CSaP Annual Conference 2012: Risk and uncertainty

The Centre for Science and Policy is partnering with the Willis Research Network to organise a conference on "Risk and Uncertainty" which will take place in London on 8 March 2012.

This one-day event will focus on two policy concomitants of risk and uncertainty in policy and business:

Precaution

Acknowledgement of deeper uncertainties has led to instances of widespread use of the precautionary principle or ‘reasonable worst case scenario’. Debates around the issue concern the appropriate degree of precaution, adaptability of policy, the role of disputed science, and policy communication.

Resilience

Instability in complex systems is receiving increasing media and policy attention. Global economic problems have highlighted the complexities and difficulties of managing risk and uncertainty in banking and markets. Instability in the climate is making necessary decisions that are both politically and financially damaging in the near term. Resilient policies are intended to guard against both foreseeable and unforeseen shocks.

The intersection of precaution and resilience provides a rich ground on which to bring together the latest academic thinking, cutting edge business practice and policy experience. We will ask three questions – what are the risks? what are the uncertainties? how precautionary should UK policy be? – of three issues: finance, infrastructure and natural resources.

Speaker Presentations

Session 1: The Precautionary Principle

• Professor David Salisbury: Immunisation safety - risks, benefits and precautions
• Professor Peter Sammonds: The precautionary principle - natural hazards and critical infrastructure

Sesssion 2: Resilience

• Professor Jon Crowcroft: The emergence of complex system behaviours and risks in the internet
• Dr Dougal Goodman: Modelling low probability, high severity events in the insurance market to test resilience
• Professor Andy Challinor: Food production and climate - risks and responses

Keynote:

• Sir John Beddington: Presentation unavailable

Agenda

Please download the agenda here.

Who should attend?

This conference will bring together policy makers, academic experts, opinion leaders and practitioners and will provide an opportunity for networking and knowledge and experience exchange.

Participation is recommended for representatives from:

• science and research (engineering, technology, medical, natural, economic, social and political sciences)
• government departments
• the insurance and financial services
• the pharmaceutical and food industry

How to register

THIS EVENT IS NOW FULLY SUBSCRIBED

This event will take place in London on 8 March 2012, 10am - 6pm at the Senate House, University of London.

The cost of attending is £45 per delegate, which includes refreshments througout the day, a buffet lunch and attendance at the post-conference drinks reception.

Speakers & Chairs

Ongoing work by the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir John Beddington, on “high impact, low probability” events is raising interest about risk and uncertainty in policy. Sir John will deliver a keynote talk on the findings from the Blackett Review on this topic at the conference.

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For more information, please contact the event organiser, Jackie Ouchikh: jackie.ouchikh@csap.cam.ac.uk

or call 01223 768392

Sponsors

The CSaP would like to thank the Willis Research Network, the IET and Lloyd's for their generous support.