Progress in risk communication since the 1989 NRC report: response to ‘Four questions for risk communication’ by Roger Kasperson

While lauding research progress in risk communication, Roger Kasperson despairs of change in risk communication practices. Advances are nevertheless evident on several fronts, including the development and application of pragmatic and evidence-driven approaches to risk communication design, implementation of new engagement strategies, and efforts to communicate uncertainty. Systematic reviews in risk communication research are starting to appear, and will likely help clarify the lessons to be learned. Progress in these areas suggests building on current momentum by continuing to encourage: (1) systematic reviews of research and trends in risk communication; (2) judgment and decision-making research to inform risk communication design; and (3) integrative risk communication research, across disciplines and application domains.