Side Event - BWC Meeting of Experts

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This event already took place. You can read a recap of it on the blog of the Geneva Science-Policy Interface.


Complementing the BWC Meeting of Experts, SI invites for an in-person lunch session on the topic of “long-term decision-making in the face of global catastrophic biological risks”.

Global catastrophic biological risks - stemming from dual-use research of concern - pose significant threats to societies worldwide. While their likelihood is lower than that of natural pandemics, they are expected to be much deadlier. Their lack of precedent raises questions whether governments, international organizations and civil society are sufficiently aware to prevent an outbreak or mitigate its adverse consequences. Risk perception and preparedness decision-making are a function of individuals’ education, values, and cognition. How to support individuals in their evaluation of risks and decision-making?

This session brings a behavioral lens to the management of global catastrophic biological risks. The Centre for the Study of Existential Risks will provide a primer on global catastrophic biological risks. The Simon Institute for Longterm Governance and the Geneva Science-Policy Interface will present the behavioral science of decision-making in the face of global catastrophic risks. The rest of the session will be interactive, and participants will learn about risk perceptions and decision-making under uncertainty.

Agenda (13:15-14:45)

  • 13:15 - Welcome and introduction to the session - Nicolas Seidler, Executive Director, Geneva Science-Policy Interface (GSPI)
  • 13:20 - Global catastrophic biological risks: a Primer - Lalitha Sundaram, Postdoc, Centre for the Study of Existential Risks (CSER)
  • 13:40 - The behavioral science of global catastrophic risk decision-making - Maxime Stauffer, CEO, Simon Institute for Longterm Governance (SI); Science-policy officer, GSPI
  • 14:00 - Interactive segment on risk prioritization and taking action under uncertainty - Konrad Seifert, COO, SI
  • 14:35 - Conclusion - Nicolas Seidler

Location

Geneva Press Club - a 10-minute walk from the Pregny Gate of Palais des Nations (Chem. de l’Impératrice 18, 1292 Pregny-Chambésy).

Or on Zoom.

A brown bag lunch will be provided.

Please, sign up here.