@article {bnh-2346, title = {Scientific diversity, scientific uncertainty and risk mitigation policy and planning: Annual project report 2014-2015}, number = {138}, year = {2015}, month = {02/11/2015}, institution = {Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC}, address = {Melbourne}, abstract = {

Efforts to anticipate and mitigate natural hazards have generated a diverse field of natural science that is drawn upon by a wide range of practitioners and decision makers as part of making strategic decisions to anticipate and mitigate natural hazard events. This project asks, Given that uncertainty is an inherent part of scientific practice and method, how do those engaged in risk mitigation manage these scientific uncertainties in their decision-making?

By moving beyond simplistic assumptions that science can be directly translated into policy and practice, we instead analyse how risk professionals and others express and manage differing opinions about the diverse forms of knowledge and uncertainties inherent to mitigation practice {\textendash} including in terms of their relative influence and changeability {\textendash} and to investigate how science comes to inform risk mitigation policy and practice. This work supports the capacity of risk management practitioners to explain, justify and discuss mitigation practices to other risk mitigation professionals, the public, the media, and in court and inquiry processes.

The second year of the Scientific Diversity, Scientific Uncertainty And Risk Mitigation Policy And Planning (RMPP) project has been occupied with project development, literature reviews, fieldwork, publication development and end user engagement. Some key activities in this second year include:

The RMPP project has developed quickly, thanks to robust engagement with industry and support from end users and the project team. The project is well placed to continue to build on this successful year of research and engagement by developing the second and third case studies and disseminating emerging research results.

}, issn = {138}, author = {Jessica Weir and Timothy Neale} }