Communicating Risk and Uncertainty I

Tuesday, 8 July 2025: 11:00-12:45
Location: SJES019 (Faculty of Legal, Economic, and Social Sciences (JES))
TG04 Sociology of Risk and Uncertainty (host committee)

Language: English

This session will explore the multifaceted nature of communicating risk and uncertainty, in the context of a variety of risks, crisis and disasters including the COVID-19 pandemic, war, and climate change.

Understanding risk communication is crucial as it shapes public perception and response. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the complexities of conveying risks and uncertainties, revealing gaps and challenges in existing frameworks. Similarly, conflicts and natural disasters underscore the importance of effective communication strategies in managing crises and mitigating impacts.

We seek contributions that examine how risks are framed and communicated across different social contexts, and how these narratives influence behavior, policy, or societal outcomes. Presentations that develop or discuss theoretical perspectives of communicating risk and uncertainty are especially welcome.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Communication strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Theoretical papers
  • Risk communciation and management in conflict zones
  • The role of media in shaping risk narratives
  • The impact of structural inequalities on risk distribution and communication
  • Case studies of effective or ineffective risk communication in past disasters
Session Organizer:
Anna OLOFSSON, Mid Sweden University, Sweden
Chair:
Jurgita JURKEVICIENE, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania
Oral Presentations
Disaster Preparedness and Risk Communication: A Dynamic Social Vulnerability Perspective
Sten HANSSON, University of Tartu, Estonia
The Role of Social Media in Facilitating Collective Action for Risk Response during Disasters: A Case Study of the 2021 "Henan Floods" in China
Wujiong REN, China; Qian LI, Beijing Normal University, China; Yuan HE, School of Journalism and Communication, Hebei University, China; Hongzhong ZHANG, Beijing Normal University, China
Post-Mortem Care and Funeral Services at the Uncertain Times of Covid-19 Pandemic: Focusing on Various Communicating Risks
Jimin OH, Republic of Korea; Seil OH, Sogang University, South Korea
The Double Uncertainty: Navigating Healthcare Risks By Scientists and Journalists during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Dino NUMERATO, Charles University, Czech Republic; Jana ROSENFELDOVÁ, Charles University, Czech Republic; Karolína PŠTROSS, Charles University, Czech Republic
See more of: TG04 Sociology of Risk and Uncertainty
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