User:Mari Malinen

Homework 1

What is shared understanding?

• All participants understand what decision options are considered, desired outcomes, objectives, facts, opinions and disagreements exist and why. Also why a certain decision option is selected.

• Everyone understands the whole picture without having to agree with each other.

What different purposes are there for participation in assessment and/or decision making?

• Openness builds trust among participants and outside observers.

• To make sure all relevant issues are raised and handled properly

• Through successful critique invalid statements can be ruled out from the assessment

What is benefit-risk assessment?

• Analyzing different scientific data to compare benefits and risks of an event, activity, food etc.

• For example assessing use of food additives: do the benefits outweigh possible risks?