Welcome to the Website for the Workshop

Risk Analysis: Fundamental Concepts, Applications and Controversies

To be held at the Society for Risk Analysis Annual Conference

Sunday, December 3 2006 in Baltimore, MD

To Register for this workshop, please go to the Society for Risk Analysis conference page

For additional information, contact workshop coordinator Dr. David M. Hassenzahl

Workshop Overview

Meetings and publications of the Society for Risk Analysis can be daunting to newcomers. More generally, risk analysis incorporates and spans many disciplines. It is often difficult for people, even those who work on some topic within risk analysis-be it toxicology, terrorist threat assessment or human behavior-to understand how their work fits into the risk analysis "big picture." Likewise, disciplinary training does not prepare people to understand, much less converse with, fellow practitioners. This workshop, taught by three experts with extensive histories in practice, government and academia, is designed to fill that gap. We introduce fundamental risk analysis concepts, terminology, applications and calculations. The workshop is suitable for first time Society for Risk Analysis Annual Meeting attendees, as well as all individuals new to risk analysis and those who have been involved in only a limited aspect of risk analysis. Participants should have an undergraduate degree in an area relevant to risk analysis, and / or relevant work experience. Upon completion of this course, students will understand the origins, applications and controversies surrounding risk analysis. They will be prepared to evaluate risk analysis reports and presentations. Most importantly, they will be prepared to engage comfortably in the range of conversations that distinguish Society for Risk Analysis Annual Conferences.

Workshop Presentations

Several individuals with distinct areas of expertise within the Society for Risk Analysis will provide introductions to their areas of interest.

Dr. David M. Hassenzahl will provide a general overview of risk analysis and the SRA, and the use of risk analysis for regulatory and cost-benefit decisions.

Dr. Darrell Donohue will present another perspective on the society, and introduce microbial risk assessment

Dr. Branden Johnson of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection will discuss risk perception and communications practice and theory.

Dr. Theodore Glickman will discuss transportation and homeland security risk assessment.

Additional presentations may be made by Drs. Margaret MacDonell, Charles Haas and / or Douglas Samuelson

Presenter Bios

Dr. David M. Hassenzahl Chairs the Department of Environmental Studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, as well as the Education Committee for the Society for Risk Analysis. He is co-author of the well-known risk analysis textbook Should We Risk It? Exploring Environmental, Health and Technological Problem Solving, has written numerous papers on risk analysis topics, and maintains the Risk Analysis Teaching and Learning Website.

Dr. Branden J. Johnson is a long-time member of the Society for Risk Analysis and President of the Risk Assessment and Policy Association. He is the author of dozens of publications on the role of risk analysis in public and individual decisions, and has extensive experience in academia and government.

Dr. Theodore Glickman is Professor at George Washington University. He has over thirty years experience in risk analysis, as an academic and practitioner. His work has covered everything from transportation to hazardous materials to homeland security.