CISL Seminar - The Value Chain of Earth Science to the Insurance Sector

Seminar
Feb. 18, 2026

10:00 – 11:00 am MST
This is a fully virtual seminar but will be screened in the Main Seminar Room at the Mesa Lab

Abstract

Insurance is a major conduit bringing earth science data, observations, modeling, and expertise into the broader financial sector. This talk will cover the basics of how insurance assesses extreme natural hazards such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfire, focusing on how public earth science research is a critical engine for economic growth and risk reduction. This includes real-time event response, medium-term risk mapping, portfolio management, and strategy, and long-term investments in scientific and technical talent.

Here is the public livestream link. Staff members can look for a Google Calendar invitation for the talk. 

Please reach out to Sam Scalice (sscalice@ucar.edu) with any questions you may have. 

Name
Kelly Hereid

Head of Catastrophe Research and Development, Organization Liberty Mutual
Biography

Kelly Hereid, Ph.D., CCRMP, is the Head of Catastrophe Research and Development at Liberty Mutual, and oversees Liberty’s catastrophe and climate risk management. Dr. Hereid serves on the Science Advisory Board for NOAA, and is a board member of the International Society of Catastrophe Managers. She has a Ph.D. in geological sciences from the University of Texas – Austin, focusing on climate science, and a B.A. in geology and biology from Carleton College in Minnesota.