The Walker Insitute is now The Pearl. A newly formed interdisciplinary research group within the University of Reading’s Department of Meteorology, building on the foundations and work of The Walker Institute.

UNIVERSITY OF READING

The Pearl

An interdisciplinary research group appointed by the WMO World Climate Research Programme to pioneer ‘My Climate Risk’ adaptation and risk research

Reducing climate and conflict-related risks through evidence-led adaptation

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Our purpose

The Pearl (People and Place: Evidence-based Adaptation for Resilient Livelihoods), based in the University of Reading’s Department of Meteorology and led by Professor Rosalind Cornforth, is part of the WCRP My Climate Risk network of Global Regional Hubs.

We carry out global interdisciplinary research, innovation and capacity building to advance knowledge and deliver a better understanding of future climate, its impacts, and consequences on people’s lives.

Our vision is a world in which all people, organisations, meteorological agencies, and governments are better able to cope with the changing and often unpredictable demands of the climate and environment, turning challenges into opportunities.

Our focus is on Africa, Asia, and the Americas, but our knowledge, skills and approach are globally applicable.

World Climate Research Programme ‘My Climate Risk‘ regional hub

As one of the founding MCR Global Regional Hubs appointed under the recently established World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) ‘My Climate Risk’ Lighthouse Activity, we work together to advance locally relevant climate information and solutions. The Pearl’s interdisciplinary research focus – supporting the development of climate resilient societies – aligns closely with the WCRP’s ‘My Climate Risk’ Lighthouse Activity goals:

Fundamental understanding of the climate system
Prediction of the near-term evolution of the climate system
Long-term response of the climate system
Bridging climate science and society

Together with The Pearl and the other Regional Hubs across the world, the initiative aims to develop and mainstream a ‘bottom-up’ approach to regional climate risk, starting with the requirements of decision-makers.

Walker Institute - University of Reading

Climate Futures - Norwegian Research Centre (NORCE)

Himalayan University Consortium (ICIMOD)

Ateneo de Manila University

Australian Bureau of Meteorology

University of Cape Town

National Scientific and Technical Research Council

University of Manitoba

Recent Projects

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A Global Network of Collaborators

The Pearl team is a talented group of experienced research scientists. But we know that there are specialists who have dedicated their life’s work to developing a deep understanding of a specific topic or region. We also know that, for the people whose livelihoods we are trying to help protect, this is their life’s work and nobody understands it, and the local conditions that affect it, better than they do.

That’s why The Pearl has formed a global community of research partners that includes not only specialist scientific and developmental organisations, but also the very people whose livelihoods we are all working to help strengthen.

African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)

European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF)

National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS)

Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture

Uganda Disaster Risk Information Centre NAtional Emergency Coordination and Operations Centre (NECOC)

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Work with us

Theo

“The work of the Walker Institute is really crucial and truly motivating. The fact that they have chosen not to stay in an ivory tower, but actually say, “What is it that people are asking for? What is it that people need”, and then taking the steps to make sure that their knowledge and their work meets those demands, is an enormous step forward.”

Theo Sowa

CEO, African Women’s Development Fund

Charlotte

“I found the project to be very comprehensive, involving all relevant stakeholders, and bringing them together under one roof, which helped in understanding the mandates of the various institutions, academia, agencies and organisations regarding ground water. It has given me a proper understanding of groundwater and the risks associated with it if proper policies and laws are not put in place and adhered to. The country as a whole stands to gain a lot from the BRAVE project.”

Charlotte Norman

Director: Climate Change Adaptation & Disaster Risk Reduction, Ghana (2020)

Gatkuoth

“The expert advice from the Walker’s team was instrumental in shaping the discussion which culminated into the development of the inaugural Africa Report on Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2018. Working with the Walker’s team has been an enriching experience for me and my team. I am impressed by their level of professionalism and commitment to disaster risk management efforts in Africa.”

Gatkuoth Kai Bol

Department for Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union Commission, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Hannah & Hannah

“For the Lorna Young Foundation, partnering with the Walker Institute on the BRAVE and NIMFRU projects has provided and invaluable opportunity to adapt out RFRMER’s Voice Radio methodology to benefit climate vulnerable communities…. Thanks to the impact that we have achieved through these collaborations, the Lorna Young Foundation has been able to leverage further funding from donors such as UK Aid Direct to take Farmers’ Voice Radio to the next level and launch it as an ‘open source concept’, potentially benefiting millions of smallholder farmers around the world.

…working with the Walker Institute has been a great pleasure. The team are extremely approachable, professional and highly responsive and adaptable….whilst also maintaining academic rigour to their research projects. “

Hannah Clark and Hannah Davis

Famer Radio Development Managers, Lorna Young Foundation, UK

Latest Updates

Indigenous communities at COP30; Actual Representation or Just Song and Dance?

Written by Jaylen Vicol, a Doctoral Researcher, SCENARIO DTP, COPCAS participant, University of Reading.

Is a ‘COP of Implementation’ a cop out?

COPCAS Researcher Blog: Written by Eme Dean-Lewis, a Doctoral Researcher in the University of Reading.

CHAIRR (Climate Health in Africa Integrated Risk Research) project – introduction to the research podcast

You can listen to a short 14-min podcast that provides an easy introduction to more detail on the CHAIRR (Climate Health in Africa Integrated Risk Research) project. This is an impressive AI podcast that was created by Richard using Notebook LM.

Co-Creating Climate-Resilient Health Futures: CHAIRR Workshop in Malawi

This week, the Walker Institute and Sightsavers are convening a landmark workshop in Salima, Malawi, bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time: the intersection of climate change and public health.

Voices from the Community: Understanding Climate Risk at the 2025 University of Reading Community Fair

On a bright Saturday in May, the Walker Institute hosted a stand at the Community Fair 2025, inviting attendees to reflect on a pressing question: What is your climate risk? The responses we received were as diverse as the people who shared them, offering a...

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