MERRILL

Micromagnetic Earth Related Robust Interpretated Language Laboratory

MERRILL is an open source 3D micromagnetics software package with a simple scripting user interface that requires little computational knowledge from the user in order to model complex imhomogeous domain structures in magnetic materials. MERRILL uses the finite-element/boundary-element numerical method best suited for modelling irregular grain geometries that are of interest to the rock and paleommagnetic community. It is able to simulate a range of magnetic characteristics of both single grains and small assemblies of interacting grains. The open source nature of the code encourages future development of the model by the scientific community.

Funders: NERC-ESRC-AHRC

Earthquakes have resulted in over three-quarters of a million deaths already in this century, and economic losses of more than a quarter of a trillion US dollars since 1980 making them by far the most destructive of the natural hazards. In the absence of an accurate understanding of regions of particularly high earthquake risk, investment in protection against this poorly-constrained, highimpact, low-probability threat, remains a low priority across much of the developing world and death tolls resulting from earthquakes continue to grow. Until proven resilient construction becomes more universally available, high-impact earthquake research must focus on evidence-based, targeted, socially tuned, resilience building; identifying and working in those regions of space and time which will save the maximum number of lives per dollar invested.

This project conducts interdisciplinary, evidence based research in the challenging context of the urban development of Quibdó, Chocó in the Colombian Pacific region. It aims to make an innovative, conceptual and applied contribution to understanding local practices and intersectoral relations mediated by land use change. The project focuses on research guided suggestions for the improvement of urban governance and regulation of urban space in Quibdó. Furthermore, it will generate impacts academically, contribute to policy-making and regional planning on urban development, and enable creative collaboration with civil society organisations and different levels public administration. The project will stimulate dialogue between academics, policy-makers and social groups, and will address issues of socio-economic development and socio-physical inclusion.

Funder: NERC-Newton (NE/N012267/1)

Our overall aim is to build earthquake resilience in China by improving

• the assessment of seismic hazard and risk from earthquakes and consequent events and
• the communication and use of probabilistic information in the development of more proportionate and risk-based strategies for disaster risk reduction.