Hi mates, Budz here!
Let me take you through my one-week UK experience (and perspective):
Last week, we flew to London to attend the DMDU Conference . It was a jam-packed event full of crisp(y) insights. Personally, the one that caught my interest is the application of XLRM framework. I wasn't very familiar with the tool before, but it kept appearing in the sessions. From what I picked up, it is used in Robust Decision Making (RDM) to build consensus in terms of unXertainties, policy Levers or alternative actions, Relationships/models, and performance Metrics. With our future full of uncertainty, this framework somehow aligns goals, assumptions, and interpretations across modelers and decision makers. It's part of the iterative RDM process that mainly builds trust, encourages open communication, and enhances flexibility when working under deep uncertainty. My presentation on quantifying flood resilience, for example, is just one piece of the entire RDM cycle, the part that provides empirical evidence and potential metrics. Now, with curiosity with the field, I am hoping that I can apply it further in my research…but let's seeee. Afterall, DMDU and its community offer a great space for young researchers like me, and I find it to be a promising field that acknowledges interdisciplinarity and explicitly values the importance of VALUES in decision making.
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Now, let's talk about some of the “spillover effects” or SOE of attending a conference (SOE is Mori-san's topic, but in flood control investment haha just want to borrow the term LOL). Of course, we also took the chance to explore the city, meet people in and outside the conference, and enjoy English breakfasts and more:
- Strolling the City. London's landscape seamlessly mixes its rich history with a modern skyline. Walking through the city felt like stepping between centuries with every turn. They warned me that visiting the UK in November would be cold, but I still wasn't ready for this. It's still autumn, so I can't imagine what winter feels like. Transportation here is also efficient, but Japan for me is better in spoiling commuters with its clear signages (I got lost so many times in the underground trains LOL). We also had a day trip to Cambridge to visit one of the Civil Engineering labs and had a chance to share casually our research. Cambridge is genuinely magical, a place that instantly makes you feel more reflective, as if the air itself encourages deeper thinking, or maybe the environment is just naturally conducive for contemplating hahaha.
- Knowing other People. Another perk of attending an international conference is meeting people from all walks of life. DMDU is unique because it attracts a balanced mix of participants from academia, government, NGOs, and the private sector. But outside the conference, you can also feel how diverse the UK is, in general. London reminded me a bit of Tokyo with its number of tourists, but here you can't really tell who's local and who's not. In my short stay, at least those I encountered weren't afraid to make small talk, and many were quick to help if you look lost (even in the street).
- Enjoying Fish and Chips, and more. Of course, we tried the classic fish and chips and checked out a pub. The UK's diversity also shows in its food that you can find almost anything. In fact, near our accommodation, I even found Filipino dishes like sisig and kare-kare.
Overall, I truly enjoyed my week in The UK. More than participating in the conference and exploring a new city, I think this trip becomes memorable because of the stories and laughs that we shared, with my labmates and Kawasaki-sensei. About my experiences, honestly, I could go on, but I don't want to bore you LOL. Hope you enjoyed reading, 'til next time!
.heic)
