Eric Scott Mortensen is a PhD candidate in the department of Water and Climate Risk within the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam), beginning in March 2020. His research focuses on global-scale riverine and coastal flood risk adaptation. Of specific interest to him are potentials for international collaboration and optimization of adaptation strategies to mitigate deleterious water-related impacts of the ongoing climate crisis.

Eric earned a double Master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, a unique opportunity which gave him hands-on and in-depth access to a wide range of topics in the realm of water and climate risk. These include season-ahead drought prediction, index-based risk transfer products, statistical and hydrologic modelling, interdisciplinary resource management, risk planning and communication, and corporate social responsibility.

Eric’s professional experience spans both the public and private sector, having served in engineering roles at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as well as with consulting firms of varying sizes. Immediately prior to joining IVM, Eric worked as a water resources engineer and certified floodplain manager (CFM) for the North American division of the UK-based firm Atkins. There, he specialized in flood risk mapping and modelling to support contracted work with the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Expertise

Climate change adaptation; water resources management; risk mapping and modelling; seasonal climate prediction; statistical analysis; interdisciplinary planning.

2017: MSc Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin – Madison

2017: MSc Water Resources Management, University of Wisconsin – Madison

2016: Graduate Certificate in Business, Environment, and Social Responsibility, University of Wisconsin – Madison

2015: BSE Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa (with a minor degree in Spanish)

2014: Study Abroad Experience, La Universidad de Habana, Cuba

2012: Study Abroad Experience, Luleå Tekniska Universitet, Sweden

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