Seminar: A Decision Science Approach to Climate and Energy Solutions (13 Apr 16)

Wednesday 13 April 2016, 1-2pm, Baines Wing Miall LT (2.34)

Speaker: Professor Baruch Fischhoff, Carnegie Mellon University

Please note: Refreshments will be available afterwards

Decision science approaches any problem through three interrelated activities: formal analysis of the decision involved, characterizing how thoughtful, well-informed individuals would view it; descriptive research, examining how people actually behave in those circumstances; and interventions, informed by the formal analysis and descriptive research, designed to create attractive options and help decision makers choose among them.  Each activity requires collaboration with technical experts (e.g., climate scientists, geologists, power systems engineers, regulatory analysts) and continuing engagement with decision makers.  Carnegie Mellon’s Behavior Decision and Policy Working Group (http://www.cmu.edu/epp/behavior-decision-policy/) has pursued a decision science strategy in a variety of domains related to mitigating climate change or adapting to its effects, including preparing for sea level rise, adopting smart grid technologies in homes, and investing in energy efficiency for office buildings.  The talk will illustrate the approach through examples of the work.  When successful, decision science can facilitate creating climate- and energy-related policies that are behaviorally informed, realistic, and respectful of the people whom they seek to aid.

Based on Gabrielle Wong-Parodi, Tamar Krishnamurti, Alex Davis, Daniel Schwartz, and Baruch Fischhoff, “A decision science approach for integrating social science in climate and energy solutions,” Nature Climate Change (in press).

Baruch Fischhoff is Howard Heinz University Professor, Department of Engineering and Public Policy and Department of Social and Decision Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, where he heads the Decision Sciences major.

This seminar is hosted by the Centre for Decision Research, Business School, Sustainability Research Institute, Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy and the Priestley Centre.

Open to University of Leeds staff and students.