Risk in Modern Society from Coursera

Risk has become one of the defining features of modern society. Almost daily, we are preoccupied with assessing, discussing, or preventing a wide variety of risks. It is a cornerstone notion for businesses and organizations, but also for nation states and their many levels of government. And even for individuals, risk and the avoidance or embracing thereof, is a key theme.

The course Risk in Modern Society sheds light on the broad concept of risk. In five distinctive weeks, this course closely examines various types of safety and security risks, and how these are perceived and dealt with in a wide array of professional and academic fields, ranging from criminology, counter-terrorism and cyber security, to philosophy, safety and medical science. Developed in collaboration with scholars from three universities (Leiden, Delft and Erasmus), this course will search for answers to questions such as: “what is risk?”, “how do we study and deal with risk?”, “does ‘perceived risk’ correspond to 'real' risk?”, and “how should we deal with societal perceptions of risk, safety and security?

What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome & Risk in Modern Society

In this module, you can find all the information you need in order to be able to successfully complete the course. After you have familiarised yourself with the course, we will move to the content of the first module. In the first week, we will discuss how the concept of risk has played an increasingly important role in shaping our modern society. Tracing the historical origins of this concept, we will look at how our modern conception of risk has emerged, and how it is currently being studied within the academic world.

Managing Risk

In this module, we will take a closer look at risk management, one of the most dominant approaches to dealing with risk in modern society. You will then be presented with two specific risks which illustrate how this approach is used in practice: the risk of natural hazards, and risks in the chemical industry. In the last video of this week, we will discuss some of the strengths and weaknesses of the risk management approach.

Risk Perception

In this module, we will take a closer look at risk perception and the factors that influence how we experience risk in modern society. You will learn that while experts often rely on various statistical and mathematical models to asses various types of risks, the general public tends to make more intuitive judgments about the severity and likelihood of risk. You will then be presented with two specific security risks, which often invoke a great perception of danger.

Modern-day Risks: Global Challenges

In this module, you will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of modern-day risks by looking at three key contemporary global challenges involving risk. Throughout the week, each of these risks will be discussed by various experts, who will highlight the most important features and strategies to deal with them. You will learn how, both collectively and individually, each these challenges have the ability to significantly impact the globe, presenting a notable challenge for current and future generations.

Risk in Modern Society

In this final module, you will be presented with a recap of all the knowledge from the previous weeks. In addition, it contains the final multiple choice quiz of the course. Good luck!

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Examines the complex societal perception of modern-day risks

Taught by a team of experts in risk management, criminology, and safety sciences

Focuses on real-world examples to illustrate the concepts of risk management and perception

Helps learners develop a critical understanding of the role of risk in modern society

Students can expect insightful discussions and interactive exercises throughout the course

Requires a basic understanding of risk management principles

Reviews summary

Well-received risk course

Learners say that this well-received course offers a great overview of risk in modern society. According to students, the materials are comprehensive, covering a range of topics including safety and security. Students value the clear and engaging lectures and videos. Students appreciate the interesting readings and discussion options. While there were some broken links in the readings, the vast majority of materials were easily accessible. Overall, learners highly recommend this course for those interested in risk management.

Lectures and videos are clear and engaging.

"The presentation makes it easy to understand and remember the key teaching points."

"Very good introduction to a very broad topic! The lecturers are obviously well versed on the topics and provide great insights in a relatvively short span of time."

"Excellent instructors and lecture videos."

Covers a range of risk-related topics.

"This course provides a good introduction to risks and the principles of risk management."

"Very detailed and comprehensive."

"It was a good Course that opened my eyes to how we react to risks in our daily life."

Some reading links are broken.

"Unfortunately, several key sources are not available, significantly compromising my ability to succeed in the assessments."

"Either there were no such website anymore, or the reading was unreachable"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Risk in Modern Society with these activities:

Risk Resources

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Gather and organize a collection of resources on risk and safety for future reference.

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Collect articles, books, websites, and other materials on risk-related topics.
Organize the materials into a logical structure.
Create an annotated bibliography or summary of the resources.

Probability and Statistics Refresher

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Review basic concepts and techniques in probability and statistics to enhance understanding of risk assessment.

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Review the fundamentals of probability and statistics.
Practice solving problems involving probability distributions, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis.

Review of Modern Safety Practices

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Refresh knowledge on current best practices in safety and risk management to prepare for the course.

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Review industry standards and regulations related to safety.
Research recent advancements in safety technologies and methodologies.

Three other activities

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Risk Assessment and Management

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Practice applying risk assessment and management techniques to real-world scenarios.

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Review the steps involved in risk assessment and management.
Identify and analyze potential risks in a given situation.
Develop and evaluate strategies to mitigate or manage these risks.

Risk Communication in Practice

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Develop and practice skills in communicating risk effectively to different audiences.

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Prepare a presentation on a specific risk or safety issue.
Present your findings to a group of peers.
Receive and provide feedback on the effectiveness of your communication.

Risk Modeling Challenge

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Apply knowledge and skills in risk assessment and management to a real-world problem.

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Identify an area or issue where risk modeling could provide valuable insights.
Develop a risk model using appropriate techniques and data.
Analyze the results of your model and make recommendations for risk mitigation or management.

Career center

Learners who complete Risk in Modern Society will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Risk Analyst

Risk Analysts help companies, governments, and other organizations identify, assess, and manage risks. This course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a comprehensive understanding of the concept of risk, how it is perceived and dealt with in a variety of fields, and how to develop and implement effective risk management strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Analyst

Insurance Underwriter

Insurance Underwriters assess and price insurance risks. This course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a comprehensive understanding of the concept of risk, how it is perceived and dealt with in a variety of fields, and how to develop and implement effective risk management strategies.

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Auditor

Auditors examine and evaluate the financial records of companies and organizations to ensure that they are accurate and compliant with regulations. This course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a comprehensive understanding of the concept of risk, how it is perceived and dealt with in a variety of fields, and how to develop and implement effective risk management strategies.

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Security Analyst

Security Analysts assess and mitigate risks to an organization's information systems and data. This course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a comprehensive understanding of the concept of risk, how it is perceived and dealt with in a variety of fields, and how to develop and implement effective risk management strategies.

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Compliance Officer

Compliance Officers ensure that companies and organizations comply with laws and regulations. This course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a comprehensive understanding of the concept of risk, how it is perceived and dealt with in a variety of fields, and how to develop and implement effective risk management strategies.

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Emergency Manager

Emergency Managers develop and implement plans to prepare for and respond to emergencies. This course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a comprehensive understanding of the concept of risk, how it is perceived and dealt with in a variety of fields, and how to develop and implement effective risk management strategies.

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Occupational Safety and Health Manager

Occupational Safety and Health Managers develop and implement programs to protect workers from workplace hazards. This course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a comprehensive understanding of the concept of risk, how it is perceived and dealt with in a variety of fields, and how to develop and implement effective risk management strategies.

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Environmental Scientist

Environmental Scientists study and assess the impact of human activities on the environment. This course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a comprehensive understanding of the concept of risk, how it is perceived and dealt with in a variety of fields, and how to develop and implement effective risk management strategies.

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Public Health Scientist

Public Health Scientists study and assess the health of populations. This course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a comprehensive understanding of the concept of risk, how it is perceived and dealt with in a variety of fields, and how to develop and implement effective risk management strategies.

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Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists study the distribution and patterns of health events and diseases in populations. This course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a comprehensive understanding of the concept of risk, how it is perceived and dealt with in a variety of fields, and how to develop and implement effective risk management strategies.

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Toxicologist

Toxicologists study the effects of toxic substances on humans and animals. This course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a comprehensive understanding of the concept of risk, how it is perceived and dealt with in a variety of fields, and how to develop and implement effective risk management strategies.

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Statistician

Statisticians collect, analyze, interpret, and present data. This course will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role by providing you with a comprehensive understanding of the concept of risk, how it is perceived and dealt with in a variety of fields, and how to develop and implement effective risk management strategies.

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Actuary

Actuaries assess and manage financial risks. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career as an actuary.

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Economist

Economists study the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career as an economist.

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Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts assess and manage financial risks. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career as a financial analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst