Maria Pregnolato

NH Natural Hazards

The 2021 Division Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award is awarded to Maria Pregnolato for her outstanding research in the field of flood impacts, flood risk assessment, and infrastructure resilience.

Maria Pregnolato is a leading expert in the assessment of flood impact on urban infrastructures, with worldwide recognition. Her scientific work is primarily focused on the research of flood impacts, flood risk assessment, and transport network resilience. Her outstanding contributions to this field involve a comprehensive methodology for assessing flood impact on urban infrastructure (especially road transport) and a flood‐transport curve, which have been applied worldwide. Her recent research on bridge safety has received recognition from both practitioners and industry.

Pregnolato has been distinguished for her activity as a principal investigator (PI) and co-PI of major research projects, with substantial involvement in public outreach through science communication, and teaching as part of her academic role. She has a strong dedication to the research community with international connections, as a visiting assistant professor at the University of Washington, Seattle, USA, and she serves as an active ambassador for Women in Engineering (EPSRC Fellow of the Women in Engineering Society). She is the co‐author of the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment report.

The Natural Hazards Division’s Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award is awarded to Maria Pregnolato for both her exceptional work in the field of flood impacts assessment on infrastructure and her exceptional management of important research projects in this field.