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NUS: Understanding and Communicating Risk

Learn how individuals perceive and understand risks and master the tools to communicate risk information effectively to help people make better decisions in the face of risks.

6 weeks
3–5 hours per week
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
This course is archived
Understanding and Communicating Risk

About this course

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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.

At a glance

  • Language: English
  • Video Transcript: English
  • Associated skills: Risk Management, Communications

What you'll learn

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  • 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
  • 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

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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

Covers the range of objectives, approaches, channels and message framings.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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Does this course cover methods for assessing risk?
No - this course is primarily about understanding and communicating existing risk information rather than conducting risk assessment.

Is this course suitable for people who want to learn about corporate risk management?
 This course focuses on risk from the point of view of individuals faced with a range of everyday risks. It does not cover methods for corporate risk management.

What are the methods of assessment in this course?
Assessments include short-answer and multiple choice quizzes, long answer tests and an individual project.

Where should I go for more resources?
 The course materials include case studies, websites, videos and reading suggestions for those who want to learn more.

Is this course offered face-to-face?
The LRF Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk offers tailored executive education programmes in Singapore. Please get in touch if you are interested in participating as an individual or for your organisation.

Can I get involved in the Institute's research projects?
Yes. We have a range of internship opportunities. Check IPUR's website for further details.

Ways to take this course

Choose your path when you enroll.

Verified Track

Audit Track

Price

$149 USD

Free

Access to course materials

Unlimited

Limited

World class institutions and universities

edX support

Shareable certificate upon completion

Graded assignments and exams

Read our FAQsin a new tab about frequently asked questions on these tracks.

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