Understanding and Communicating Risk from edX

This course provides an introduction to how people perceive and understand risks in their everyday lives and how to communicate risk information to help people make better decisions.

Taught by an experienced team from the LRF Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk at the National University of Singapore, supplemented by interviews with leading international experts in the field, the course is designed to be accessible to professionals, practitioners, researchers and tertiary students involved or interested in risk communication.

The Understanding and Communicating Risk course makes extensive use of case studies to bring the issues to life and shows how fundamental concepts and research findings can be employed to practical challenges of risk communication. Learners on the course are given opportunities to apply their learning through engaging exercises based on real-world cases.

What you'll learn

Learners will gain an understanding of:
How to interpret risk information to make better informed decisions and manage risks in everyday situations
The language and metrics of risk assessment to convey risk accurately to stakeholders
The factors that shape people's risk perceptions
Techniques and strategies to communicate risk creatively and engagingly
What people around the world consider their top risks right now, based on the latest research
How to gather information about public risk perceptions
Key lessons from decades of research and experience in communicating risks
Methods to design and evaluate effective risk communications
Application of understanding and communicating risks in the health, climate and technology sectors

What's inside

Learning objectives

Learners will gain an understanding of:
How to interpret risk information to make better informed decisions and manage risks in everyday situations
The language and metrics of risk assessment to convey risk accurately to stakeholders
The factors that shape people's risk perceptions
Techniques and strategies to communicate risk creatively and engagingly

What people around the world consider their top risks right now, based on the latest research
How to gather information about public risk perceptions
Key lessons from decades of research and experience in communicating risks
Methods to design and evaluate effective risk communications
Application of understanding and communicating risks in the health, climate and technology sectors

Learners will gain an understanding of:
How to interpret risk information to make better informed decisions and manage risks in everyday situations
The language and metrics of risk assessment to convey risk accurately to stakeholders
The factors that shape people's risk perceptions
Techniques and strategies to communicate risk creatively and engagingly
What people around the world consider their top risks right now, based on the latest research
How to gather information about public risk perceptions
Key lessons from decades of research and experience in communicating risks
Methods to design and evaluate effective risk communications
Application of understanding and communicating risks in the health, climate and technology sectors

Syllabus

Week 1: Key concepts

Introduction to risk, uncertainty, cumulative risk, key metrics of risk assessment and identification of risks.

Week 2: Risk perceptions

Factors that shape public perceptions of risk.

**Week 3. Risk communication

** Strategies, techniques and applications for best practices

Week 4: Health

Risk perception and communication in the field of public health.

Week 5: Climate & environment

Risk perception and communication relating to climate change, natural hazards and environmental pollution.

Week 6: Technology

Applications of risk perceptions and communications concepts to cases of new and established technologies.

Week 7: Individual project

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Examines risk perception from the stakeholder's point of view, which influences project success

Taught by instructors who are recognized for their work in risk perception

Develops techniques and strategies to communicate risk in an effective manner, which is a key skill for risk managers

Emphasizes applications in the health, climate change, natural hazards, environmental pollution, and technology sectors, which provides a comprehensive understanding of risk communication in various contexts

Explores how risk is perceived globally, using the latest research, which provides valuable insights for risk communicators

Requires learners to apply their learning through engaging exercises based on real-world cases, which enhances practical skills

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 Understanding and Communicating Risk with these activities:

Analyze Risk Communication Case Studies

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Evaluating real-world examples of risk communication will equip you with practical insights and strengthen your ability to apply course concepts.

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Identify a case study that resonates with you.
Break down the case study and analyze the risk communication strategies employed.
Critically assess the effectiveness of the communication methods used.

Review "The Psychology of Risk"

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Deepen your understanding of how people perceive and interpret risks by reading "The Psychology of Risk". This book provides insights into the cognitive and emotional factors that shape risk perceptions, helping you better communicate risk information.

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Read the book thoroughly, paying attention to key concepts and research findings.
Summarize the main arguments and supporting evidence presented in the book.
Identify the implications of the book's findings for risk communication.

Risk Assessment Practice

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Engage in repetitive exercises to reinforce your understanding of risk assessment techniques and metrics.

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Review risk assessment metrics and methods.
Calculate and interpret risk scores.
Conduct risk assessments for different scenarios.

Two other activities

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Develop Public Risk Communication Campaign

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Designing and executing a public risk communication campaign will provide you with hands-on experience in applying the principles learned in the course to a real-world scenario.

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Identify a specific risk issue to address.
Develop a communication strategy that considers target audience, message, and channels.
Create and distribute communication materials, such as brochures, infographics, or videos.
Evaluate the effectiveness of your campaign and make adjustments as needed.

Facilitate a Risk Communication Workshop

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Leading a workshop will deepen your understanding of risk communication principles and allow you to share your knowledge with others.

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Prepare a workshop outline and materials.
Facilitate interactive activities and discussions.
Provide constructive feedback and guidance to participants.

Career center

Learners who complete Understanding and Communicating Risk will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Public Health Educator

A Public Health Educator teaches healthy behaviors to the public to improve health. They understand the importance of clearly communicating how risks can impact a community's well-being. The Understanding and Communicating Risk course helps educators develop these skills by teaching how people perceive risk and the most effective strategies to convey risk information.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Health Educator

Risk Analyst

Risk Analysts assess risks, typically financial risks, and help organizations develop strategies to avoid them. When working, it is imperative that these professionals accurately assess risks and are able to present their findings in a way that conveys the risks accurately. The Understanding and Communicating Risk course will help Risk Analysts develop these skills.

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Technical Writer

Technical Writers translate complex information into easy-to-understand language. Much of their work involves creating instruction manuals and other documents that describe how to use a product. Risk communication requires similar skills. The Understanding and Communicating Risk course can help Technical Writers master these.

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Environmental Scientist

Environmental Scientists often work to create plans to help organizations improve environmental quality. One way to achieve this goal is to communicate the risks to an organization's environmental strategies. By taking the Understanding and Communicating Risk course, these professionals can learn to more effectively implement their plans.

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Science Journalist

Risk is an important part of scientific discoveries. Science Journalists present scientific information to the public. To do this job well, it is important to understand how people perceive risks and the best ways to convey risk information so they can make informed decisions. The Understanding and Communicating Risk course can help Science Journalists become more effective.

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Health Psychologist

Health Psychologists apply psychological principles to improve public health. As such, they must be able to understand how people make health decisions and how to motivate them towards healthy behaviors. The Understanding and Communicating Risk provides vital insights into these skills for Health Psychologists.

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Insurance Agent

Insurance Agents understand different types of risks and how to communicate them to customers so that they can make informed decisions. The Understanding and Communicating Risk course will help agents verify that clients have proper coverage and fully understand their risks and coverages.

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Health Educator

Health Educators work to improve the health of their communities, and a part of this process is educating the public about health risks. The Understanding and Communicating Risk course can help Health Educators learn strategies to effectively educate the public, giving them the tools to better inform their communities.

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Public Relations Specialist

Public Relations Specialists manage the flow of information between their clients and the public.

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Physician or Surgeon

Physicians and Surgeons must be able to communicate information about risks and treatments to their patients, and to understand how patients perceive medical risks so that they can address any concerns or fears.

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Industrial Engineer

Industrial Engineers research, design, develop, implement and improve integrated systems for managing industrial production processes.

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Safety Engineer

Safety Engineers manage risks. They develop policies, train employees, and enforce policies to ensure compliance with safety regulations.

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Data Scientist

Data Scientists analyze data to extract meaningful insights. They may be able to apply risk analysis skills to their work.

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Quantitative Analyst

Quantitative Analysts assess risks and make investment recommendations based on their findings.