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

ResearchHazard identificationExposure assessmentRisk characterizationRisk communicationRisk management

Background

“Formal” Risk Assessment/Analysis Framework

“Formal” Risk Assessment/Analysis Framework

Background

Analytic-Deliberative Framework

Decision Makers

Experts

Laypeople

Learning and Feedback

Decision

Analysis and

Deliberation

Analysis and

Deliberation

Prob

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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

Analysis and

Deliberation

Prob

lem

Fo

rmat

ion

Proc

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Des

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Sele

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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

Analysis and

Deliberation

Prob

lem

Fo

rmat

ion

Proc

ess

Des

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Sele

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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

Analysis and

Deliberation

Prob

lem

Fo

rmat

ion

Proc

ess

Des

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Sele

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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

Analysis and

Deliberation

Prob

lem

Fo

rmat

ion

Proc

ess

Des

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Sele

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g O

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Out

com

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Info

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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?