RISK AND SAFETY WALKS

The risk and safety walks are organised by the Centre for Societal Risk Research and consist of a walk-and-talk seminar, where participants get the chance to deepen their knowledge and exchange experiences. The idea is to create a learning situation based on the place, the problem and the participants.

The place serves as a starting point to discuss general issues related to societal risks, how these risks are managed at local, regional and national levels, and possible measures. The connection to a specific place helps spark interest and makes it easier to understand the issues. It is about seeing what we are talking about! Observing how pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and public transport interact in an environment with intense traffic, seeing how high the water has risen during past floods, or discussing new planning proposals on-site.

The discussion is grounded in the problem at hand, that is, the societal risk, the consequences of this risk and measures to prevent the risk, etc. We link relevant research and development in the field to the problem in question. This also helps spark interest and common ground.

The discussion is also based on the people who participate in the walk. With extensive experience in learning, we know how important it is to connect new knowledge to prior knowledge and experiences. We also have plenty of material to draw from, which means the walk can be tailored to the group. Prior knowledge, areas of interest and engagement guide the content more than in a traditional seminar or indoor meeting. The transitions between stops along the walk become natural spaces for discussion, where participants can ventilate their thoughts with the “guide” or fellow “walkers”. Often, there is a lot of knowledge and experience within the group.

We have conducted a number of walks on various themes within risk and safety for a wide range of groups, from schoolchildren and students to Swedish and international expert groups and the general public.