Do concepts such as “compound risks,” “cascading risks,” “black swans” and “grey rhinos” genuinely improve risk management — or do they sometimes obscure more than they clarify?
The field of risk management is filled with terminology and conceptual frameworks designed to help us understand an increasingly uncertain world. But do these terms really help us identify, assess and communicate risks more effectively, or can they complicate our understanding of the challenges we face?
In this event, we will critically examine commonly used risk terminology and explore the value — and limitations — of the concepts shaping today’s risk discourse. We will consider when such terminology offers genuine insights, when it risks creating confusion, and how we can communicate risks more clearly and effectively.
The session will be delivered by Professor Ilan Kelman, Professor of Disasters and Health at University College London and Professor II at UiT The Arctic University of Norway.
The discussion will challenge established ways of thinking about risk, question the usefulness of widely used concepts, and explore practical approaches to clearer risk assessment and more effective risk management.
What you can expect:
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Insights into reducing unnecessary jargon in risk management.
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A critical perspective on common risk concepts and their potential for misinterpretation.
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Practical ideas for improving risk communication and assessing risks across different contexts.
This event is aimed at professionals and anyone interested in risk management, risk assessment and risk communication who wants to sharpen their understanding of uncertainty and rethink how risks are framed and discussed.
Further information can be found here.