Risk Sciences International

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    Understanding
    Risk
  • Risk Sciences International 1
    Managing
    Risk
  • Risk Sciences International 2
    Communicating
    Risk

Understanding, Managing, and Communicating Risk™

Risk Sciences International (RSI) equips government entities, private corporations, and civil society organizations with evidence-based, experience-informed expertise to navigate complex risk landscapes. Our experts’ work spans from evaluating the health effects of a single chemical to prioritizing diverse organizational risks, advising on emerging threats, and supporting coordinated responses to global-scale challenges.

Our team understands that high-stakes risk decisions—those affecting health, safety, operations, reputation, or social outcomes—are rarely straightforward. Public safety, consumer protection, or conservation-of-nature goals may compete with economic pressures; regulatory requirements may diverge from operational feasibility. RSI approaches these complex trade-offs impartially. We acknowledge the necessity of—and work to satisfy—regulations, while simultaneously recognizing and supporting industry’s growing commitment to credible, self-driven safety and transparency initiatives. Our experts—including leading scientists, experienced engineers, and seasoned global policy advisors—pair rigorous analyses with practical, actionable recommendations. We also leverage advanced analytics, develop software tools, and construct scenarios and solutions to help clients anticipate and prepare for future regulatory shifts and crises.

At RSI, we approach risk as both a hazard and an opportunity. Our approach to understanding, managing, and communicating risk emphasizes not only addressing potential harm but also uncovering strategic advantages that can enhance resilience, innovation, or competitiveness.

RSI supports risk and regulatory teams across private, public, and civil society sectors. We deliver scientifically rigorous analyses, develop practical tools and training, and produce perception-informed messaging grounded in science and data, supported by production services. In short, we help our clients understand, manage, and communicate risk. Our experience includes collaborations with federal and provincial regulators across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and emerging markets; UN agencies and multilateral organizations; global civil society groups; industry associations; and leading corporations in technology, food, transportation, pharmaceuticals, minerals, refining, and other sectors. In every engagement—whether routine or marked by uncertainty—all RSI staff members and associate experts remain steadfastly committed to providing clear insights, credible solutions, and effective messaging.

Welcome to risksciences.com

Visiting this website

This is a large, content-rich website designed to give you meaningful insight—into why we do what we do, how we do it, who we do it for, and who’s doing the work. Because every visitor arrives with different priorities, we’ve outlined below the key ways you can navigate and explore RSI on your own terms.

Why we do it

RSI builds capabilities to meet our clients' needs. We develop methods, design tools, and hire the experts best equipped to deliver meaningful results. Shown below is a sampling of the client needs we strive to meet.

How we do it

Discover the various methods — and tools — that RSI uses to understand, manage, and communicate risk on behalf of our clients.

Who we do it for

Discover the sectors that RSI has served to better understand both our experience and the breadth of our capacity.

How we do it

Discover the various methods — and tools — that RSI uses to understand, manage, and communicate risk on behalf of our clients.

Modeling of rare events

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Audience profiling and segmentation

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Probability distribution fitting

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Trade-off analysis

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Weighting of lines of evidence

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Occupational risk profiling

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Cumulative and aggregate exposure modeling

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Toxicological reference value derivation

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Technical to management rewriting

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Risk inventory compilation

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Communication design testing

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Uncertainty communication

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Policy development for risk mitigation

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Regulatory readiness assessment

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Scenario testing and war-gaming

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Value of information analysis

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Model calibration and validation

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Public engagement in message design

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Simulation modeling

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Data quality assessment

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Risk management standards compliance

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Use of uncertainty factors

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Convening goals development

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Workshop facilitation for risk framing

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Recovery pathway planning

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Uncertainty management frameworks

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Monitoring and evaluation

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Stakeholder message convergence mapping

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Communication protocols in emergencies

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Vulnerability analysis

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Model assumption transparency

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Media framing and public perception analysis

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Resilience measurement

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System mapping

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Workforce development and upskilling

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Workshop facilitation for decision-making under uncertainty

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Communication risk registers

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Communication campaigns

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Systematic evidence review

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Toxicological profiling

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Forecasting and early warning systems

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Internal communications training

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Application of behavioral science to interventions

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Spokesperson coaching

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Transparency systems for risk interpretation

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Sensitivity analysis

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Emergency capability gap analysis

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Participatory risk assessment

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Regulatory framework mapping

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Structured stakeholder input collection

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Who does it

As with all organizations, RSI would be incapable of delivering exceptional results were it not for its outstanding full time and associate experts.

RSI's Greg Paoli
From our Risk Sciences International CEO

A personal statement

Risk is evolving. It is no longer a matter confined to regulatory compliance or technical thresholds—it is now systemic, visible, and deeply consequential. Risk moves across borders, across sectors, and through every layer of society. Whether we are dealing with the safety of a community, the continuity of a supply chain, the resilience of an ecosystem, or the credibility of a public institution, the demand is the same: act with clarity, credibility, and accountability.

At RSI, we work with clients whose challenges vary widely in scale, sector, and structure. Some operate in highly regulated environments, where we help meet complex obligations with scientific rigor. Others navigate spaces with little or no formal oversight, where success depends on internal standards, stakeholder trust, and public scrutiny. Many face risks shaped more by interdependence and uncertainty than by rules or enforcement.

What unites them—and us—is the responsibility to make risk-informed decisions that stand up to real-world consequences.

As an engineer by training and a risk scientist by practice, I have always believed that uncertainty deserves structure. That belief shapes not only how I work, but how we work: with disciplined curiosity, technical depth, and an unwavering respect for what is at stake.

We are guided by relevance and sincerity. Our clients do not need simplifications; they need clarity. Our commitment to ethical clarity means we speak plainly about what we know, what we can do, and the reliability of our guidance. We do not trade in reassurance—we provide grounded, transparent support where it matters most.

We engage when we believe we can make a meaningful contribution. And when we do, we stand fully behind the work.

Greg Paoli
Chief Executive Officer
Principal Risk Scientist

Client types and examples

Who has RSI staff worked with or for?

Public sector

RSI works for federal Governments including defence, foreign affairs, taxation, regulation, infrastructure, and health at the national level.

RSI works for state or provincial, territorial, indigenous, municipal governments including education, healthcare, state roads, public safety, and more localized social programs.

RSI works for and with public corporations and state-owned enterprises, notably commercial organizations controlled by the state that provide goods and services which can often be found in the private sector too; these include public utilities, national airlines, and public broadcasters.

RIS works for non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) or quasi-autonomous non-governmental organizations (Quangos) that, while publicly funded, operate independently of the government to some degree. These include regulatory agencies, arts councils, or research funding bodies.

RSI works with International public sector or multilaterals, set up by agreements between multiple governments to deal with issues that cross national boundaries or to provide support to developing countries. Among clients served are the United Nations and several of its agencies, World Bank, European Union and its agencies, and several international treaty organizations.

Private sector

RSI works with the energy sector including companies involved in the exploration, production, or management of energy sources like oil, gas, and renewable energy.

RSI works in the materials sector including companies involved in the discovery, development, and processing of raw materials. This can range from mining to refining and also include companies producing chemicals and forestry products.

RSI works in the industrial sector including a variety of companies such as construction, machinery, aerospace and defense, transportation, professional services, and others.

RSI works in the discretionary consumer sector including companies that produce non-essential goods and services like automobiles, consumer durables, apparel, hotels, restaurants, and other leisure facilities.

RSI works in the consumer staples sector including companies that produce necessary items such as food and beverage, tobacco, household and personal products.

RSI works in the health and healthcare sectors including health care providers and services, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and life sciences companies.

RSI works in the financial sector including banks, diversified financials, insurance and real estate (including REITs). Please note that RSI does not provide financial risk services directly. Financial risk is, when needed, provided in partnership with highly specialized financial risk firms. RSI does, however, provide policy, process and particle level risk services to said institutions.

RSI works in the IT sector including software and services, technology hardware and equipment, and semiconductors and semiconductor equipment.

RSI works in the communications sector including telecommunications but also media, entertainment, and interactive media & services.

Utilities: This sector includes companies that provide electricity, gas, water, and multi-utilities.

Real Estate: This sector includes real estate management and development and diversified real estate activities.

Civil society

RSI works with charities including organizations that provide services, support, and resources to various groups in need. This can include food banks, homeless shelters, and organizations supporting various health issues or disabilities.

RSI works with advocacy and lobbying groups including organizations that are involved in advocating for certain causes or issues, influencing public policy, or lobbying for legislative change. This can include everything from environmental groups to human rights organizations.

RSI works with profiessional and trade associations including organizations represent the interests of professionals in a specific field or industry, or businesses in a specific trade or sector.

RSI works with educational, scientific and research institutions including organizations focused on education, research, and the advancement of knowledge, as well as universities, think tanks, and research institutions.

RSI works with cultural, arts, and sports organizations including organizations promoting cultural activities, arts, and sports, such as museums, art clubs, sports clubs, and community theaters.

RSI staff have worked with religious and faith-based organizations including groups that are affiliated with specific religions or faiths.

RSI works with community and volunteer groups including organizations based in specific local communities.

RSI has works extensively with international NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) including those that operate across borders to address global issues like poverty, health, human rights, and environmental conservation.

a & b

A-Maps Environmental Inc.
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC)
AECOM Canada Limited
Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES)
Agriculture - Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)
Air and Waste Management Association (AWSA)
Ajilon Consulting
Alberta Health and Wellness Services
Aluminium REACH Consortium (ARC)
America Frozen Food Institute (AFFI)
America Water Works Association (AWWA)
Americal Chemistry Council (ACC)
American Blood Centers
American Cancer Society
American Childhood Cancer Organization
Arcelor
Arctic Aquatic Research Division
Associated Engineering Alberta Ltd. (ASENG)
Australian Food Safety Centre (FSC)

Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste
BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC)
BC Ministry of Environment (BCMoE)
BC Ministry of Transport (BCMoT)
BGC Engineering Inc.
BioVision - World Life Sciences Forum
BMW Gmbh
Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI)
Bull Hausser and Tupper LLC
Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz
Bureau de Normalization du Quebec

c

Canadian Blood Services (CBS)
Canadian Climate Forum (CCF)
Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
Canadian Gas Association (CGA)
Canadian Heritage (PCH)
Canadian National (CN)
Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC)
Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
Cancer Care Ontario (CCO)
Carleton University
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) of FDA
Center for Product Safety (CPS)
Central Research Institute of Japan
Centre for Public Management
Children's Mercy Hospital and Clinics
Children's National Medical Center
China Institute for Radiation Protection
Chinese Center for Disease Control & Prevention
City of Barrie
City of Calgary
City of Kingston
City of Mississauga
City of Ottawa
City of Toronto
Clarity Healthcare
Clean Air Partnership
Climate Risk Institute (CRI)
Clinton Foundation
Coca Cola Company
Community of Federal Regulators (CFR)
Conceptis Inc (WebMD)
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
Copp Clark Ltd.
Council of Canadian Academies
Crawford and Company Canada Inc
CRDF Global
Credit Valley Conservation Authority (CVCA)
Crown Indigenous and Northern Affairs (CIRNA)

d & e

Dankook University
Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC)
Dene First Nation
Department of Finance Canada (FIN)
Department of Health, UK
Department of Justice Canada (JUS)
Department of National Defence (DND)
Dillon Consulting Limited
Dow Chemical Company

Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal
Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA)
Ecumenical Loan Funds For Human Development (ECLOF)
Emdata Co. Ltd.
Emmons & Olivier Resources Canada Inc. (EOR)
Engineers Canada
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
Environmental Commission of Ontario (ECO)
ESSA Technologies Ltd.
Europa Donna, The European Breast Cancer Coalition
European Aluminum Association (EAA)
European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA)
European Union (EU)

f & g & h

Federated Press
Fisheries & Oceans Canada (DFO)
FNC Technology Co., Ltd.
Fonterra Co-Operative Group
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Food Protection and Defense Institute (FPDI)
Franciscans International (FI)

Geneva International Airport
George Washington University
GIZ
Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
Global Forum for Health Research (GFHR)
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
Global Movement for Children (GMC)
Global Observatory for eHealth (WHO)
Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health (WHO)
Government of New Brunswick (GNB)
Government of Northwest Territories (GNWT)
GRACE GmbH - SASforREACH Consortium
Greater Vancouver Regional District
Green Cross International (GCI)

Harvard University
Hatch Limited
Health Canada (HC)
Helmholtz Zentrum München
Homeland Security Centers of Excellence (HS-Centers) of U.S. Dept of Homeland Security.
Hydro Ottawa

i

ICF International Inc. (ICF)
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)
Industry Canada (IC)
Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté
Institute for Safe Medical Practices (ISMP)
Institute of Food Research (IFR)
International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO)
International AIDS Society (IAS)
International Air Transport Association (IATA)
International Aluminium Institute (IAI)
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
International Bridges to Justice (IBJ)
International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC)
International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD)
International Copper Association (ICA)
International Council on Mining and Metals Limited (ICMM)
International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM)
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
International Federation of University Women (IFUW)
International Hospital Federation
International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
International Labour Organization (ILO)
International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI)
International Manganese Institute (IMnI)
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF)
International Prevention Research Institute (IPRI)
International Prevention Research Institute (IPRI)
International Social Security Association (ISSA)
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
International University of Health and Welfare, Tochigi, Japan
Intersol Group Ltd.
Intertek Health Sciences Inc.
IRIS Legal
ISGlobal Barcelona Institute for Global Health

j & k & l

Japan Atomic Energy Agency
Japan Nus Company Ltd.
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Joint Expert Meeting on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA) Tof FAO/WHO
Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN) UMD-FDA
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)

Keio University
King & Spalding
Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences

Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
Lakind Associates LLC
Lansdowne Technologies
Lapointe Engineering Ltd
Livestock Innovation Research Corporation (LRIC)
Lockheed Martin
Lumina Decision Systems

m & n

Manulife Financial Real Estate
MARS Foods (China) Co. Ltd.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Matrix Solutions Inc
McCague Borlack LLP
McCarthy Tetrault LLP
McGill University
McLaughlin Centre for Population Health
Measurement Canada (MC)
Meat and Livestock Australia
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
Medicines Patent Pool (MPP)
Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg Theodor Fontane
MetroLinx
Mining Innovation, Rehabilitation, and Applied Research Corporation (MIRARCO)
MITACS
Mondelēz International
Morrison Hershfield
Moto Internationale
Motosport Plus
Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA)

Nagasaki University
National Academy of Sciences (NAS)
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
National Centre for Food Protection & Defense (NCFPD) Homeland Security Center of Excellence)
National Pork Board
National Research Council Canada (NRC)
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
Netherlands Cancer Institute
New Brunswick Government (GNB), Dept. of Environment and Local Government
Nodelcorp Consulting Inc
NORR
Northern Climate Exchange (NCE)
Northern Ontario Public Services
Novel Futures Corporation
NTNU Regnskapsseksjonen
Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA)
Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO)

o & p & q

Oak foundation
Oak Ridge Associated Universities
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPCC)
Ontario Association for Impact Assessment (OAIA)
Ontario Centre for Climate Impacts and Adaptation Resources (OCCIAR)
Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure
Ontario Ministry of the Environment & Climate Change (OMECC)
Ontario Power Generation (OPG)
Ontario Regional Climate Change Consortium (ORCCC)
Organization of African First Ladies Against AIDS (OAFLA)
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Phillips & Paolicelli LLP (P2Law)
PregMedic
Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC)
Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
Public Health England (PHE)
Public Safety Canada (PSC)
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC)
Public Services International (PSI)
Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC)

Querencia Partners Ltd.

r & s & t

R.V. Anderson Associates Ltd
Radiation Effects Research Foundation
Ramsar convention on wetlands
Regional Municipality of Durham
Regional Municipality of Waterloo
Restaino Law Firm
Rio Tinto
RIVM National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership (WHO)
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
RTI International
Rutgers University
RWDI Air Inc

Science and Technology Center in Ukraine
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)
Small Arms Survey
Social and Scientific Systems, Inc
Society for Risk Analysis (SRA)
South Carolina College of Pharmacy
Standards Council of Canada (SCC)
Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Statistics Canada (StatCan)
Stop TB Partnership
Summit Toxicology LLP
Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate ENSI

Technical Standards & Safety Authority (TSSA)
TetraTech Inc.
The Aluminum Association (AA)
Tobacco Free Initiative TFI (WHO)
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)
Toronto Community Housing (TCH)
Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited
Toronto Public Health (TPH)
Torys LLP
Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment
Trade Union Advisory Committee
Transport Canada (TC)
Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada (TBS)
Trent University
TriEdge & Associates

u

UN Watch
UN-Habitat
Unilever
Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)
Union Network International (UNI)
UNITAID
United Nations (UN)
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
United Nations Human Rights (OHCHR)
United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR)
United Nations Volunteers
Universal Postal Union (UPU)
Universitätsmedizin Greifswald
Université de Montréal
University of Alberta
University of Bergen
University of Calgary
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, San Francisco
University of Guelph
University of Korea
University of Manchester
University of Maryland
University of Melbourne
University of Minnesota
University of Ottawa
University of Pennsylvania
University of Prince Edward Island
University of Southern California
University of Tasmania
University of Toronto
University of Washington
University of Windsor
UNplus
US Army Natick Soldier RD&E Center - Combat Feeding Directorate (DFAS)
US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
US Dept of Homeland Security (DHS)
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
US Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
USAID Office of Transitional Initiatives
USDA Agricultural Research Service - Eastern Regional Research Center (ARS-ERRC)
USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)

v & w & y

Vanderbilt University
Versar, Inc.

WaterSMART Solutions Ltd
Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB)
World AIDS Campaign (WAC)
World AIDS Day (WAD)
World Alliance for Patient Safety (WHO)
World Council of Churches (WCC)
World Health Day (WHO)
World Health Organization (WHO)
World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA)
World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM)
World Trade Organization (WTO)
World Urban Campaign (WUC)
World Water Day (WHO)
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF International)
World YWCA Young Women's Christian Association
WSP

Yukon College

Note that the listing of any government, company or organization listed above in no way indicates their endorsement of RSI. Note also that the list below includes some entities served in a substantial and relevant manner by RSI senior staff prior to their joining RSI.

Where we have intervened

What is the geographical scope of RSI staff interventions?

RIS Work site map

RSI's head office is in Canada (Ottawa, ON).

RSI has official representatives in the USA (Washington D.C.).

RSI staff travel worldwide, providing clients on-the-ground technical assistance and capacity building.

RSI has a highly developed virtual meeting capacity including as regular organizers of large, international, online workshops and conferences.

AN RSI ADDED VALUE

We consider both risks and opportunities.

Risk is not just a threat to be neutralized—it is a signal that something important is at stake. And where something is at stake, there is often not only potential for harm, but also for progress.

At RSI, we approach risk not merely as a problem to be solved, but as a condition to be understood. Doing so opens the door to opportunity—not in the simplistic sense of reward, but in the deeper sense of resilience gained, systems improved, and decisions strengthened.

Like ascending a ridge in uncertain terrain, managing risk often means pausing to assess both footing and horizon. It is not just about avoiding the fall—it is about reaching the next vantage point, safely and with purpose.

That is why we bring an opportunity lens to every project we take on. We look for the meaningful gains that can emerge from doing risk work well: better systems, better foresight, better outcomes.

How we think when we generate solutions

What paradigms does RSI use to arrive at a conclusion?
How do we think our way through a project?

We analyze like scientists

RSI was founded by scientists—and scientific thinking continues to guide our approach. We draw on principles from mathematics, statistics, modeling, epidemiology, and measurement. Evidence-based reasoning grounds our work across all phases of the risk cycle: understanding, managing, and communicating risk. While intuition plays a role in decision-making, we believe the best outcomes stem from measurable, reproducible insight.

We lead like managers
We act like responders
We empathize with our clients

Output

Ultimately, counsel takes the form of a deliverable. What does RSI deliver?

  • Evidence-based recommendations

    Grounded in rigorous data and expert judgment, RSI’s recommendations are supported by quantitative analysis, qualitative insights, and real-world case precedents. We don’t speculate—we advise based on substantiated, context-aware evidence.

  • Calculated or computed results

    From biostatistical modeling and epidemiological studies to probabilistic risk assessments, RSI provides results that clarify what’s at stake. Our numbers don’t just inform; they reveal hidden patterns, quantify uncertainties, and shape effective decisions.

  • Systems, processes, software tools, communication products

    RSI delivers more than analysis—we create practical tools for action. Whether designing workflows, developing software, or producing risk communication materials, we ensure our clients are equipped to understand, manage, and communicate risk at every stage.

  • Experience-informed counsel

    While RSI grounds its work in evidence, our decades of applied risk science experience give us a deep understanding of what works in practice. We draw on lessons learned from prior engagements—across sectors, jurisdictions, and risk domains—to guide decision-making in the real world.

AN RSI ADDED VALUE

Scientific foundations 

RSI's commitment to scientific methods is a testament to its belief that addressing risk and opportunities is not a task to be taken lightly; using opinion-based guidance alone can cost actual lives and livelihoods. Recommendations must be verifiably evidence-based.

RSI scientists come from social sciences, life sciences, medical sciences, physical sciences and engineering, computer sciences, and communication sciences.

Tangible scenarios

Websites often highlight an organization’s strengths—but sometimes what is needed is a clear, grounded example. So let us strip away the abstraction and focus on something tangible.

Private sector scenario

Picture a factory. It is a contained yet complex environment—a web of processes, people, assets, and responsibilities. And like any system, it comes with a constellation of risks.

What kinds of risks? Consider just a few:

  • Health and safety: Are sound levels or airborne particulates affecting workers’ well-being?
  • Regulatory compliance: Are day-to-day operations meeting all relevant codes and standards?
  • Public perception: How do employees, neighbors, and local officials perceive the plant’s safety record—or its future expansion?
  • Legal exposure: Where might future liability arise, and what defenses are in place?

Once risks are identified, decisions must follow—strategic ones:

  • Should we prevent this risk entirely, or manage its consequences if it emerges?
  • Can we forecast future scenarios through empirical data, modeling, or expert elicitation?
  • Should implementation be immediate and bold—or phased, to avoid unintended disruption?

This is where RSI works best: in the space between complexity and clarity.

We help clients understand risks in their full context, weigh trade-offs, and make informed decisions that lead to safer, more resilient, and more trusted outcomes. Whether in a factory, a national regulator’s office, or a multi-stakeholder policy forum, our goal is always the same: to improve lives and livelihoods through better decisions grounded in sound science.

That is the larger picture of RSI: practical, systemic, and always focused on real-world consequence.

Public sector scenario
Civil society scenario

Diverse, qualified, growing, in-house expertise

It takes a village. What does RSI's village look like?

  • Staff with academic and scientific backgrounds

    RSI is privileged to have a cohort of scientists, some of whom still teach at university, hailing from social sciences, physical sciences and engineering, medical sciences, computer sciences, and communication sciences.

  • Staff with executive and operational experience

    These are staff who come to RSI from either the public or private sector with experience that contributes to RSI's grasp of real-world constraints but also possibilities.

  • Staff with technical expertise

    Technical expertise is critical to software development, communication & campaigning, and so many other aspects of the work RSI does. It is RSI's policy to, as much as possible, have the technical expertise related to its deliverables available in-house.

  • Staff with a combination of the above

    Many of our staff have combined experience.

  • A dedicated business development and project management team

    Responding to RFPs in a timely and precise manner is essential to efficient project delivery. So too is effective project management. RSI has a dedicated team for both vital functions.

RSI by the numbers

A commitment to deliver, then, now, and into the future

1,000+

publications

1,000+

Over 1,000 peer-reviewed publications published by RSI experts since its founding

100+

reviews

100+

Over 100 systematic and authoritative reviews completed

500+

lectures

500+

Over 500 university lectures in risk science delivered by RSI experts to date

10,000+

participants

10,000+

Over 10,000 participants in risk science and communication master classes

250+

meetings

250+

Over 250 scientific meetings and conferences attended by RSI experts

300+

clients

300+

Over 300 private and public sector clients served by RSI experts

±150

countries

±150

RSI experts have delivered projects in roughly 150 countries

15M+

adverse events

15M+

14,590,339 distinct adverse event reports from FAERS and 776,904 from CVAR

300+

chemical assessments

300+

Over 300 chemical assessments conducted by RSI

150+

micro-biological assessments

150+

Over 150 micro-biological assessments conducted by RSI

The last word

In summary...

Risk Sciences International 3Risk Sciences International 4

Risk Sciences International 5Risk Sciences International 6Risk is not abstract. It moves through lives, institutions, supply chains, infrastructure, and entire societies. It informs decisions in boardrooms and control rooms, in courtrooms and cabinet tables. At Risk Sciences International (RSI), we treat risk not as a buzzword, but as a deeply consequential reality—one that demands expertise, evidence, and empathy in equal measure.

We’ve built RSI to meet this moment. Our team is a rare combination: scientific specialists, seasoned practitioners, policy experts, modelers, communicators, and systems thinkers—all working under one roof. Our work spans from complex, long-horizon foresight to urgent response. From simulating the next systemic shock to rewriting technical material for public understanding. From protecting public health to supporting regulators, industry, and civil society in making defensible, transparent, and justifiable choices.

At the heart of it all lies a commitment to clarity: understanding risk in all its dimensions, managing it with precision and foresight, and communicating it with credibility and integrity. These aren’t slogans—they’re disciplines. And we practice them with care, because the stakes demand nothing less.

In a world that cannot afford avoidable harm, RSI is here to help you navigate complexity—scientifically, decisively, and together.

 

And just for fun

Five quick questions to see how well you know RSI.

The 'knowing RSI' fun quiz

The 'knowing RSI' fun quiz

Responses are not saved. This is just a fun, anonymous, five question quiz to see how well you know RSI.

press Enter
Which of these is not one of the 3x3 RSI levels?
Which of these symbols represents 'communicating risk'?
Which of these is not one of the 3x3 RSI service matrix pillars?
Which of these client types does RSI serve through external experts?
When tackling risk, RSI believes that looking for opportunities is equally important.
In what year was RSI legally formed?
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Risk Sciences International

Connect with us

Welcome to our RSI Connect system.

Due to the high volume of spam and in the interest of serving our stakeholders effectively, we use our secure RSI Connect system.

If you would rather email us directly, you can but our reply may be slightly delayed. Our support email address is: important at connect.risksciences.com.

Monique Macdonald

cares about your message,
and will get it to the right person promptly.

Monique, RSI's Office Administrator, joined RSI in 2017.

RSI's Monique MacDonald

Official representation

Ottawa, ON, Canada

Washington, DC, USA

Contact

Telephone: +1 (613) 260-1424

Email: important at connect.risksciences.com

Hours

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