Coordinator

Wolfgang Stenzel (HWK)

Covenor

Jens O. Zinn, University of Melbourne, Australia

Members

• Maria Grazia Galantino, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy

• Patrick Brown, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands

• Anna Olofsson, Risk and Crisis Research Centre, Mid-Sweden University, Sweden

• Marcus Müller, Technical University Darmstadt, Germany

• Stefan Böschen, RWTH Aachen, Germany

• Sylvia Mayer, University of Bayreuth, Germany

• Francesca Laura Cavallo, Royal College of Art, London, UK

• Sabine Roeser, Technical University Delft, The Netherlands

• Gavin Brookes, Lancaster University, UK

• Anne Heyerdahl, Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness, Oslo, Norway

• Veronica Moretti, University of Bologna, Italy

• Joost van Loon, University Eichstaedt, Germany

Duration

2024 – 2027

Statement of Problem

For present-day societies the communication and management of risk, crisis, and disaster have become key challenges. From climate change related extreme weather events and societal digitisation to inner security and war to everyday life issues such as work, health and biographical planning, people and social institutions have to find ways to engage with and manage uncertain futures. The study group aims to advance understanding of how risky uncertainties are communicated, how they are dealt with in everyday life, and how they are governed by social institutions. Scholars from different disciplines and across various thematic domains meet to find new ways of understanding, conceptualizing and improving societal engagement with risk and crisis. In 2024-25 the focus is on the societal communication of risk through language, visualisations and connected to broader societal discourses. In 2025-26 the group explores the ways of how people’s engagement with risky uncertainties in everyday life is socially and individually shaped. In the final year, 2026-27, the governance of risk and crisis moves into focus.

Meetings

Nov. 11 - 13, 2024
June 16 - 18, 2025