Purpose of Conference
Risk Analysis is a maturing field. It is also scattered among many domains of application.
In the engineering world, it has been developed to large extent in the nuclear power industry,
and relies mostly on systems analysis and probability. It has roots in quality control,
statistical process control, reliability theory and since the 1970s at least,
in probabilistic risk assessment approaches. In the world of environmental/health
risk assessment, the quantification of human exposure and dose-response relationships
have been based mostly on a mix of systems analysis, statistics, plausible upper bounds
and physiological models. In the management world, risk analysis started with finance and
insurance, with spectacular developments, mostly based on statistical methods. It now
concerns operations and project management, accounting strategy, and marketing.
In addition, some of the recent work on enterprise risk management and on credit risk
also relies in part on systems analysis, probability and stochastic processes.
Risk analysis is a concern not only for the industry, but also for the government. Directives from DOD, NASA and other government agencies require risk analysis in their appropriations. The government also faces serious issues regarding energy, the environment and unfortunately, growing threats of terrorist attacks.
This diversity offers opportunities for fruitful synergies, but also creates some difficulties. Trying to develop generic approaches, and understanding the meaning of concepts in different domains is certainly important for the development of risk analysis methods in specified disciplines but also for cross-fertilization among sectors. This cross-fertilization across sectors and an exchange of ideas and methods are the main objectives of the conference.
