Building resilience to coastal flooding resulting from climatic changes: the application to decommissioning NDA assets.

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) are in the process of major long-term decommissioning and remediation. These projects are of national priority and international significance yet pose significant and uncertain challenges. The reduction of risk and hazard during decommissioning is crucial for NDA to complete their mission and deliver safe, secure, sustainable, and publicly acceptable solutions to the challenge of nuclear clean-up and waste management. However, many NDA assets are situated in or near our coastal zones, areas that may be susceptible to increases in frequency and magnitude of flood events via climate change. Hence, building flood resilience at NDA locations is key to mitigating risk and reducing flood impacts, as flooding is the UKs most frequent and impactful natural hazard, posing the greatest risk from a changing climate.

This research will aim to develop the tool (and the necessary scientific understanding) to model and subsequentially map levels of resilience to coastal flooding pertaining to the decommissioning processes for NDA assets, at a detailed, micro-scale level. The proposed “NDA Coastal Flood Resilience Modelling Tool” will enable capture of the most relevant features of coastal flood resilience (both pre- and post-impact), at coastal NDA asset locations, assisting our understanding of the reality of resilience at the level of detail necessary to truly deliver effective, safe decommissioning practices. This study will provide an outstanding opportunity to not only assist our understanding of resilience but also help NDA develop a body of independent evidence-based research to underpin decommissioning for different time scales (short-, medium-, long-term) to this risk. The PhD project will be split into four main milestones:

·       Milestone 1 – Characterisation of the NDACFR factors

·       Milestone 2 – Evaluation of resilience factors and creation of NDACFR model

·       Milestone 3 – Integration of NDACFR Index (NDACFRI) and model assessment

·       Milestone 4 – Review and dissemination of key outcomes

Impact: The NDACFR Model will assist our identification of potential weaknesses at coastal nuclear sites. Leading to effective targeting of interventions to improve resilience and reduce vulnerability in the long term. Including the safeguarding, control, management, and removal of hazardous materials during decommissioning. Assisting NDA to enhance their foundations in the underpinning science required for other decommissioning challenges (e.g., other hazards, sustainability, stakeholder engagement) they will likely experience overtime. Furthermore, this tool can be utilised to help drive resilient innovations in NDA operations, including supply chains with core customers and sector partners. Moving towards a One NDA way of working.

Training: will be delivered by LJMU and by NNL. Our training includes student enrolment in the LJMU Doctoral Academy Researcher Development Programme. Further to that a 3-month placement with NNL where the student will gain valuable understanding of applying science to resolve “real-world” problems, whilst helping the student put expertise into practice, grow networks and gain workplace experience within the nuclear sector. Furthermore, the student will be signposted to LJMU Student Futures employability activities and resources, including Student Futures PGR workshop programme and CareerZone 24/7. 

To move towards this goal a PhD candidate will join our flourishing School of Biological & Environmental Sciences, at Liverpool John Moores University and work under the supervisory team of Dr Sarah Percival, Dr Monica McCard, Dr Kostas Kiriakoulakis and Dr Josh Griffiths (NNL). Gaining access to NNL, NDA stakeholders, Sellafield Ltd and the LJMU Flood Resilience Hub state-of-the-art computer equipment. The methods and outcomes of this project will particularly help develop the applicants’ skills in factor analysis, indexing, networking, interviewing, quali-quantitative methods, and model development.

In addition to holding a master’s or strong first degree in Geography, Environmental Science, or an equivalent geoscience field, the ideal applicant will be able to demonstrate significant interest in and prior experience of disaster risk science particularly flooding and quali-quantitative analysis. A good working knowledge of risk and resilience, strong organisational skills, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively with a team would also be advantageous. Full training in advanced statistical analysis and appropriate research methodologies will be provided by the supervisory team, NNL placement and through our Doctoral Academy.

The Faculty of Science and its three Schools: Biological & Environmental Sciences, Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, and Sports & Exercise Science, have dedicated Diversity and Inclusion (DI) Groups. The individual School Diversity & Inclusion Coordinators and the Faculty Associate Dean for Diversity & Inclusion lead collective action to promote and embed a culture of equality, diversity and inclusivity. All Schools are awarded the Athena SWAN Bronze in recognition of their respective equality initiatives and action plans. Also, Schools have proactive diversity and inclusion groups that are aimed to support staff and students by addressing the inclusivity requirements that are unique to each School, in alignment with the LJMU Diversity & Inclusion policies. Applicants are invited to visit the Faculty of Science https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/about-us/faculties/faculty-of-science and follow the link to each School.