E-109: Environmental Politics Section Meeting 2 October 7, 2008
Dec 20, 2015
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
Decision Makers
Experts
Laypeople
Learning and Feedback
Decision
Analysis and
Deliberation
Analysis and
Deliberation
Prob
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Proc
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Analytic-Deliberative 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?
Decision Makers
Experts
Laypeople
Learning and Feedback
Decision
Analysis and
Deliberation
Analysis and
Deliberation
Prob
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Fo
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Proc
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Des
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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?
Decision Makers
Experts
Laypeople
Learning and Feedback
Decision
Analysis and
Deliberation
Analysis and
Deliberation
Prob
lem
Fo
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Proc
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Des
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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?
Decision Makers
Experts
Laypeople
Learning and Feedback
Decision
Analysis and
Deliberation
Analysis and
Deliberation
Prob
lem
Fo
rmat
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Proc
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Des
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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?
Decision Makers
Experts
Laypeople
Learning and Feedback
Decision
Analysis and
Deliberation
Analysis and
Deliberation
Prob
lem
Fo
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ion
Proc
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Des
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Sele
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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?