EMSE 234:

Syllabus

Introduction

Course Files

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Management of Risk for Natural and Technological Hazards :

Course Description:
"Natural Hazards have always been part of human history. But in the modern world there is an increasing paradox between the outstanding achievements of science and medicine and the continuing destruction associated with the extremes of nature. Science itself is not without hazard and has led to the comparatively recent emergence of threats which arise from the misapplication and failure of technology. People and property are now at risk not only from geophysical events, such as earth quakes and floods, but also from industrial explosions, therelease of toxic substances and major transport accidents." (Source: Environmental Hazards, Keith Smith 1992).

Risk managers have to manage risk in a meaningful manner. This requires that risk managers can function as intermediaries between quantitative risk assessors and risk takers (e.g. the institution employing the risk manager or more general the public). To that end it is important that risk managers have a common understanding of quantitative risk assessment techniques and their limitations as well as a common understanding of risk communication and risk perception issues.

Text: Course Handouts and Selected Journal Papers

Recommended Text Books:
The Perception of Risk by Paul Slovic, Publisher: EarthScan.

This book contains some of the journal papers we are discussing in
class and additional materials useful for RFP and Proposal Development.