More or Less: Behind the Stats

Communicating Risk

More or Less: Behind the Stats

Itโ€™s the fourth anniversary of the earthquake which devastated the city of Lโ€™Aquila in Italy and which led to the conviction of six scientists and an official who failed to predict the disaster. Scientists and statisticians worldwide were alarmed at the six-year sentences for manslaughter the seven accused received. It was feared the prospect of being put on trial would put off scientists from even trying to communicate risk โ€“ a very difficult business. But the risk assessorsโ€™ pendulum seems to have swung the other way. Data and alarms about tremors are being issued regularly, triggering school closures and building evacuations. But how useful is this information? Ruth Alexander speaks to Ian Main, professor of seismology and rock physics at Edinburgh University in the UK, who puts the risks into context.

Next Episodes

More or Less: Behind the Stats

That's not much gold @ More or Less: Behind the Stats

๐Ÿ“† 2013-03-30 01:00 / โŒ› 00:09:30


More or Less: Behind the Stats

Can big data save lives? @ More or Less: Behind the Stats

๐Ÿ“† 2013-03-23 01:00 / โŒ› 00:09:30



More or Less: Behind the Stats

HIV in numbers @ More or Less: Behind the Stats

๐Ÿ“† 2013-03-09 01:00 / โŒ› 00:09:30


More or Less: Behind the Stats

Is the Kenyan election already decided? @ More or Less: Behind the Stats

๐Ÿ“† 2013-03-02 01:00 / โŒ› 00:09:12