Disruptive technologies: Risks worth taking?

Risks and (disruptive) technologies are closely connected. Technologies can reduce risks, but also introduce new ones. Socially disruptive technologies have a huge impact on our lives. Technologies like artificial intelligence, Internet-of-Things, gene editing, social robots and geo-engineering fundamentally change society. Artificial intelligence, for example, can reduce health and safety risks or improve user experiences, but can also lead to social disruption through discrimination and exclusion of specific groups of people, filter bubbles and privacy and security risks.

The Society for Risk Analysis-Europe (SRA-E) Benelux organized its 2021 Conference on 16 March, which focused on the Risk-Technology Nexus, and particularly the trade-offs of potentially disruptive technologies. This event was co-organized with the TU/e Center for Humans and Technology.

The event welcomed researchers, academics, practitioners and policy makers, and of course SRA-E members, and shared the latest insights and practices.

>> The abstracts can be downloaded below <<

MORNING SESSION 11.00 - 12.00

Parallel session 1: Perspectives on risk perception 1: privacy and security risk perception of smart devices (parallel room A)
Moderator: Patty Jansen

• Unpacking the Privacy Paradox for the Internet of Things (IoT) by using aspect listing. Qizhang Sun
• Privacy Concern and Privacy-Protective Behavior: The Privacy Paradox in the Context of Mobile Applications. Vanessa Ayres-Pereira
• The effect of perceived privacy and physical safety risks and a cyber-security warning on decision making about smart devices in the home. Nicole Huijts

Parallel session 2: Perspectives on conflicting values, attitudes and beliefs (parallel room B)
Moderator: Catrinel Turcanu

• Safety and security or safety vs security? The benefits of tension venues to deal with safety and security in high-risk organizations. Colin Glesner
• The Two Faces of Intensive Livestock Farming: Perceptions of Residents, Farmers and Other Stakeholders.  Valerie Eijrond
• Value Conflicts in Designing for Safety: A Case Study of Miniaturization Processes using Hydrogen Cyanide. Britte Bouchaut

Parallel session 3: Perspectives on transparency and governance of risks (parallel room C)
Moderator: Ric van Poll

• Need for more transparency in scientific risk assessment: the case of EFSA opinions on bisphenol A. Miriam Urlings
• Legitimacy, risk and Luhmann. Richard Pretorius
• Polycentric risk governance in new energy technologies. Ben Riemersma

AFTERNOON SESSION 14.00 – 15.00

Parallel session 4: Perspectives on risk perception 2: Effects on behaviour, acceptance and regulation (parallel room A)
Moderator: Tom Jansen

• Using behavioral psychology to increase smoke alarm ownership. A mixed methods approach. Patty Jansen
• Risk governance as a continuum of risk perception and legality: The harmonisation of EU electricity sector oversight. Susann Handke
• Public opinion of industrial CCS in the UK and the Netherlands: Effects of outcome perceptions, proximity and industry attitudes. Kevin Broecks

Parallel session 5: Perspectives on citizen science and participation in decision making (parallel room B)
Moderator: Colin Glesner

• Stakeholder Engagement in Radiological Protection – Comparing and contrasting three exposure contexts. Catrinel Turcanu
• Unsettling the Science-Technology-Society Nexus: Grassroots Citizen Science as a Risky Technology of Governance. Michiel van Oudheusden
• Examining the factors that influence public participation intention concerning decommissioning of nuclear power plants in Belgium. Ferdiana Hoti

Parallel session 6: Perspectives on technological innovations in health care:  attitudes, perception and acceptance (parallel room C)
Moderator: Maarten de Haan

• Risking patient safety: the sad career of a technological innovation. Chris Bennett
• Self-tracking technologies and risk in healthcare. Michał Wieczorek
• Social media posts as indicator of acceptance of vaccines against Covid-19. Margôt Kuttschrauter