's Head of Environment Forecasting, Warning & Informing, said:

"Scotland has experienced some extraordinary weather in recent years, and we've seen the consequences of both too much water and too little.

"We already use sophisticated monitoring, scientific evidence and forecasting to help people prepare for flooding and manage water scarcity. But as our climate changes, there's an opportunity to go much further.

"This isn't just about producing better forecasts. It's about what we can do with that information, how we help communities prepare, protect essential services and make Scotland more resilient to the extremes we know we'll face.

"What makes the Living Lab so important is that we won't simply be waiting for new scientific discoveries and deciding how to use them. We'll help shape the research itself, making sure it addresses real challenges and delivers practical benefits."

An opportunity to make a difference

Monica Youngman, Chief Scientist at the US National Weather Service, said:

"Extreme weather transcends international boundaries, requiring the global scientific community to collaborate on advances in both meteorology and social science that improve how communities prepare, respond, and adapt. The U.S. National Weather Service congratulates our partners on the launch of the Scotland Living Lab, which will deliver actionable insights to strengthen global community resilience in the face of extreme events."

The Scotland Living Lab will provide an ongoing opportunity for scientists and practitioners to work together, develop and test new approaches, and help translate international research into practical improvements in forecasting, early warnings and resilience.

That focus on preparing for future risks also connects with Scotland's wider flood risk management work.

On 22nd December, SEPA's Draft Flood Risk Management Plans and local authority draft Local Flood Risk Management Plans will be published together for public consultation. Drawing on scientific evidence, local knowledge and partnership working, the plans will set out proposed objectives and actions to manage flood risk in communities across the country.

The consultation will give people an opportunity to help shape how flood risk is managed in their communities, supporting Scotland's longer-term resilience to a changing climate.

Adapted with thanks from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.