Strategies for Risk Communication

Evolution, Evidence and Experience

15-17 May 2006

Montauk Yacht Club Resort & Marina

Montauk, Long Island, New York

This symposium, sponsored by the Society for Risk Analysis and the National Science Foundation (Grant No. 0551330), explored practical methods and robust theories of risk communication arising from recent research in risk perception, neuroscience, and the evolutionary social sciences. The symposium addressed how humans process and perceive uncertainty and risks. The purpose of the symposium was to synthesize the findings from these diverse fields to inform the development of practical strategies for risk communication. There were several invited lecturers, interspersed with open discussion among the participants. There was also a small poster session in which participants described their research. The practical conclusions developed during the symposium are listed in a short guidance summary. The proceedings of the symposium were published by the New York Academy of Sciences:

Tucker, W.T., S. Ferson, A. Finkel, and D. Slavin (eds.) 2008. Strategies for Risk Communication: Evolution, Evidence, Experience. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Vol. 1128, Blackwell Publishing, Boston.

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation, the Society for Risk Analysis, the New York Academy of Science, Pfizer, or Applied Biomathematics.

Overview

This three-day symposium brought together theorists and practitioners in risk communication, risk perception, brain research, and the evolutionary social sciences. Rapid progress in these fields has opened a new window on risk perception with practical implications for enhancing the effectiveness of risk communication. Some of the questions addressed at the symposium included

Pictures from the event