Introduksjon til risikofag (RIS105)

Content

The course provides an introduction to basic ideas and definitions within the subject of risk. Students are given insight into how risk is understood, assessed, and managed in different contexts through examples from different areas, such as climate risk, environmental risk, terrorism, space activities, and pandemic management. Key concepts reviewed include risk, uncertainty, probability, robustness, resilience, and the precautionary principle. The course also discusses risk in relation to science and the scientific method and in relation to science versus politics, as well as risk assessments as decision support.

Learning outcome

After completing and passing the course, the student shall:

Knowledge

• understand how risk intervenes in our lives and society and how risk analysis and risk science can help us understand, analyze, communicate, and manage risk.
• know different methods and approaches for identifying, assessing, and managing risk in different sectors.
• know risk communication principles and how risk can be communicated to different stakeholders.
• know factors that influence risk perception.
• have insight into ethical and societal aspects of risk and how risk affects decision-making processes.

Skills

• be able to reflect on and discuss how risk affects technology and society.
• be able to explain key concepts within risk science, including risk, uncertainty, probability, robustness, resilience, the precautionary principle, and risk perception.
• be able to explain the main components of a risk description.

General competence

• have developed critical thinking and reflective skills regarding ethical dilemmas and the societal significance of risk.

Required prerequisite knowledge

None

Exam

Course teacher(s)

Head of Department:

Tore Markeset

Course coordinator:

Roger Flage

Method of work

The course is digital and organized into modules containing several short video lectures.

Open for

Open course for all students with an active right to study and who meet the requirements for general university admissions certification (GSK).

Course assessment

The faculty decides whether early dialogue should be conducted in all or selected groups of courses offered by the faculty. The purpose is to gather feedback from students for making changes and adjustments to the course during the current semester. In addition, a digital evaluation, students’ course evaluation, must be conducted at least once every three years. Its purpose is to collect students` experiences with the course.

Literature