From risk analysis in Europe to European risk analysis: the first ten years of SRA-E (1987-97)

Risk analysis has both a long past and a short history. This latter is written in the past 30 years. Technology's potential to create sometimes irreversible damage, as well as unprecedented improvement in standard of living, prompted the need for risk analysis. The Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) was created in the United States at the end of the 1970s. Its purpose was and is to bring together scientists and professionals concerned by issues of risk to health, safety and the environment, on an international and interdisciplinary basis. This article traces European participation in the SRA and recounts the founding of the chapter Society for Risk Analysis- Europe (SRA-E) in 1987. The composition of founding, Advisory and Executive Committees is given, as are themes and Directors of the seven Conferences held by SRA-E to date. SRA in 1987 counted 69 Europe-based members in 13 countries; in 1997, 25 countries are represented in SRA-Europe by 317 members. A trend is seen from a mainly geographic extension of SRA towards a more specific identity springing from risk research and management as practised today in Europe. The multicultural and multilingual experience of members, and their capacity for collaboration across national and disciplinary lines, are among European risk analysis' strongest assets. The present Journal of Risk Research can provide a forum for reinforcing new currents in risk analysis. The creation of a European university cursus in risk studies is recommended, as is a stronger role for SRA-E as a body of expertise. A call is made for risk analysis sustainable in national and cultural contexts removed from those that have developed today's art and practice: needed are appropriate conceptualizations of risk, management methods, and indicators of success. The Mediterranean basin and North Africa are targeted as areas for development and new learning for risk analysts, communicators, managers and researchers in the 21st century.