Perrine
Hamel

Perrine is a senior scientist at the Natural Capital Project, Stanford University, a partnership between academic institutions and environmental NGOs (WWF and The Nature Conservancy). Her research focuses on the relationship between nature and human well-being, with a particular interest in hydrologic services. She has led several ecosystem services modelling projects that support management decisions and has gained experience conducting natural capital assessments with NGOs and public and private actors around the world, most recently in Latin America and South-East Asia.

PROJECT

Perrine currently leads the Natural Capital Project Livable Cities, a program aiming to understand and elevate the role of nature in urban environments. Prior to that, she worked as an environmental engineer in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and as a researcher in environmental modelling. Perrine holds a Master of Civil and Environmental Engineering from Ecole Centrale Nantes, France, and a PhD from Monash University, Australia, in the field of urban hydrology.

MOTIVATION FOR AND COMMITMENT TO CREATING A BETTER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE PLANET 

I have always been interested in natural sciences. When I was younger, I wanted to be an astronomer but then realised that planet Earth also faced many challenges that needed to be addressed. I focused my studies on environmental sciences and sustainable urban water management. Through my current work as a senior scientist for the Natural Capital Project, I am fortunate to learn from others and share my experience of raising the value of natural ecosystems.

Recently, I moved to Paris and I’d like to contribute my experience to help the City implement its Climate and Resilience Plans. Recent surveys and participatory budgets say that citizens want more green spaces in the city. The question is, then, to know where and how to add green areas in the city. With innovative visualization tools, I am working on assessing the multiple benefits provided by trees in Paris – air temperature reduction during heat waves, air purification, carbon sequestration, stormwater management, and mental health benefits – now and under future climate.