James N. Stanard ’70, whose generosity and advice have furthered cutting-edge research in disaster prediction and resilience planning, is fueling the work of Lehigh’s new Center for Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience with a recent gift.
The need for advanced catastrophe modeling has never been more critical as the world grapples with the devastating effects of hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. In the wake of major storms like Hurricanes Helene and Milton, it’s clear that new, innovative approaches to disaster modeling are necessary to help governments, industries, and communities better prepare for what’s to come.
Stanard’s generous gift to Lehigh’s Center for Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience is a testament to his commitment to helping the world address the escalating challenges of climate change. His support provides resources needed for groundbreaking research to improve our ability to forecast the impact of hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters.
"Not only can we better understand our risks from natural disasters in a changing climate, but with the help of our partners from the private and public sector, our scientific contributions can also have immediate impact."
“Jim’s gift accelerated many of the center's activities,” says Paolo Bocchini, professor of civil and environmental engineering and director of the Center for Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience, "especially those aimed at strengthening our ties with industry. Not only can we better understand our risks from natural disasters in a changing climate, but with the help of our partners from the private and public sector, our scientific contributions can also have immediate impact."
The work of the center is especially relevant given the growing crisis in the insurance industry. Regions vulnerable to major storms, such as the southeastern U.S. after Hurricane Helene, are seeing insurers pull out of markets or raise premiums to unsustainable levels. Stanard’s background in reinsurance gives him unique insight into this growing crisis, which was one of the driving factors behind his decision to support Lehigh’s efforts to improve catastrophe modeling.
Stanard received a B.A. in mathematics and became a successful leader in the insurance industry. He understands better than most the importance of accurately predicting the risks posed by natural disasters. As a co-founder of RenaissanceRe, a company specializing in catastrophe reinsurance, he has dedicated much of his career to managing risk in the face of climate disasters. His experience and legendary expertise have shown him how crucial catastrophe modeling is in preparing for and mitigating the effects of these events. He is also a founder of Pelican Ventures, a property and casualty insurance investment firm.
In addition to Stanard’s generous gift, the center has received significant external funding, including a recent $1 million two-year regional climate resilience grant from the Department of Energy. This grant, awarded to Ethan Yang, professor of civil and environmental engineering, supports research into how communities can enhance their resilience to climate disasters. Yang’s project, which integrates catastrophe modeling with practical resilience strategies, focuses on designing infrastructure that can better withstand extreme weather events — an increasingly urgent need in the face of more frequent hurricanes, like Helene, and other disasters.
The center also benefits from National Science Foundation funding, further underscoring the national importance of its work. These funds support the development of new technologies and models that aim to improve disaster preparedness, reduce economic losses, and protect vulnerable populations.
