Background

Denis Chang Seng completed his doctoral degree from the department of Geography, Mathematics and Natural Science Faculty at the University of Bonn, Germany, in July 2010 as part of the German-Indonesian Tsunami Early Warning System project as a PhD researcher at UNU-EHS . He specialized in the areas of climate science, climate change adapta tion, institutions, institutional vulnerability and governance of disaster risk preparedness and Early Warning Systems. He is a research fellow of the Earth System Governance Programme.

Previous to UNU-EHS, Dr Chang Seng was involved as a national expert and leading consultant in the Seychelles with UNDP working in the areas of climate variability; climate change scenario assessments; climate change adaptation in the water sector; Early Warning System and disaster management. Denis was senior meteorologist / climatologist prior to assuming the position of acting Director at the National Meteorological Services, Policy, Planning and Services of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in the Seychelles.

Working Area at UNU-EHS

Denis Chang Seng is currently a Research Associate in the Vulnerability Assessment, Risk Management & Adaptive Planning Section . Recently he has been working in the following areas:

• Project Activity 1: Literature analysis for international expert workshop, peer reviewed papers focusing on differential vulnerability, risk perceptions and decision making, dynamics of adaption, extreme impacts and disasters, vulnerability and tipping points, multiple-interacting systems and multiple-stresses.

• Project Activity 2 (UNU-EHS and Global Environmental Migration Foresight, UK Government Office fro Science): Input towards foresight project state of science: Environmental shocks: demographic change, dynamic exposure to hazards and the role of Early Warning Systems in migration flows and human displacement.

• Project Activity 3 (UNU-EHS and German Committee for Disaster Risk Reduction (DKKV)): Analysis of methods and tools of Disaster Risk Reduction and their further enhancement regarding Climate Change Adaptation.

• Project Activity 4 (DKKV and UN/ISDR): Chapter input-E merging challenges for Early Warning Systems in context of Climate Change and urbanization.

Publications

Chang Seng, S.D. (2011): Conceptual Framework for Early Warning System Governance: Towards Effective and Sustainable Resilience. IDRIM Journal (Forthcoming).

Birkmann, J.; Chang Seng, S.D.; Surez (2011): Adaptive Disaster Risk Reduction in the Light of Climate Change, Ed DKKV, Germany www.dkkv.org/de/publications/ressource.asp?ID=302

Prepared Chapter 7- (DKKV 2010): Emerging Challenges for Early Warning Systems in Context of Climate Change and Urbanization http://www.unisdr.org/publications/v.php?id=15689

Chang Seng, S.D. (2010): Disaster Risk Preparedness:   The Role of Risk Governance, Multi-Institutional Arrangements and Polycentric Frameworks for a Resilient Tsunami Early Warning System in Indonesia. PhD Dissertation, Mathematisch Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der  Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn.   http://hss.ulb.uni-bonn.de/2010/2227/2227.pdf

Chang Seng, S.D.; Jury, M. (2010): Tropical Cyclones in the SW Indian Ocean, Part 1: Inter-annual Variability and Statistical Prediction, Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics Journal; Springer Wien, Volume 106, Numbers 3-4 / March, 2010 , P149-162 , http://www.springerlink.com/openurl.asp?genre=article&id=doi:10.1007/s00703-009-0055-2

Chang Seng, S.D.; Jury, M. (2010): Tropical Cyclones in the SW Indian Ocean, Part 2: structure and impacts at the event scale; Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics Journal; Springer Wien, Volume 106, Numbers 3-4 / March, 2010, P163-178 , http://www.springerlink.com/openurl.asp?genre=article&id=doi:10.1007/s00703-010-0059-y

Chang Seng, S.D. et al. (2010): Seasonal Response of Lettuce to Weather Stresses and Implications of Climate Change on Crops in the Seychelles, UNDP, Seychelles.

Chang Seng, S.D. (2009): Climate Change Adaptation in the Water Sector in the Seychelles, Seychelles Second National Communication (SNC) Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), UNDP, Seychelles.

Chang Seng, S.D. (2009): Climate Change Adaptation in the Water Sector in the Seychelles. Education and Awareness in the Climate Water Sector, Seychelles Second National Communication (SNC) Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), UNDP, Seychelles.

Chang Seng, S.D. (2009): Climate Change Adaptation in the Water Sector in the Seychelles. A Case Study on Rain Water Harvesting Potential in Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles as an Adaptation Strategy to Climate Change. Seychelles Second National Communication (SNC) Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), UNDP, Seychelles.

Chang Seng, S.D. (2009): Climate Change Adaptation in the Water Sector in the Seychelles, Hydro-Climate Statistical Prediction of Seychelles Dry Season, Seychelles Second National Communication (SNC) Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), UNDP, Seychelles.

Chang Seng, S.D. (2009): Climate Change Adaptation in the Water Sector in the Seychelles. A Modeling Assessment of Climate, Socio-Economic and Technological Change Impact on the Water Resource . Seychelles Second National Communication (SNC) Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), UNDP, Seychelles.

Chang Seng, S.D.; Guillande, R.   (2008): Disaster Risk Profile of Seychelles, UNDP, Seychelles. www.preventionweb.net/files/18276_18276disasterriskprofileofseychelle.pdf

Chang Seng, S.D. (2007): Seychelles Climate Change Scenarios for Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment, Second National Communication (SNC), Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), UNDP, Seychelles. http://www.preventionweb.net/english/professional/publications/v.php?id=18928

Chang Seng, S.D. (2007): Climate Variability and Climate Change Assessment for the Seychelles. Second National Communication (SNC) Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), UNDP, Seychelles. http://www.preventionweb.net/english/professional/publications/v.php?id=18929

Merifield, M.A.; Chang Seng, S.D. et al. (2005): Tide Gauge observations of the Indian Ocean Tsunami, December 26”, American Geophysical Union.

Chang Seng, S.D. (2005): Marine Weather Systems, Tropical Cyclone Prediction and Impacts in the Southwest Indian Ocean, MSc. Thesis, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Zululand.