Risk Communication and Analysis | Executive and Continuing Professional Education | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Programs

Benefit-Cost AnalysisValuing Life and Health
- September 19 – 23, 2022
Learn directly from one of Harvard’s experts on benefit-cost analysis, who will teach you the advantages and limitations of this method, improving your ability to evaluate, interpret, and use the results.
Applied Risk Communication for the 21st Century
- September 20 – 23, 2022
This program will provide state-of-the-science knowledge on designing effective risk communication messages to improve communication, increase trust in your organization, reduce public anxiety about an issue, and help key stakeholders make better decisions.
Environmental Health RiskAnalysis and Applications
- February 27, 2023 – March 3, 2023
Learn to assess the human health risks posed by exposure to environmental hazards including chemicals, pollution, and contaminated food. Explore the basics of health risk assessment and discuss applications of risk assessment to diverse problems.

News & Resources

Risk Analysis in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Weighing the Cost and Benefits of Vaccines and Masks

Every single day, people take risks. They drive in cars and fly in airplanes, expose themselves to environmental pollution and so much more. While some of these public health risks are so integrated into our lives that we’ve stopped worrying about them, other risks—such as engaging in activities that increase your likelihood of contracting COVID-19—can … Continue reading “Risk Analysis in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Weighing the Cost and Benefits of Vaccines and Masks”

Posted on November 7, 2021
How Do You Communicate Uncertainty and Promote Public Health — During COVID-19 and Beyond?

Despite a vast amount of research, there are many aspects of COVID-19 that continue to be perplexing. From the more transmissible variants of the virus to the necessity of mask-wearing after vaccination, the protocols of the pandemic continue to evolve — and inherent uncertainty about the virus will continue. Even when officials delivering information are … Continue reading “How Do You Communicate Uncertainty and Promote Public Health — During COVID-19 and Beyond?”

Posted on July 20, 2021
Using a Risk Analysis Framework to Guide COVID-19 Decisions

Every time you step outside of your home during the pandemic, there’s always the risk that you could get—or give—COVID-19. That’s why using risk analysis principles can be an important strategy to help assess the dangers that exist. “Risk analysis is a scientific tool that can help us assess threats to human health, provide input … Continue reading “Using a Risk Analysis Framework to Guide COVID-19 Decisions”

Posted on January 7, 2021
Developing Public Health Communication Strategies—And Combating Misinformation—During COVID-19

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to spread across the United States and the world. It is an unprecedented time—among other directives, people in affected areas have been asked to limit contact with others except when necessary (also known as social distancing), which has drastically impacted business, education, and daily life. The effects of the virus … Continue reading “Developing Public Health Communication Strategies—And Combating Misinformation—During COVID-19”

Posted on April 3, 2020
The Mercury Question: How to Understand Risk vs. Reward When Eating Fish

Should you stop, or drastically reduce, eating fish to avoid mercury? Depending on what you read or watch on TV, the answers might be contradictory. According to James K. Hammitt, program director of Environmental Health Risk: Analysis and Applications, the risk analysis isn’t as simple as avoiding fish entirely—in fact, people are ultimately missing out … Continue reading “The Mercury Question: How to Understand Risk vs. Reward When Eating Fish”

Posted on November 6, 2019
Establishing the Truth: Vaccines, Social Media, and the Spread of Misinformation

In June 2019, celebrity Jessica Biel lobbied against a pro-vaccine bill. She received intense backlash almost immediately, and the resulting scrutiny made international headlines. The exchange took place primarily on social media, where those against and those in favor of vaccines clashed—far from the first time such issues were aired loudly and publicly. Vish Viswanath, … Continue reading “Establishing the Truth: Vaccines, Social Media, and the Spread of Misinformation”

Posted on July 10, 2019
Critical Risk Analysis for Our Daily Lives

Dihydrogen Monoxide: it’s found everywhere, including in our body, ice caps and the air. There’s no stopping its infiltration into our lives, and if we get too much of it, we’ll die. Sound scary? It might, until we realize that Dihydrogen Monoxide is just the chemical name for water. Risk analysis is, at its core, … Continue reading “Critical Risk Analysis for Our Daily Lives”

Posted on September 26, 2018
The Need for Effective Risk Communication Strategies in Today’s Complex Information Environment

There has been growing awareness in recent years about the risks of serious injuries associated with playing football. But exactly how can organizations best communicate that risk to the people who care about this issue, such as parents of youngsters on little league teams, college football players, and professional athletes? One common element most effective … Continue reading “The Need for Effective Risk Communication Strategies in Today’s Complex Information Environment”

Posted on January 5, 2018
Vaccinating Against an Epidemic: The Story of an Ebola Vaccine

In August 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak then raging in West Africa a “public health emergency of international concern,” a formal designation by the WHO’s Emergency Committee that reflects the fact that the disease was spreading internationally and posed a risk to other countries yet unaffected. By the time the … Continue reading “Vaccinating Against an Epidemic: The Story of an Ebola Vaccine”

Posted on July 21, 2016
Tuberculosis in Rural America: What Tuberculosis in Marion, AL Tells Us

Many factors could be blamed for the spread of tuberculosis in a rural Alabama town earlier this year, including its residents’ fears of being stigmatized in a small town, poverty line, and the legacy of the Tuskegee experiments.

Posted on March 28, 2016
Risk Communication Considerations for the West Virginia Elk River Chemical Spill

Every day, we each analyze risk and perform cost/benefit analyses for even mundane tasks. For many people, this is particularly true when it comes to our health, from eating fatty foods to avoiding toxins. Risk assessment is also crucial on a larger scale when it comes to health, in situations where it is imperative to … Continue reading “Risk Communication Considerations for the West Virginia Elk River Chemical Spill”

Posted on August 11, 2015
Negotiating and Communicating With Patients

The idea of negotiating with a patient may seem odd, or even off-putting, to physicians and patients alike. But many physicians find they’re using management and leadership skills – such as negotiation and communication techniques – directly with patients, according to Kasisomayajula “Vish” Viswanath, professor of health communication at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public … Continue reading “Negotiating and Communicating With Patients”

Posted on February 25, 2015