EPSRC/ESRC/NERC/Defra Collaborative Centre of Excellence in Understanding and Managing Natural and Environmental Risks (the 'Risk Centre')
Lead Research Organisation:
Cranfield University
Department Name: Sch of Applied Sciences
Abstract
Defra shares its risk management responsibilities with its stakeholders, regulated communities, with its partner departments and with citizens. Policies need to be evidence-based and risk-informed so that prioritised, high quality and implementable decisions can be made that have the confidence of stakeholders. For policy makers, risk management must be practical and founded on cutting edge science.The EPSRC/ESRC/NERC/Defra Collaborative Centre of Excellence in Understanding and Managing Natural and Environmental Risks (the 'Risk Centre') will deliver practical research, tools and advice to Defra, whilst progressing a world-leading research agenda in risk science. Its role is to facilitate the provision of world-leading knowledge, understanding and managing of risk to provide an evidence base to inform policy development by Defra and other policy makers . To be cutting edge, the Risk Centre will: (1) lead the development of quantitative risk science; (2) generate new understanding about the societal response to risk and issues of governance; (3) create a fusion of academic and policy practice; (4) develop expertise within the research and Defra communities; and (5) be an authoritative source of risk expertise, especially on floods, radioactive waste, animal and plant disease, air quality and climate change. An overarching requirement is help Defra better explain its motives and actions to its stakeholders and so an important aspect of the Risk Centre's work will also be in communicating messages on environmental safety in accessible language.
Publications
Soane E
(2010)
Flood Perception and Mitigation: The Role of Severity, Agency, and Experience in the Purchase of Flood Protection, and the Communication of Flood Information
in Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space
Taylor C
(2012)
Selecting Policy Instruments for Better Environmental Regulation: a Critique and Future Research Agenda The Better Selection of Environmental Policy Instruments
in Environmental Policy and Governance
Mauelshagen C
(2014)
Effective risk governance for environmental policy making: A knowledge management perspective
in Environmental Science & Policy
Prpich G
(2011)
Character of Environmental Harms: Overcoming Implementation Challenges with Policy Makers and Regulators
in Environmental Science & Technology
Pollard SJ
(2008)
Exposure assessment of carcass disposal options in the event of a notifiable exotic animal disease: application to avian influenza virus.
in Environmental science & technology
Delgado J
(2010)
Intervention strategies for carcass disposal: pareto analysis of exposures for exotic disease outbreaks.
in Environmental science & technology
Li J
(2012)
Evidence and belief in regulatory decisions - Incorporating expected utility into decision modelling
in Expert Systems with Applications
Skinner D
(2014)
Identifying Uncertainty in Environmental Risk Assessments: The Development of a Novel Typology and Its Implications for Risk Characterization
in Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal
Morant M
(2012)
Assessment of Consequences of Notifiable Fish Disease Incursions in England and Wales
in Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal
Gormley A
(2013)
Impact Assessment of an Independent Agency for Animal Health in England
in Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal
| Description | Cranfield's 'Risk Centre' was established in 2008 following a national research competition let by Defra, ESRC, EPSRC and NERC. The Centre is fast becoming an authority on the analysis, management, communication and handling of environmental risk. It has a unique proximity to policy development through its relationship with Defra, deep experience of securing impact in policy settings and a distinctive position in the national landscape of environmental risk research. Since 2008, we have published numerous papers, conference papers, book chapters, expert reports and have delivered presentations (see attachment to this final report). We have chaired sessions at Society for Risk Analysis conferences and our scholarship has been praised by the Centre's advisory board (chaired by Prof. Mitch Small, Carnegie Mellon, Editor ES&T) and Defra's Science Advisory Council. We have advised Defra's ministerial Board on strategic risk appraisal and re-energised the environmental risk community within government (EA, Fera, Cefas and VLA) through publication of revised Government guidelines on environmental risk management. We have established or progressed partnerships with LSE (Soane) on the psychology of risk and with Nottingham (Kendall) on agent-based decision-making . Internationally, we collaborate with U Alberta (Hrudey), Flinders (Cromar) and with U South Australia (Naidu). The Centre has secured >£2m additional research income in 2 years and added 6 new PhDs to the Centre, supported by industry and Government. As a result, our activities have received significant support through investments in staff, studentships and facilities and this proposal is aligned with Cranfield University's Strategic Plan to 2015. |
| Exploitation Route | The Risk Centre's international board, chaired by Prof. Mitch Small of Carnegie Mellon commented: "The Centre is now at the stage where it should begin to benchmark its program and accomplishments against other risk research centers in the UK, Europe, North America, and elsewhere. The Cranfield Risk Centre may be unique in the extent to which it attempts to blend academic excellence with substantive impact on a governmental risk management agency. The benchmarking exercise should help to determine the extent to which this is true. The Centre should also affiliate with multinational consortia of units conducting related education, research, and decision-support functions. The International Risk Governance Council (IRGC) in Geneva is currently organizing such a consortium (see: http://www.irgc.org/)." |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Energy,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice,Transport |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/69450/pb13670-green-leaves-iii-1111071.pdf |
| Description | Cranfield's 'Risk Centre' was established in 2008 following a national research competition let by Defra, ESRC, EPSRC and NERC. The Centre is fast becoming an authority on the analysis, management, communication and handling of environmental risk. It has a unique proximity to policy development through its relationship with Defra, deep experience of securing impact in policy settings and a distinctive position in the national landscape of environmental risk research. Since 2008, we have published numerous papers, conference papers, book chapters, expert reports and have delivered presentations (see attachment to this final report). We have chaired sessions at Society for Risk Analysis conferences and our scholarship has been praised by the Centre's advisory board (chaired by Prof. Mitch Small, Carnegie Mellon, Editor ES&T) and Defra's Science Advisory Council. We have advised Defra's ministerial Board on strategic risk appraisal and re-energised the environmental risk community within government (EA, Fera, Cefas and VLA) through publication of revised Government guidelines on environmental risk management. We have established or progressed partnerships with LSE (Soane) on the psychology of risk and with Nottingham (Kendall) on agent-based decision-making . Internationally, we collaborate with U Alberta (Hrudey), Flinders (Cromar) and with U South Australia (Naidu). The Centre has secured >£2m additional research income in 2 years and added 6 new PhDs to the Centre, supported by industry and Government. As a result, our activities have received significant support through investments in staff, studentships and facilities and this proposal is aligned with Cranfield University's Strategic Plan to 2015. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Environment |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | "Dept for Business, Innovation and Skills" |
| Amount | £77,700 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Risk and responsbilty (Economics) |
| Organisation | Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2010 |
| End | 12/2010 |
| Description | AWWARF |
| Amount | £104,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | TC3184 |
| Organisation | Water Research Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 04/2010 |
| End | 09/2012 |
| Description | Dept for Env Food & Rural Affairs DEFRA |
| Amount | £153,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Adaptation reporting power |
| Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2009 |
| End | 11/2011 |
| Description | Dept for Env Food & Rural Affairs DEFRA |
| Amount | £45,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Better regulation team |
| Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2010 |
| End | 12/2013 |
| Description | Dept for Env Food & Rural Affairs DEFRA |
| Amount | £1,800,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Evidence programme |
| Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2011 |
| End | 03/2014 |
| Description | Dept for Env Food & Rural Affairs DEFRA |
| Amount | £1,800,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Evidence programme |
| Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2011 |
| End | 03/2014 |
| Description | Dept for Env Food & Rural Affairs DEFRA |
| Amount | £153,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Adaptation reporting power |
| Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2009 |
| End | 11/2011 |
| Description | Dept for Env Food & Rural Affairs DEFRA |
| Amount | £45,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Better regulation team |
| Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2010 |
| End | 12/2013 |
| Description | E.On |
| Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Mauelshagen PhD top up |
| Organisation | E ON |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | Germany |
| Start | 09/2009 |
| End | 09/2010 |
| Description | E.On |
| Amount | £11,328 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Risk governance |
| Organisation | E ON |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | Germany |
| Start | 09/2008 |
| End | 09/2011 |
| Description | E.On |
| Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Mauelshagen PhD top up |
| Organisation | E ON |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | Germany |
| Start | 09/2009 |
| End | 10/2012 |
| Description | EPAL |
| Amount | £38,250 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Ana Luis Margarida (PhD) |
| Organisation | EPAL (Portuguese water utility) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Portugal |
| Start | 01/2010 |
| End | 09/2014 |
| Description | Environment Agency (Grouped) |
| Amount | £48,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Regulation |
| Organisation | Environment Agency |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2009 |
| End | 10/2012 |
| Description | Environment Agency (Grouped) |
| Amount | £48,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Regulation |
| Organisation | Environment Agency |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2009 |
| End | 02/2010 |
| Description | LARCI |
| Amount | £40,100 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Risk |
| Organisation | Research Councils UK (RCUK) |
| Department | Local Authorities and Research Councils Initiative |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2010 |
| End | 04/2011 |