E-109: Environmental Politics Section Meeting 2 October 7, 2008

Administrative Further Section/Discussion Board Questions? Teaching Staff will be discussing Group Project on Wednesday Close-Reading Exercise? Section on November 4 – HUCE Librarian Video Section on November 11—Veteran’s Day

Assignments Please label all Drop Box files using the format: Last Name_Section Assignment_#.doc Please submit Microsoft Word files only No PDFs

Key Concepts Risk NRC “Red Book” Categories of Risk “Lay” v. “Expert” Knowledge “Actual” Risk v. “Perceived” Risk Probability of Harm X Magnitude of Harm Research Hazard identification Exposure assessment Risk characterization Risk communication Risk management

Background “Formal” Risk Assessment/Analysis Framework

Background Analytic-Deliberative Framework

Decision Makers Experts Laypeople Learning and Feedback Decision Analysis and Deliberation Problem Formation Process Design Selecting Options and Outcomes Information Gathering Synthesis ImplementationEvaluation Analytic-Deliberative Framework

Background Another Risk Assessment Framework?

Background GMO Controversy: What is a GMO? Current Regulations? Potential Benefits? Potential Risks?

Topic #1: Actors In the models of RA presented by the NRC:  Who are the relevant actors?  Where are they in the process?  What is their designated role? Who should be involved in the RA process? Why? How? What is the relationship between “lay” knowledge and “expert” knowledge?

“Formal” Risk Assessment/Analysis Framework

Decision Makers Experts Laypeople Learning and Feedback Decision Analysis and Deliberation Problem Formation Process Design Selecting Options and Outcomes Information Gathering Synthesis ImplementationEvaluation Analytic-Deliberative Framework

Topic #1: Actors in the GMO Controversy Who are the relevant actors/ stakeholders in the GMO controversy? Does “Expert Knowledge” and “Lay Knowledge” exist in this case? Are the NRC Risk Assessment Frameworks applicable?

Topic #2: Risk Perception In the models of RA presented by the NRC: How are different perceptions of risk accounted for in the process? How and why do different groups perceive risk differently? What factors shape risk perception?

“Formal” Risk Assessment/Analysis Framework

Decision Makers Experts Laypeople Learning and Feedback Decision Analysis and Deliberation Problem Formation Process Design Selecting Options and Outcomes Information Gathering Synthesis ImplementationEvaluation Analytic-Deliberative Framework

Topic #2: Risk Perception in the GMO Controversy What are the various perceptions of risk associated with GMOs? Who holds these different views? Why might perceptions of GMO risk differ across groups?

Topic #3: Values In the models of RA presented by the NRC: How are non-scientific factors accounted for in each model of risk assessment? Do non-scientific factors affect risk assessment? If yes, how?

“Formal” Risk Assessment/Analysis Framework

Decision Makers Experts Laypeople Learning and Feedback Decision Analysis and Deliberation Problem Formation Process Design Selecting Options and Outcomes Information Gathering Synthesis ImplementationEvaluation Analytic-Deliberative Framework

Topic #3: Values in the GMO Controversy What values are implicated in the controversy surrounding genetically engineered products? How do Miller, the NY Times, the Christian Science Monitor and the Wall Street Journal depict the role that these values play in the GMO controversy?

Topic #4: Summary What are the benefits and flaws of the RA Frameworks presented by the NRC? How could each be improved?

“Formal” Risk Assessment/Analysis Framework

Decision Makers Experts Laypeople Learning and Feedback Decision Analysis and Deliberation Problem Formation Process Design Selecting Options and Outcomes Information Gathering Synthesis ImplementationEvaluation Analytic-Deliberative Framework

Topic #3: Risk in the GMO Controversy Can the controversies surrounding GMOs be adequately addressed by either of the RA Frameworks presented by the NRC? How could risk analysis, assessment, and/or communication about GMOs be improved? What framework would you propose for RA to address these issues?

Wrap-Up Questions? Comments?