public risk perception

202 Pages·2013·3.18 MB·English

SP3-2013
Editors
Malavika Kapur
Dilip Ahuja
Sangeetha Menon
Proceedings of the Seminar on
PUBLIC RISK PERCEPTION
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED STUDIES
Bangalore, India

Proceedings of the Seminar on
P R P
ublic isk eRcePtion
Seminar held on 29th & 30th September 2011
Editors
Malavika Kapur
Dilip Ahuja
Sangeetha Menon
NatioNal iNstitute of advaNced studies
Indian Institute of Scicence Campus, Bangalore-560012
© National Institute of Advanced Studies 2013
Published by
National Institute of Advanced Studies
Indian Institute of Science Campus
Bangalore - 560 012
Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
SP3-2013
ISBN: 978-81-87663-75-1
Cover picture: Dr. Keshav Kumar, Nimhans, Bangalore.
Typeset & Printed by
Aditi Enterprises
Bangalore - 560 023
Ph.: 080-2310 7302
E-mail: [email protected]
CONTENTS
PREFACE ........................................................................................ix
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..........................................................xiii
PART I: BACKGROUND AND PSYCHOSOCIAL ASPECTS
OF RISK PERCEPTION
Chapter I: Introduction: Perception and Acceptance of
Public Risks
V S Ramamurthy ............................................................3
Chapter 2: Risk Perception and the Sense of Security:
A Humanities Approach
Sangeetha Menon..........................................................11
Chapter 3: Role of Risk Communication in Risk Studies
M G Narasimhan .........................................................25
Chapter 4: Psychological, Social and Cultural Perspectives on
Risk
Malavika Kapur ............................................................45
iii
PART II: NATURE OF SPECIFIC RISKS AND THE PUBLIC
PERCEPTION
Chapter 5: Risk Perception: Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs
Vivek Benegal ...............................................................59
Chapter 6: Cellphones, Possible Risks: Can it Cause Brain
Cancer?
D P SenGupta and Vani Santosh .................................73
Chapter 7: Demystifying GMOs in India
(Public Risk Perception of GM Crops)
M Mahadevappa ...........................................................87
Chapter 8: Threat Perceptions of Gene Manipulation
Nagesh Hegde ...............................................................97
Chapter 9: Public Perception of the Seriousness of Climate
Change as a Problem
Dilip R Ahuja ............................................................107
Chapter 10: Technology, Risk Perception and Acceptance: The
Case of Carbon Capture and Storage
Krishna Ravi Srinivas.................................................115
Chapter 11: Public Perception of Nuclear Power
K S Parthasarathy .......................................................139
Chapter 12: What is Really Real?
Atul H Chokshi ...........................................................161
PART III: PANEL DISCUSSIONS
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Chapter 13: Summary by Prof. R Rajaraman ..........................179
iv
List of Participants
Atul H Chokshi Geethanjali Monto,
Department of Materials Reporter, Current Science
Engineering Indian Academy of Science,
Indian Institute of Science Bangalore 560 080
Bangalore 560 012 [email protected]
Tel: [phone]
[email protected]
Chidambaran Iyer C B Jagannatha Rao
National Institute of Advanced (R) No.8, “UN-Saunli”, Ammai
Studies Amma Layout, SR Layout Road
IISc Campus, Bangalore 560012, Off NAL-Wind Tunnel Road
080-2218 5052, Murugeshpalya, Bangalore
[email protected] 560017, 080-41123449
Dilip R Ahuja K Lakshmi
National Insti.tute of Advanced Research Scholar, NIAS
Studies, IISc Campus, Bangalore [email protected]
560012, 080-2218 5135
[email protected]
Geetanjali Yadav M Mahadevappa
Ph.D. Scholar, NIAS Director, JSS Rural Dev.
[email protected] Foundation, Mysore - 570 004;
Ex-Chairman, ASRB, Ex-Vice
Chancellor UAS, Dharwad
# 1576, 1st Cross, Chandra Layout
Bangalore 560 040 080-23216040
[email protected]
v
Malavika Kapur Priyam Laxmi Borgohain
National Institute of Advanced Research Scholar, NIAS,
Studies, IISc Campus, Bangalore [email protected]
560012, 080-2218 5091
[email protected]
Nagesh Hegde R Rajaraman
Freelance Journalist, Emeritus Professor of Theoretical
Mytri Grama, Sulikere Post Physics, School of Physical
Kengeri Hobli Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru
Bangalore-560060, 080-22739757 University, New Delhi 110067
[email protected] 011-26704785
[email protected]
Namitha Kumar V S Ramamurthy
Research Scholar, NIAS, Director, National Institute of
[email protected] Advanced Studies, IISc Campus
Bangalore 560012, 080-2218 5075
2360 1969
[email protected]
M G Narasimhan K Ravi Srinivas
National Institute of Advanced Associate Fellow& Managing
Studies, IISc Campus, Editor: Asian Biotechnology &
Bangalore 560012, 080-2218 5081 Development Review
[email protected] RIS - Research & Information
System For Developing Coun-
tries, Zone -IV B, IVth Floor, India
Habitat Center Lodhi Road, New
Delhi 11 00 03, 011-24682177- 80
EXT 130 [email protected]
[email protected]
Narendar Pani Richa Malhotra
National Institute of Advanced Reporter, Current Science
Studies, IISc Campus, Bangalore Indian Academy of Science
560012, 080-2218 5145 Bangalore 560 080
[email protected] K S [email protected]
Parthasarathy Ritajyoti Bandyopadhyay
Former Secretary, AERB National Institute of Advanced
Flat 302, Mangal Prabha Sector 9 Studies, IISc Campus, Bangalore
Nerul, Navi Mumbai 400706 560012
022-25990357 [email protected]
vi
Sangeetha Menon Vani Santosh, MD
National Institute of Advanced Professor and Head, Department
Studies, IISc Campus, Bangalore of Neuropathology, NIMHANS
560012, 080-2218 5090 Bangalore 560029
[email protected] 080-2899 5132 (O)
[email protected]
D P SenGupta S Vasant Kumar
National Institute of Advanced 52, Divyasri, Aryanagar
Studies, IISc Campus, Bangalore Vysya Bank Colony
560012, 080-2218 5062 34th Main, J.P. Nagar Phase 1
[email protected] Bangalore 560078, 080-22455375
[email protected]
Shiv Sethi Vivek Benegal, M.D. Psychiatry
Associate Professor, Raman Additional Professor of
Research Institute, C. V. Raman Psychiatry, and Neurosciences
Avenue, Sadashivanagar NIMHANS, Bangalore 560029
Bangalore 560 080 080-2572-9310
[email protected] [email protected]
B V Sreekantan
National Institute of Advanced
Studies, IISc Campus,
Bangalore 560012, 080-2218 5082
[email protected]
vii