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Ms Merryn Thomas

Overview

person name Research Group: Social Psychology Supervisor(s): Nick Pidgeon
Lorraine Whitmarsh
Rhoda Ballinger (Earth)
Location: 51a Park Place
Email: ThomasMJ6@cardiff.ac.uk
 Telephone: +44(0)29 208 70837

Research Summary

I'm interested how people understand risks. As people become increasingly exposed to the risks associated with climate change, understanding their beliefs and responses will become ever more important in order to inform communications and adaptation strategies. This is particularly salient for those living in low-lying coastal zones, which are vulnerable to sea-level rise and changes in extreme events. My PhD uses a mixed-methods approach to explore public perceptions of these risks on the Severn Estuary.

Teaching Summary

Demonstrating and field trip assistance in Cardiff Earth Sciences Department.

Research

Research Topics and Related Papers

My PhD topic is entitled ‘Public responses to the risks of sea-level rise and extreme events on the Severn Estuary’. I am using a mental models approach to compare how experts and members of the public understand and respond to the risks of sea-level rise and extreme events in the Severn Estuary. This will enable the identification of misunderstandings and knowledge gaps, and facilitate the development of guidelines for public engagement and risk communication in the Estuary.

My MSc thesis developed methods to estimate flood risk and determine their value in decision making. I used the LISFLOOD-FP modelling environment to predict flood inundation on the Isles of Scilly caused by recurrence interval events, sea-level rise, tsunamis and storms.

Funding

My PhD is funded through one of Cardiff University’s 2010 President’s Research Scholarships.

Research Group

My PhD supervisors are Nick Pidgeon (Psychology), Rhoda Ballinger (Earth Sciences) and L orraine Whitmarsh (Psychology). I am based in the Understanding Risk Group.

Biography

Undergraduate Education

University of Oxford, BA (Honours) Geography – 2:1

Postgraduate Education

MSc Science of Natural Hazards (Bristol University). Thesis entitled ‘Flood inundation modelling for the Isles of Scilly’, supervised by Prof Paul Bates (Department of Geography, Bristol University).

Awards/External Committees

I am an affiliate of the Sustainable Places Research Institute (Cardiff) and the Tyndall Centre (UEA).