Risk - Research from the edge
July 2010
On shaky ground
During earthquakes, collapsing buildings and other structures are the leading cause of death. With a large
segment of the world’s population living in seismically active regions, untold numbers of human lives depend upon improving the resiliency of our cities.
segment of the world’s population living in seismically active regions, untold numbers of human lives depend upon improving the resiliency of our cities.
Protecting our grey matter
As more and more people engage in risky sports, preventing or at least minimizing head injuries is becoming an urgent priority.
Pursuing prions: A threat past, present and future
The exotic protein responsible for mad cow disease may not be the high profi le issue it was a few years ago, but the threat it poses to human health remains. Professor Daniel Krewski is assessing that risk, along with the prospect of related ailments that could emerge.
Putting a halt to crime
Professor Irvin Waller has spent his career explaining why the prevention of crime should be as high a priority as the punishment of criminals. His perspective has recently acquired a substantial following in edmonton, Alberta, and is being closely watched by communities around the world.
Measuring behaviour behind closed doors
There is little reward without risk. But how can an investor determine the risk appetite of a company that doesn’t disclose the relevant information? And how much risk is too much? Where is the threshold?
Avoiding the black hole: Risk management and the global financial crisis
William Leiss loves risk. Not danger — although he does admit to the occasional episode of jaywalking. It’s really risk he loves. More specifically, risk management making informed and intelligent decisions that reduce the chance of harm.
Plan for the human element: Assessing and managing risk
Louise Lemyre and Tracey O’Sullivan are University of Ottawa researchers who help governments, organizations, businesses and communities plan for emergencies, from natural disasters to terrorism, based on the way people react in crisis situations.
Troubleshooting with artificial intelligence
How vulnerable are the world’s interconnected technology systems to “cascading” and potentially catastrophic breakdowns? Stan Matwin is using artificial intelligence to analyze “enmeshed systems” and mitigate the risks we face.
The enemy within
The West figures that turning fragile states into stable ”one-of-us” democracies will reduce the risk of the states breeding international terrorists. This approach comes at a cost to the West’s own values.
