User:Matthew

Homework 1

1. What is the main purpose of environmental health assessment?

The main purpose of environmental health assessments is to implement scientific base actions and support decisions on various issues relating to the environment and health.

2. What is impact assessment?

This can be defined as a structured process aimed identifying, evaluating, and considering impacts of developed policies.

3. What is the role of modelling in assessment and policy making?

answer: they can produce results for both past, future and alternative scenerios, they are cheap and faster than measurements.

←--#: . Good brief and clear answers. --Mikko Pohjola 10:45, 28 January 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: defence)

Homework 2

1. In open assessments, To what extent is value judgement and scentific claims involve in decision making if they are both subjected to open criticism.

2. What is the role of decisions in causal diagrame. At what point can a decision maker modify or influence the causal diagramme.

⇤--#: . Where can your other homework answers be found. If they are on someone else's user page(s), add links here so they can be found. --Mikko Pohjola 10:45, 28 January 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: attack) ←--#: . what is the meaning of the term intentional artifacts in result of an assessement --Matthew 10:35, 31 January 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: defence)

Homework 9

Assessment - Homework 3 of Niklas [[1]]

Knowledge-policy interaction

Characterization of knowledge-policy interaction

Attribute	characterization
Impacts	Environmental and health Impacts from Talvivaara mining company
Causes	waste water from talvivaara mining processes pose a huge environmetal issues
Problem owner	The Ministry of environment can make decisions on where the mining company can be sited Representatives from talvivaara can adopt a new mining waste water discharge option Engineers to evaluate, design, recommend a new technology with less hazardous waste discharge.
Target	The ministry of environment can use assesments to make recommendations on mining sites. The talvivaara mining represesatives can change to environmental friendly waste water discharge options Enginners can use the assessments to develop a new less mining waste water technology
Interaction	The assessment interacts with intended users of the assessment as it will drive action.The assessment interacts with the citizens of Talvivaara as it will give information on mining waste water hazards - resembles shared knowledge interaction framework.

Characterization of the dimensions of openness.

Dimension	Characterization
Scope of participation	citizens who live around talvivaara mining are excluded from participattion, talvivaara mining representatives, representatives from environmental organisations (neutral resserchers and specialist)
Access to information	The assessment dose not state that there will be public awareness on effects of the mining waste water discharge.
Timing of openness	Timing of participation by different stakeholders is not clearly stated, their participation and roles are defined.
Scope of contribution	The citizens contribution is not defined since their participating is excluded, the mining company representatives and environmetal specialist will involve in providing mining waste discharge options therefore reducing hazards. ----#: . though the following contributions was not stated --Matthew 17:43, 11 February 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment)
Impact of contribution	The public's contribution is not stated to be relevant to be taken into account but health impact on the citizen is considered which is assume to useful in the future

Evaluation of the assessment draft

Evaluation according to the properties of good assessment

Attribute	Score	Explanation
Quality of content	4	The content of the assessment is not clear and not well defined. The important issues are not addressed such as the main health and environmental effect of the waste mining water to the citizens of talvivaara.
Applicability: Relevance	4	The needs of intended users are not clearly stated to be met as scenerio are not well defined. however dose response level of exposure needed to be identified.
Applicability: Availability	3	The availability of the assessment is not mentioned, In my opinion however, the assessment should be available to every citizens living around the talvivaara who are interested in the assessments .
Applicability: Usability	4	The intended users may not have a full benefit of the assessment as it dose not provide adequate information on the talvivaara mining company.
Applicability: Acceptability	4	The assessment should be rejected by the mining representative and by other stakeholders more importantly since there is no clear participation of the citizens of the talvivaara in other to study if they have been affected by the waste mining water discharge in lakes. Broad and explicit collaboration is probably the right way to go if one wants acceptance to the assessment evaluation
Efficiency	4	Though a lot of effort will be required in doing this assessment so as to make it efficient, but in this case, the assessment is not efficient as it needs the citizens of talvivaara participation, environmental experts, governments and other important stakeholders.

Comments and ideas how to improve the draft adequate collabortion is needed especially from the stakeholders. citizens contributions, environmental experts, government and others.

Assessment - Homework 3 of EmmaA [[2]]

Knowledge-policy interaction

Characterization of knowledge-policy interaction

Attribute	characterization
Impacts	Greenhouse gas emissions from traffic
Causes	The emissions considered are mainly from public transportation within the city.
Problem owner	The city council-ensuring more environmental friendly traffic options. The bus company on improving services to attract more customers.
Target	The bus company in Kuopio in making some business decisions such as pricing and number of buses. The city council of Kuopio for making recommendations for emissions of GHG from traffic. The inhabitants of Kuopio for knowledge on their contribution to GHG emission from their cars
Interaction	The assessment resembles the informing interaction framework ----#: . To me it seems that the information about interaction is quite limited. Could be informing, but I can imagine it becoming more collaborative as well. --Mikko Pohjola 16:45, 10 February 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment)←--#: . I agree that interaction will be collaborative --Adedayo 21:06, 11 February 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: defence)

Characterization of the dimensions of openness.

Dimension	Characterization
Scope of participation	All intended users are mentioned in the scope of participation, however their roles in the participation is not clearly defined. ----#: . And only the intended users are mentioned, but no one else. Experts, citizens, ...? --Mikko Pohjola 16:45, 10 February 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment)
Access to information	The assessment does not address how its information will be shared and who will have access to it
Timing of openness	Timing of participation by different participants is not clearly defined, their participation are just mentioned.
Scope of contribution	The public - financial, the bus company - financial and organisational aspects, the city council-GHG emissions and employees within the city of Kuopio are the contributors ----#: . Again, which parts of the assessment could they contribute to? --Mikko Pohjola 16:45, 10 February 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment)
Impact of contribution	There is no information on the impact of contribution in the assessment

Evaluation of the assessment draft

Evaluation according to the properties of good assessment

Attribute	Score	Explanation
Quality of content	3	The content of the assessment is clear and concise. Important parts of the assessment question are addressed. However the option of cars using cleaner (renewable fuel) was not mentioned within.
Applicability: Relevance	4	The needs of intended users are met in the assessment, since different transport scenarios are espoused. The purpose of the assessment is quite duly met.
Applicability: Availability	3	The availability of the assessment is not mentioned within it, In my opinion however, the assessment should be available to every inhabitant of Kuopio who is interested in it.
Applicability: Usability	4	The assessment can be used by the bus company and city of Kuopio, its use among the people who live and work too will be easy since they have some idea of the contents
Applicability: Acceptability	4	Since all intended users participate in the assessment process and their contributions are integrated, the assessment should be accepted. ←--#: . Good point. --Mikko Pohjola 16:45, 10 February 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: defence)
Efficiency	3	Participation in this will bring about diverse thoughts as it might require behavioural change especially from car owners and users, so a lot of work has to go into it. The assessment is quite efficient in its makeup and can be adopted by other cities ----#: . Yes, a lot of work may be required to implement the decisions, but how about the making of the assessment and making use of the assessment results? Efficient or not? --Mikko Pohjola 16:45, 10 February 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment)

Comments and ideas how to improve the draft

• Renewable fuels should be included as part of the scenarios - I fancy car owners will propose that option as it keeps their cars on the road and the environment doesn't suffer.
• In renewable fuels are considered, fuel companies will have to be considered in the assessment too

----#: . OK. Add your comments to the draft assessment text. --Mikko Pohjola 16:45, 10 February 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment)