Our areas of research

• Risk Governance

• Communication, Perception and Participation

• Evaluation Research

• Science and Society: Transfer and Foresight

For information on our projects please click on the research areas.

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Risk Governance

DIALOGIK conducts basic research in the field of risk governance. Risk governance includes all decision and policy making processes to regulate or manage risks by plural actors such as governments, agencies, scientific institutions, private corporations and representatives of civil society. It includes analytic research on governance structures as well as normative advice to improve governance practice. Of special importance is the investigation of so-called systemic risks, which may have secondary effects on economy and civil society. DIALOGIK advocates a multi- and trans-disciplinary approach towards risk governance, incorporating different scientific disciplines. Furthermore, DIALOGIK understands risk governance as an iterative process consisting not only of the traditional elements of risk regulation, i.e. risk assessment and risk management, but also risk communication and participation, as well as framing, risk evaluation and risk perception. The emphasis on participation is captured in the term inclusive risk governance, which advocates the inclusion of stakeholders from various social groups in the risk governance process. Different and heterogeneous proposals have been made to conceptualise risk governance processes. DIALOGIK’s managing and scientific director, Ortwin Renn, has designed for the International Risk Governance Council an innovative integrative model of Inclusive Risk Governance, which harmonises existing risk governance approaches. The IRGC Risk Governance Framework serves two purposes. First, it conceptualises good risk governance of policy issues. Second, it offers a framework for the coherent analysis of risk governance processes. DIALOGIK has been involved in numerous case studies to apply and test the framework.

Section Head:
Pia-J. Schweizer, M.A. (Schweizer@dialogik-expert.de)

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Communication, Perception and Participation

The section “Communication, Perception and Participation” investigates processes of public dialogue, social interaction and decision making in politics, economy and society. It explores and develops systematically novel approaches to scientific and technological communication. It investigates the perception and acceptance of risk and technologies employing a variety of empirical research methods and designs, and tests innovative forms of stakeholder and public involvement in scientific or technological debates. In addition, DIALOGIK is active in developing methods of conflict resolution and mediation. DIALOGIK has experience with a variety of methods and techniques: For many empirical analyses methods such as expert delphis, group delphis, focus groups and open space conferences are applied; for participatory purposes procedures such as round tables, consensus conferences, citizen panels or juries, future workshops and mediation belong to the portfolio of the Institute. DIALOGIK develops tailor-made communication programmes in accordance with the topic, the task and the context. In addition to exploring, investigating and designing new communication programmes, DIALOGIK has the expertise to conduct communication or participation projects and to organize stakeholder and public involvement processes. The present subject areas of DIALOGIK in this section are: chemical risks, exposure to magnetic fields due to mobile phones and transmitters, environmental pollution, fishery management, nuclear waste disposal, land use and sustainable resource consumption.

Section Head:
Christina Benighaus, Dipl. Geogr. (Benighaus@dialogik-expert.de)

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Evaluation Research

Evaluation is a distinct research discipline for analysing the effects of research projects or political programs, for investigating the success or failure of these project or programs and for identifying problems or deficiencies if the stated goals were not accomplished. Research in evaluation is based on a set of distinct methods that include survey design for measuring effects and identifying common patterns or tendencies from a variety of studies similar to a meta-analysis. Currently, DIALOGIK is involved in projects dealing with the evaluation of participation projects in scientific, environmental or technological policy arenas and of model projects and pilot studies aimed at increasing technological literacy among students and the general population.

Section Head:
Dr. Uwe Pfenning (Pfenning@dialogik-expert.de)

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Science and Society: Transfer and Foresight

This section focuses on the interdependencies between science/technology (S&T) and society. The two major topics refer to the diffusion of technological and scientific knowledge in society and the improvement of science literacy in the population. Major research questions are: How does S&T influence society and vice versa? Which technological developments do we expect in the future; and how do or will these new developments impact on environment, economy and society? Foresight is looking at the implications of science and technology on society and the role that technology and science can play in possible future developments of society. Other research projects address the problem of improving the understanding of scientific and technological issues among and between experts, users, and the public at large. Finally, the section investigates processes of knowledge transfer between distinct actors such as research institutions and small industries. Successful knowledge transfer relies on a thorough analysis of the social and cultural context.

Section Head:
Marlen Schulz, M.A. (Schulz@dialogik-expert.de)

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