Coordinator

Wolfgang Stenzel (HWK)

Covenor

Jens O. Zinn, University of Melbourne, Australia

Members

• Stefan Böschen, RWTH Aachen, Germany

• Patrick Brown, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands

• Maria Grazia Galantino, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy

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

• Kox, Thomas, Weizenbaum Institute for the Networked Society, Berlin, Germany

• Veronica Moretti, University of Bologna, Italy

• Sabine Roeser, Technical University Delft, The Netherlands

• Naomi Shulman, University of Braunschweig, Germany

• 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 26 - 27, 2025
Nov. 10 - 12, 2025
June 15 - 17, 2026