2011 Risk Science Symposium FAQs



September 20-21 2011
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA

The premier meeting of 2011 addressing the intersection between
technology innovation and human health risk

 

 

Who should attend?
What will participants get out of the meeting?
What format will the symposium follow?
How much will it cost?
Where is the symposium being held?
How can we sponsor the symposium?
Preliminary Program
Planning Committee

Who should attend the symposium?

The University of Michigan 2011 Risk Science Symposium is specifically aimed at leading thinkers, decision-makers and decision-influencers in industry, government, academia, NGO’s and the media, who are looking for new insight into addressing the opportunities and challenges presented by technology innovation. 

What will participants get out of the meeting?

This symposium is first and foremost designed to stimulate new insights and conversations on the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies, and the need to think differently about human health risk and uncertainty in underpinning sustainable innovation.  By bringing together thought-leaders from a wide range of sectors and disciplines in an innovative format, participants will be exposed to the latest ideas on how to enable the safe, sustainable and socially-responsive development of new technologies in today’s interconnected world.

Specifically, the symposium is designed to enable participants to explore three questions:

  1. Do we need to think differently about potential health risks in today’s technologically complex and physically/socially interconnected world, if sustainable social and economic progress are to be maintained?
  2. Is there a need to move toward more proactive approaches to assessing, managing and communicating about emergent risks to human heath (both real and perceived) – and if so, how do we do this?
  3. Can innovation lead to more effective ways of addressing human health risks in an increasingly complex and interconnected world?

What format will the symposium follow?

The symposium will revolve around a series of moderated discussions that challenge panelists – together with other participants – to think critically through emerging issues and potential solutions. Discussions will involve thought-leaders from different and sometimes conflicting backgrounds who, under the guidance of a moderator, will explore how sustainable technology innovation is affected by risk and uncertainty, and where potential solutions to making progress lie. 

Each panel of speakers will be asked to consider and respond to a pre-agreed series of questions that will be used to guide the discussion.

How much will it cost?

Registration fees will cover attendance at the two-day symposium, refreshments and lunch on each day, and attendance at the symposium banquet on September 20, which will be held at the University of Michigan Museum of Art.

Registration is now closed. 

Where is the symposium being held?

The symposium will be held in Palmer Commons at the University of Michigan.  Address: 100 Washtenaw Ave., 4th Floor, Ann Arbor MI, USA.  Directions can be found here.

How can we sponsor the symposium?

We welcome symposium sponsorship from government agencies, corporations and other organizations.  For more information, click here.

Program Agenda

View final program. 

 

Chair

Andrew D. Maynard, Director, University of Michigan Risk Science Center

Technical Committee

Mark Banaszak-Holl, Associate Vice-President for Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of Michigan College of Engineering

Julia K. Diebol, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health

Panos Papalambros, Donald C. Graham Professor of Engineering, University of Michigan College of Engineering

Shobita Parthasarathy, Assistant Professor of Public Policy, University of Michigan Gerald R Ford School of Public Policy

Karen Peterson, Professor Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health

Martin Philbert, Dean, University of Michigan School of Public Health

Don Scavia, Director, Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute, University of Michigan

Brian Zikmund-Fisher, Assistant Professor, Health Behavior & Health Education, University of Michigan  School of Public Health

Planning Committee

Andrew D. Maynard, Director, University of Michigan Risk Science Center

Lori Rebhan, Director, Development and Alumni Relations, University of Michigan School of Public Health

Terri Mellow, Director of Communications, School of Public Health

Jenifer Martin, Director of Government Relations

Hilda McDonald, Executive Secretary, University of Michigan Risk Science Center