Theories of Risk Perception and Risk Governance (RIS515)

This course covers concepts and theories of risk perception and risk governance. The course focuses on different approaches to risk perception and explains psychological, social, and cultural factors that shape the experience of and responses to risk. The course also focuses on approaches to risk management and understanding challenges and finding solutions related to how risks are regulated and handled by various actors in society.

This course covers concepts and theories of risk perception and risk governance. The course focuses on different approaches to risk perception and explains psychological, social, and cultural factors that shape the experience of and responses to risk. The course also focuses on approaches to risk management and understanding challenges and solutions related to how risks are regulated and handled by various actors in society.

In the course, the role of risk perception and broader management issues in society are connected to principles of good risk governance and how they can be integrated. Central issues addressed include scientific expertise, inclusion of stakeholders and public concerns, principles for risk evaluation, instruments for management and regulation, as well as procedures for effective risk communication.

On completion of this course, you will be familiar with a broad range of approaches to risk perception and risk governance, as well as the theories underlying them.

Specifically, the course will have the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge:

On completion of the course, students will:

• Have advanced knowledge about different theories and approaches to risk perception
• Have specialized insight in the psychological and social theories for different approaches to risk governance and risk management

Skills:

On completion of the course, students will be able to:

Assess and give advice onthe strengthss and weaknesses of different approaches for governing and managing risk based on theories from the field. Design solutions and give advice on how to solve problems related to risk governance and risk management discuss risk management solutions and recommendations for policy in written and oral form using language and terminology of the risk field

General Competence:

On completion of the course, students will be able to apply and critically reflect on theories and concepts from the field in ways that support policy and tackling of risk problems, including also systemic risks related to among other globalization, climate change and digital transformation.