Risk Communication and its Consequences

Risk Communication and its Consequences

Question 1

Risk communication is an ongoing exchange of information among individuals, groups, and institutions involved with the evaluation, characterization, and management of risks. Extending this to the context of nanotechnology, it refers to the constant exchanges of risks information about the novel technology among important stakeholders, such as regulators, policy makers, scientists, and the public, through different communication channels. Such risk communication deficits have prompted U.S. governmental agencies to pump in more resources for public education and outreach by means of both mainstream and non-mainstream communication channels.

It is the responsibility of the disaster preparedness official to encourage the motivation level of the Florida citizens to face the natural disasters bravely, rather than telling them that such disasters will result in maximum losses and damages. Communicating risks related to public health and safety issues requires careful consideration before widespread dissemination. Communications must first be tested before being released to the public in order to ensure that they are received as intended. Designing and dispensing risk communications is a careful process that has evolved over time resulting in current guidelines that are widely accepted among academics. These guidelines are being increasingly acknowledged as an effective regulatory tool in the United States if properly utilized by health and safety regulatory bodies, such as the US Food and Drug Administration (Slovic, 2000).

It is important to note that no claim is being made that risk communication can resolve all regulatory conflicts. The best case scenario for risk communication in this question is having fewer but better conflicts. Some conflicts would be avoided by preventing needless misunderstandings, others by forestalling (or designing) unacceptable projects. Effective risk communication applied in this way would lead to the focus on real issues.

In the United States, public participation forums are ...