RISK ASSESSMENT AND RISK MANAGEMENT

ENV 711

Spring 2002

Tuesday and Thursday, 4:00 to 5:15

Room: WHT 006

Professor David M. Hassenzahl, PhD

Office: MPE 125

Phone 895-4457

Email: david.hassenzahl@ccmail.nevada.edu

http://www.unlv.edu/faculty/dmh/

Office Hours:

Tuesday and Thursday, 1:15 to 3:15

Friday 9:30 to 10:30

Or by appointment

Text:

Kammen and Hassenzahl (2001), Should We Risk It? Paperback edition (Hardback OK) Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ.

Finkel, Adam (1990), A Manager’s Guide to Uncertainty. RFF out of print, available from instructor.

Suggested Resources

Haimes, Yacov (1999), Risk Modeling, Assessment and Management.  John Wiley and Sons, NY NY.

Morgan and Henrion (1990), Uncertainty. Cambridge University Press, NY NY.

Ottoboni The Dose Makes the Poison

Gots (1993) Toxics:

Course Overview:

The purpose of this course is to help students develop a “toolbox” of risk analysis and management methods, and understand the appropriate role of these methods in effective public and private decision-making. 

Note: this syllabus is subject to change.  Any changes will be given during class time and posted on the class web page.

                                             711 CLASS SCHEDULE

                                                              CLASS POLICIES

Grading:  Your final grade will be calculated in the following manner:

• Problem Sets: 30%. 3 problems sets: 15 % for each, lowest score will be dropped. Students are welcome to work in groups, but each should submit a solution set. Problem sets that are late (without prior approval) will have 25% per week deducted from their original value each week (i.e. after four weeks, don’t bother).

• Original problems: 20 %. These should be based on credible data, and should follow the SWRI format (i.e. problem statement, necessary data, solution). These should be turned in electronically. Each student must turn in an original problem and solution. The best sources of possible problems are journals such as Risk Analysis and Risk: Health, Safety and Environment. You are strongly encouraged, however, to ask each other to review and evaluate (and check math) along the way! You should begin looking for potential problems early in the semester.  Note on the syllabus that you should submit four potential problems by the end of spring break, and then plan to discuss which of these problems you will take on during the week following spring break.
• Class projects: 30%. The class will divide into groups of three or four to create original risk analyses. For grading, each student will need to submit a brief individual report describing his or her role in the project. A form will be available at the class website. Details are provided separately.
• Participation: 20%. Class discussions are an essential part of this course. As such, all students are expected to have read all relevant materials before class and be prepared to provide useful input and ask useful questions.
• A note on attendance. While you will not be specifically graded on attendance, absence undermines your ability to contribute and participate. Students who know that they will miss more than two classes for work related reasons should propose some make-up options.

A = 100 - 92%, A- = 91 - 90%, B+ = 88 - 89%, B = 87 - 82%, B- = 81 - 80%, C+ = 78 - 79%, C = 77 - 70%, C- = 69%, D+ = 68%, D = 67 - 60%, F = less than 60%

Disabilities: If you have a documented disability that may require assistance, you will need to go to the Disability Resource Center (DRC) for coordination of academic accommodations.  The Disability Resource Center is located in the Reynolds Student Services Building room 137.  The DRC phone number is 895-0866 (TDD-895-0652) or drcssc@ccmail.nevada.edu.

Copyright and fair use requirements

The university requires each member of the University Community to become familiar with and follow copyright and fair use requirements.  You are individually and solely responsible for violations of copyright and fair use laws.  The University will neither protect nor defend you nor assume any responsibility for employee or student violations of copyright or fair use laws.  Violations of copyright laws could subject you to federal and state civil penalties and criminal liabilities as well as disciplinary action under University policies.  To help familiarize yourself with copyright and fair use policies, the University encourages you to visit its copyright web page at:

http://www.unlv.edu/committees/copyright

This Syllabus Copyright 2002, David M. Hassenzahl