http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/hazards/discussions/teaching_hazard.html#discussion http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/hazards/discussions/teaching_hazard.html#post18424 Katryn Wiese 1326149880 http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/hazards/discussions/teaching_hazard.html#post18424 http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/hazards/discussions/teaching_hazard.html#post18430
You might want to check out some of the contributions from the earlier Cutting Edge workshop on Teaching Public Policy in the Geosceinces: http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/publicpolicy/index.html
]]> Dave Mogk 1326234180 http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/hazards/discussions/teaching_hazard.html#post18430 http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/hazards/discussions/teaching_hazard.html#post18433 Robert Butler 1326251700 http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/hazards/discussions/teaching_hazard.html#post18433 http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/hazards/discussions/teaching_hazard.html#post18438 Emily Peterman 1326390000 http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/hazards/discussions/teaching_hazard.html#post18438 http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/hazards/discussions/teaching_hazard.html#post18439 Wendi Williams 1326394080 http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/hazards/discussions/teaching_hazard.html#post18439 http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/hazards/discussions/teaching_hazard.html#post18443
Thereafter, what action do we take to create policy? Do we mandate that all homeowners spend several thousand dollars to mitigate radon to the 4 picocuries per liter levels to err on the side of safety, or are we suffering myopia by not looking at how these same homeowners might spend those same amount of money better to maintain better health in other ways?

In the end, if you have a limited budget and a home with indoor radon of 6 picocuries per liter in the family room downstairs, what are you going to do? You action must be evidence-based. Such challenges produce considerable understanding in how policies enacted are often either not based on evidence or are based on single-issue interests without considering broader perspectives.

I particularly like to use domestic dwellings as examples, because most citizens aspire to own a home, and geohazards really are a factor in evaluating that purchase even in "mundane" terrain. One need not live in a high-risk earthquake terrain to be affected in serious ways both physically and financially from decisions based on lack of evidence.
]]> Ed Nuhfer 1326423960 http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/hazards/discussions/teaching_hazard.html#post18443