March 2008 19www.the-actuary.org.ukPlanet Earth, we have a problem8220If we go beyond the point where human intervention can no longer stabilise the system, then we precipitate unstoppable runaway climate change. That would set in motion a major extinction event comparable to the five other extinction crises that the earth has previously experienced.8221It was with these words that leading scientist David Wasdell explained to a shocked audience at a recent talk the considerable risk that gradual global warming may be acting as a catalyst and multiplier of positive feedbacks in the system governing climate, which could lead to runaway climate change. In the view of Wasdell and other distinguished scientists, supported by the All Party Climate Change Group, only a very few years8217 window of opportunity exists for mankind to avoid a disastrous tipping point 8212 if indeed it is not already too late.There is of course no certainty as to how climate change will evolve, but your news editor was substantially persuaded that the risk of runaway climate change is sufficiently real and frightening to deserve much greater political attention than it is yet getting. Surely the actuarial profession can have a contribution to make here?Much of David Wasdell8217s material can be found at www.meridian.org.uk. Another useful climate-change resource in this context is The London Accord www.london-accord.co.uk NewsEducationWhen it comes to accredited actuarial distancelearning, there8217sactually onlyThe new alternative inactuarial educationAs the only university provider of aprofessionally accredited ActuarialScience course by distance learning, theUniversity of Leicester8217s Department ofMathematics is a leading centre formathematical research; what you wouldexpect from a leading university rankedin the top 20 by the Times GoodUniversity Guide 2007. This 2-year PGDip covers the profession8217sCT1-8 examinations syllabus includingFinancial Engineering, Risk, Contingenciesand Financial Reporting. Its successfulcompletion, with sufficiently high marks,offers exemption from the CT1-8examinations. Having completed the firststage of becoming a full Fellow of theFaculty and the Institute of Actuaries,you will also have the opportunity tostudy for a Master8217s Degree. As distance learning is core to our courseprovision, rest assured, you8217ll be fullysupported through every stage of yourstudies. To find out just how far thiscourse could take you: Visit: www.le.ac.uk/goto/actuaryTel: 0116 252 3473 Email: actuary@le.ac.uk answer.1What becomes of the broken-hearted?New research completed in February confirms what the more romantic of us may already suspect 8212 that you really can die of a broken heart. The good news, however, is that it seems you can recover from one too.In work sponsored by the Actuarial Profession, Dr Jaap Spreeuw of Cass Business School has confirmed that people really do die from 8216broken heart syndrome8217 but that this is most likely to happen in the first year of bereavement. After that time the risk diminishes.For the research, entitled Modelling the short-term dependence between two remaining lifetimes of a couple, Dr Spreeuw and a fellow academic Mr Xu Wang examined nearly 12 000 life assurance contracts from North America over a five-year period. The pair found that in the year immediately after the death of a spouse, the risk of death for those left behind was greater than in subsequent years.Further information is available on the Profession8217s website www.actuaries.org.uk019_Actuary_Education_0308.indd 1919/2/08 13:52:46
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