Authors: Abacioglu, F.; Zacharias, L.; Link, S.; Eggeling-Böcker, M.; Böhmert, C.
Society for Risk Analysis – Europe, 33nd Annual Conference, 15 – 19 June, 2025, Stavanger, Norway.
Abstract
Scientific uncertainty is an immanent part of risk assessments. It is impossible to empirically prove the harmlessness of any agent. While this can be considered a “problem” for risk assessment itself, it is also a Problem for risk communication. For agents that are generally considered rather well-researched and safe by scientific bodies, such as electromagnetic fields (EMFs) used in mobile communication, risk communicators have to decide how much uncertainty they want to communicate. This is especially challenging as their audience, often laypeople, strives for the absence of risk, seeking “absolute” safety if the benefits do not outweigh any potential drawbacks. Hence, risk communicators face a dilemma – it would be scientifically sound to mention uncertainties, but their lay audiences often want clear answers. As a tool to remediate this dilemma, we are developing a serious game. The game targets lay people interested in and potentially also worried about EMFs in mobile communication and human health. In the game, players play a risk communicator and experience the dilemma posed by uncertainty firsthand. The main goal the game is supposed to achieve is an increase in openness towards risk communicators and risk communication generally. Further desired outcomes are an increase in trust in science communicators and an improved understanding of scientific uncertainty. In the presentation, key features of the game will be highlighted, its co-creative development process described and the results of a first evaluation of the game’s effects will be presented.