Publications

“…a fascinating assessment of the level of threat posed by various illnesses, accidents, environmental pollutants and other factors.”                                                                          – Publisher’s Weekly Reader Reviews: “…the scientific facts without the hype” “…the antidote to media scares” “…a MUST HAVE book that should be on everyone's bookshelf.” “…translates hard science into concise, interesting, and readable text that anyone (even a child) can understand.”

Here are some things I have written about risk perception and risk communication. The list includes examples from both the popular press and the peer-reviewed academic literature. You can find more current writings, occasionally updated, on the On Risk blog

(You will find key names cited in many of these writings - Paul Slovic, Baruch Fischhoff, Daniel Kahneman, Joseph LeDoux. These are the pioneering scientists who have identified critical elements of the human system of risk perception. Key books or articles by them are listed on the Bibliography page".

1. “Risk Communication, An Overlooked Tool for Improving Public Health”, a chapter for the textbook Public Health and Preventive Medicine, in press


2. “The Consequences of Fear”, EMBO Reports (The Journal of the European Molecular Biology organization, Science and Society Special Report), vol. 5, 2004


3. "How Risky is Flying", PBS-NOVA essay on risk perception for a program they did on the risk of dying in a plane crash.


4. “Never Bitten, Twice Shy: The Real Dangers of Summer”, opinion essay, New York Times, Aug. 9, 2003


5. “Risk Communication: A Neglected Tool in Protecting Public Health”,  Ropeik D, Slovic, P,   Risk in Perspective, vol. 11, issue 2, June 2003


6. “Dealing with the Danger of Fear: The Role of Risk Communication”, Health Affairs vol. 21, no. 6, 106-116, Nov./Dec 2002


7. “Be Afraid of Being Very Afraid”, opinion essay, The Washington Post, Oct. 20, 2002
   


8. “Conquer terrorists’ most powerful weapon: Fear”, opinion essay, USA Today, September 27, 2001


9. “Let’s Get Real About Risk”, opinion essay, The Washington Post,  Aug. 6, 2002