Public Information and Community Outreach

Risk Institute Series

Series Coordinator:
Glenn Fleming, Ed.D.
Professor of Library Science and Informatics
Medical University of South Carolina

Overview
PICO will plan and convene a series of one-day institutes on risk assessment and risk management principles as the foundation for practical, effective environmental policy initiatives. These initiatives will provide diverse stakeholder constituencies with a common understanding of principles central to formulating, enacting and enforcing environmental policy. The focus will be on understanding environmental health risks.

The Risk Institutes will be held at the Medical University of South Carolina, in Charleston, SC. Each institute will consist of multiple presentations on risk assessment and risk management principles, and their practical applications for the development of public policy related to environmental health risks. A practical exercise, employing principles discussed in the program, will serve to summarize and integrate the main teaching points of the institute.

PICO's experience in envisioning and developing partnerships between and among a wide range of government agencies, regional- and national-level professional organizations, stakeholder groups and educational institutions is central to the Risk Institutes' impact. Leveraging funding and philosophical support from various groups assures maximum "value added" for all, and raises the possibility of conducting similar Risk Institutes at sites other than Charleston, possibly as agenda items in national-level meetings.

Relevance
The Risk Institute Series delivers concepts of risk assessment and risk management to key stakeholder and policy-making constituencies, who must deal with public health issues. This promotes understanding of the scientific basis of these concepts and enhances the ability of community leaders to work more effectively and efficiently in addressing public concerns about environmental health risks.