RenaissanceRe (NYSE: RNR) created the RenaissanceRe Risk Sciences Foundation to support advanced scientific research in atmospheric risks, the development of risk mitigation techniques to safeguard communities, efforts that reduce the economic turmoil following disasters, and organizations that preserve coastal habitats. The Foundation promotes education, preparation, adaptation and mitigation of natural catastrophe risks through a number of activities, including the Hurricane Risk Mitigation Leadership Forum Series. For more information, visit www.mitigationleadership.com

WeatherPredict Consulting Inc. is a U.S. affiliate of RenaissanceRe. The firm focuses on modeling atmospheric hazards and vulnerability. WeatherPredict's team of advanced scientists draws upon expertise in oceanography, meteorology, wind engineering, aerodynamics and computer simulation. WeatherPredict's business includes providing intelligence on atmospheric perils to a range of entities with an interest in anticipating the occurrence and outcome of weather events. For more information, visit www.weatherpredict.com.

IBHS is an independent, nonprofit, scientific research organization wholly supported by the property insurance industry. IBHS works to reduce the social and economic effects of natural and man-made disasters, as well as other risks to residential and commercial property by conducting research and advocating improved construction, maintenance and preparation practices. Based in Tampa, FL, IBHS will open a new, state-of-the-art, world class building science research facility in October 2010, located in Chester County, SC. IBHS has more than 200 insurance and reinsurance company members and also partners with numerous organizations concerned about property protection, including the fire services, building trade groups, other scientific research entities, academic institutions, federal agencies, national laboratories and many others. For more information, visit www.DisasterSafety.org or call 1-866-657-IBHS (4247).

Since 1985, the Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP) has been a recognized world leader in climate and air quality policy and is the only independent, nonprofit think tank working exclusively on those issues at the local, U.S. national and international levels. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., CCAP helps policy-makers around the world develop, promote and implement innovative, market-based solutions to major climate, air quality and energy problems that balance both environmental and economic interests. For more information, visit http://ccap.org/

The Connecticut Sea Grant College Program is a unique partnership between the nation's universities and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The University of Connecticut is the State's Sea Grant College. Its mission is to work towards achieving healthy coastal and marine ecosystems and consequent public benefits by supporting integrated locally and nationally relevant research, outreach and education programs in partnership with stakeholders. For more information, visit http://www.seagrant.uconn.edu/.

The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future. For more information, visit www.ucsusa.org/.

The non-profit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, Inc. - FLASH® is a 501(c)3 collaboration of organizations dedicated to strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and manmade disaster. Based in Tallahassee, FLASH is the nation's fastest-growing disaster safety education organization with more than 100 partners including BASF, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Florida Division of Emergency Management, The Home Depot, International Code Council, National Weather Service, Renaissance Reinsurance, Simpson Strong-Tie, Risk Management Services, State Farm, USAA and WeatherPredict Consulting, Inc. In 2008, FLASH opened the interactive weather experience; StormStruck: A Tale of Two Homes® in INNOVENTIONS at Epcot® in the Walt Disney World Resort®. Visit www.flash.org or call (877) 221-SAFE (7233) to learn more about FLASH and access their free consumer resources today.

Since 1931, the National Housing Conference (NHC) and its members and partners have been dedicated to ensuring safe, decent and affordable housing for all in America. By combining the expertise of NHC's members with the research and analysis of the Center for Housing Policy, NHC engages in nonpartisan, evidence-based advocacy for national policies and legislation that promote housing affordability. For more information, visit www.nhc.org.

The Center for Housing Policy, NHC's research affiliate, specializes in developing solutions through research. In partnership with NHC and its members, the Center works to broaden understanding of the nation's housing challenges and to examine the impact of policies and programs developed to address these needs. Combining research and practical, real-world expertise, the Center helps to develop effective policy solutions at the national, state and local levels that increase the availability of affordable homes. For more information, visit www.nhc.org.

The Center for the Study of Natural Hazards and Disasters (Hazards Center), headquartered at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC CH), is structured to conduct innovative research on natural hazards and disasters and translate the knowledge developed to practice. Researchers located at UNC CH and at the Center's partner institutions around the country study the natural phenomena of hazards – such as hurricanes, coastal erosion, drought, climate change, and earthquakes – as well as the impacts these events have on human settlements. The information can then be used to inform policy and craft strategies designed to reduce vulnerability and enhance resilience.

The Hazards Center focuses on advancing understanding of hazard resilience and transferring that knowledge into action, resulting in reduced loss of life or injury and lessened damages to the built and natural environment. The mission is achieved through the following objectives:

• To expand understanding of hazard science through rigorous interdisciplinary research focused on hazard resilience.
• To develop a translational model that moves knowledge into practice using IT products and education reflecting the diversity and needs of targeted audiences.
• To become a self-sustaining organization, utilizing leveraging opportunities fostered through Center partnership.

For more information, visit http://coastalhazardscenter.org/

The Department of Homeland Security Coastal Hazards Center of Excellence is a grant-funded resource available to assist the response and recovery from Hurricane Sandy. Established in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Center specializes in the most pressing challenges the government and communities face in recovering from and building resilience to natural disasters.

The Coastal Hazards Center of Excellence (CHC) performs research and develops education programs to enhance the nation's ability to safeguard populations, properties, and economies from coastal hazards. DHS established the Center in 2008 in response to Hurricane Katrina and it is the only DHS Center of Excellence solely dedicated to the study of natural disasters.

Co-led by The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi, CHC's research and education programs advance the understanding of natural hazards and community resilience and transfer that knowledge into action, resulting in reduced loss of life or injury and lessened damages to the built and natural environment.

For more information, visit http://coastalhazardscenter.org/

Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations, delivering electricity to 2.8 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy is a leader in studying climate change and its implications for environmental degradation and the associated economic, social and cultural losses associated with climate change. Entergy is also a leader in developing solutions to promote enhanced environmental resiliency in the Gulf Coast. In four of the past five years in 2011, Corporate Responsibility magazine named Entergy one of the "100 Best Corporate Citizens" in the nation based on rankings in seven areas: climate change, environment, philanthropy, employee relations, financial, governance and human rights. For more information, visit http://www.entergy.com/.

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is focused on protecting all of America's great waters from coastal Louisiana and the Great Lakes to biologically-rich wetlands across the country. All of these are vital to securing clean water for people, fish and wildlife as water supplies deteriorate in a warming world. In all, NWF's work from coast to coast, community by community, helps protect, connect and restore habitat to ensure a healthy wildlife legacy for future generations. The organization encourages Congress to pass legislation that includes adequate funding for natural resources and directs federal agencies to include climate science in their wildlife conservation management plans. For more information, visit http://www.nwf.org/.

The America's WETLAND Foundation (AWF) is a leading champion of policies that seek to conserve and protect coastal Louisiana, as well as other sensitive wetlands across the U.S. Currently, AWF is leading "America's WETLAND: Campaign to Save Coastal Louisiana", the largest public awareness initiative in its history. Through this campaign, AWF is promoting the adoption of solutions to restoring the coast that science agrees must move forward immediately. AWF advocates a comprehensive process, knowing that success must include both integrated ecosystem restoration and hurricane protection - often called "multiple lines of defense". For more information, visit http://www.americaswetland.com/.

The University of New Orleans (UNO) is a comprehensive university with a mission to educate undergraduate and graduate students in a variety of arts, sciences and professional programs and to conduct research in these fields. Specifically, the Pontchartrain Institute for Environmental Sciences (PIES) Coastal Education Program (CEP) provides teachers and students with unique opportunities to explore and learn about the coastal wetlands of southeastern Louisiana. For more information, visit http://www.uno.edu/.

The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) is a national, nonprofit, technical society of engineers, geoscientists, architects, planners, public officials, and social scientists. EERI is a leader in earthquake investigations and in the dissemination of earthquake risk reduction information both in the US and globally in cooperation with its international partners.

The objective of the EERI is to reduce earthquake risk by (1) advancing the science and practice of earthquake engineering, (2) improving understanding of the impact of earthquakes on the physical, social, economic, political, and cultural environment, and (3) advocating comprehensive and realistic measures for reducing the harmful effects of earthquakes. For more information, visit www.eeri.org.

The Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEER) is a multi-institutional research and education center with headquarters at the University of California, Berkeley. Investigators from over 20 universities, several consulting companies, plus researchers at various State and Federal government agencies contribute to research programs focused on performance-based earthquake engineering in disciplines including structural and geotechnical engineering, geology/seismology, lifelines, transportation, risk management, and public policy.

The PEER mission is to develop, validate, and disseminate performance-based seismic design technologies for buildings and infrastructure to meet the diverse economic and safety needs of owners and society. PEER's research defines appropriate performance targets, and develops engineering tools and criteria that can be used by practicing professionals to achieve those targets, such as safety, cost, and post-earthquake functionality. For more information, visit peer.berkeley.edu.

The National Weather Service is a component of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which is an Operating Unit of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The stated mission of the National Weather Service is to provide "… weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy. NWS data and products form a national information database and infrastructure which can be used by other governmental agencies, the private sector, the public, and the global community." For more information, visit http://www.nws.noaa.gov/.

The Hurricane Research Team at the Wind Science and Engineering Research Center at Texas Tech University dates back to 1998 when they received funding to develop a mobile ruggedized meteorological observing station that could be deployed in the path of a landfalling tropical cyclone. The center is made up of faculty and students from the Atmospheric Science Group and the Wind Science and Engineering Research Center.

For more than 75 years, the nonprofit National Housing Conference (NHC) has been the United Voice for Housing. A membership drawn from every industry segment forms the foundation for NHC's broad, nonpartisan advocacy for national policies and legislation that promote suitable housing in a safe, decent environment. For more information, visit www.nhc.org.

The University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO) members meet research challenges that confront the nation and the world. GSO faculty and facilities address such issues as climate change, hurricanes, pollution, fisheries depletion, and the need for new technology for undersea research and exploration. For more information, visit www.gso.uri.edu.