Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Anders Melin
Summary: Synthetic biology has valuable applications but also poses risks, with bioterrorism being a major concern. Some scholars argue risks are exaggerated, while I believe certain risks, like the creation and spread of known pathogenic viruses, should not be underestimated.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
U. Diwekar, A. Amekudzi-Kennedy, B. Bakshi, R. Baumgartner, R. Boumans, P. Burger, H. Cabezas, M. Egler, J. Farley, B. Fath, T. Gleason, Y. Huang, A. Karunanithi, V Khanna, A. Mangan, A. L. Mayer, R. Mukherjee, G. Mullally, V Rico-Ramirez, D. Shonnard, M. Svanstrom, T. Theis
Summary: This study presents perspectives on the role of uncertainty in managing the Earth for global sustainability, derived from talks and discussions at the 2019 TARDIS workshop. It discusses four types of uncertainties encountered in sustainability, ranging from clear enough futures to true surprises, as well as the current state-of-the-art in assessing and mitigating these uncertainties.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2021)
Article
Ethics
Jonathan Pugh, Dominic Wilkinson, Ian Kerridge, Julian Savulescu
Summary: This paper outlines the ethical justification for different policy approaches to managing emerging vaccine risks during a pandemic. It discusses the precautionary approach, the harms of excessive caution, and the importance of considering both benefits and risks of vaccination. Three policy approaches that balance vaccine benefits and harms are outlined, and the influence of moral theories on these approaches is explained. The analysis highlights the fundamental value conflicts in public health ethics in the global context of vaccine policy.
JOURNAL OF LAW AND THE BIOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Industrial
Kjell Hausken
Summary: The precautionary principle is applied with multiple players, each having a different threshold for acceptable uncertainty. A flow chart illustrates how threats impact uncertainty and players assess and lower threats and uncertainty through games and feedback loops until all players are below their threshold.
RELIABILITY ENGINEERING & SYSTEM SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Development Studies
Alberto Quintavalla, Orlin Yalnazov
Summary: This article develops a framework to guide the EU in choosing the legal form for regulating eco-innovation. The framework distinguishes between uncertain and risky applications of eco-innovation and proposes the use of directives and regulations based on their advantages in different situations. It also suggests a more productive approach to conceptualizing the choice between directives and regulations than the sovereignty-versus-competition model that is commonly used.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Md Alauddin, Faisal Khan, Syed Imtiaz, Salim Ahmed, Paul Amyotte
Summary: The study implemented engineering safety principles and Paté-Cornell's uncertainty model to assess pandemic risk, categorized risk management strategies into hierarchical safety measures, and developed an event tree model for pandemic risk management, investigating the impact of different interventions on the survivability of infected individuals.
PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
(2021)
Article
Business
Claudia Kelsall, Martin F. Quaas, Nicolas Querou
Summary: We study the optimal harvesting of a renewable resource with stochastic dynamics and focus on the effect of risk aversion. It is found that under common specifications of risk aversion, increasing risk and risk aversion lead to increased current resource use. This is due to the resource user investing in risk-free alternatives rather than the risky resource stock. The quantitative application of the model for the Eastern Baltic cod fishery shows that risk and risk aversion can have a larger effect on optimal harvesting than previously thought.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Editorial Material
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
James Derbyshire
Summary: The lack of preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic in many countries highlights the short-term planning horizons and limited attention from policymakers, which are influenced by fundamental uncertainty. Preparedness should focus on plausibility rather than subjective probability to effectively address such extreme events. Plausibility-based scenario planning can enhance preparedness for global pandemics and contribute to better communication of uncertainties in risk science.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lisa M. W. Mogensen, Zhigang Mei, Yujiang Hao, Xavier A. Harrison, Ding Wang, Samuel T. Turvey
Summary: Conservation management requires robust data as evidence, but often there is a lack of available data on key parameters such as threats. However, insights relevant to conservation may be found within datasets collected for other purposes, so it is important to determine the information content of existing data for threatened species before investing in new data collection. The study on the Yangtze finless porpoise shows that despite severe decline, the relative impact of different anthropogenic activities in the region is unclear, preventing the identification of appropriate mitigation strategies. However, past datasets on porpoises and potential threats may provide new insights into the causes of decline.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Jose D. Rivera, Mario E. Favila
Summary: This study provides quantitative guidelines for establishing the sample size for optimal completeness of dung beetle diversity. It systematically reviews the relationship between sampling intensity and sampling coverage, habitat type, and the journal impact factor in peer-reviewed research. The study suggests that the collection intensity used in dung beetle studies should be reconsidered carefully.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Fritz-Julius Grafe, Harald A. Mieg
Summary: The Water Framework Directive aims to ensure high quality water services in Europe under the precautionary principle, creating pressure on cities to update their water infrastructures at great financial cost. Using the examples of London and Milan, this article explores how the precautionary principle affects urban water infrastructure provision and how regulating pollution risks can lead to both innovation and secondary risks in the sector.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Christopher Bobier, Daniel Rodger, Daniel J. J. Hurst, Adam Omelianchuk
Summary: It is predicted that xenotransplantation can potentially solve the global organ shortage by growing transplantable organs in transgenic pigs. However, concerns about the risks and ethical issues involved have led to questioning the overall value of xenotransplantation. In response, this article defends the value of xenotransplantation research and argues that it can adhere to strict welfare conditions for animal research and use, dismissing the alleged concerns as insufficient to halt or reduce xenotransplantation research.
XENOTRANSPLANTATION
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Bosko Josimovic, Aleksandar Cvjetic, Danilo Furundz
Summary: Spatial determination planning for wind farms is a crucial and sensitive stage in development, balancing wind potential and environmental protection. Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) plays a key role in finding optimal solutions and avoiding problems in later stages. Applying SEA in the early planning stages is important to formally apply the precautionary principle and prevent disadvantageous issues during project implementation.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary
Denisa Kostovicova, Eleanor Knott
Summary: This article discusses the ethical challenges arising from the unpredictability of interview relationships in conflict and post-conflict contexts, and argues for using a deliberative and iterative approach to understanding harm and harm thresholds in interview research.
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
(2022)
Editorial Material
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Geir Sverre Braut
Summary: The ongoing pandemic is a wicked problem that requires analysis through multiple theories and models. Approaching the challenges posed by the pandemic using singular methods can result in suboptimal decisions. Good decisions must consider the uncertainties we face and utilize established procedures, such as health technology assessment and a nuanced ethical framework.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Silviya Korpilo, Tarmo Virtanen, Tiina Saukkonen, Susanna Lehvavirta
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2018)
Article
Plant Sciences
Kukka Kyro, Stephan Brenneisen, D. Johan Kotze, Alexander Szallies, Magdalena Gerner, Susanna Lehvavirta
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2018)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Silviya Korpilo, Joel Jalkanen, Tarmo Virtanen, Susanna Lehvavirta
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Long Xie, Susanna Lehvavirta, Sari Timonen, Jutta Kasurinen, Juhamatti Niemikapee, Jari P. T. Valkonen
Article
Plant Sciences
Marja Mesimaki, Kaisa Hauru, Susanna Lehvavirta
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2019)
Article
Plant Sciences
Mikel Subiza-Perez, Kaisa Hauru, Kalevi Korpela, Arto Haapala, Susanna Lehvavirta
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2019)
Article
Plant Sciences
D. Johan Kotze, Kirsi Kuoppamaki, Juhamatti Niemikapee, Marja Mesimaki, Ville Vaurola, Susanna Lehvavirta
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2020)
Article
Plant Sciences
Long Xie, Susanna Lehvavirta, Jari P. T. Valkonen
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2020)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kukka Kyro, D. Johan Kotze, Malgorzata Anna Mullner, Sanja Hakala, Elod Kondorosy, Timo Pajunen, Ferenc Vilisics, Susanna Lehvavirta
Article
Ecology
Miia Jauni, Kirsi Kuoppamaki, Marleena Hagner, Marju Prass, Taina Suonio, Ann-Mari Fransson, Susanna Lehvavirta
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maria Hallfors, Susanna Lehvavirta, Tone Aandahl, Iida-Maria Lehtimaki, Lars Ola Nilsson, Anna Ruotsalainen, Leif E. Schulman, Marko T. Hyvarinen
Article
Plant Sciences
Xi Shu, Marja Mesimaki, D. Johan Kotze, Mark Wales, Long Xie, Renan Benicke, Susanna Lehvavirta
Summary: The study highlights the importance of children in urban green space planning and design, and how they can express their needs and preferences through empathy-based stories. Both designed green spaces and wild nature offer a range of activities and experiences for children.
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Long Xie, Sari Timonen, Alan C. Gange, Kirsi Kuoppamaki, Marleena Hagner, Susanna Lehvavirta
Summary: Three experiments were conducted to investigate the survival and growth of plant growth-promoting microbes (PGPMs) in vegetated building envelopes (VBEs). The results showed that substrate pH, plant species, and biochar amendment had significant impacts on the microbial populations. This paper provides reference and inspiration for other VBE research involving substrate microbial manipulation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Long Xie, Xi Shu, D. Johan Kotze, Kirsi Kuoppamaki, Sari Timonen, Susanna Lehvavirta
Summary: This study conducted rain simulations on vegetation containers in vertical greenery systems to investigate stormwater management efficiency. The results showed that plant growth-promoting microbes significantly reduced runoff quantity, while well-ventilated sandy loam substrate improved water-use efficiency. Additionally, environmental conditions like substrate moisture, air temperature, and natural precipitation also influenced stormwater retention and evapotranspiration efficiency.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Marja Mesimaki, Kaisa Hauru, D. Johan Kotze, Susanna Lehvavirta
