Risk Sciences International
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Understanding
RiskWhen
understanding risk,
evidence and data
matter. -
Managing
RiskWhen
managing risk,
finding solutions requires
navigation skills. -
Communicating
RiskWhen
communicating risk,
clear signals lead to
better decisions.
Risk ™
Understanding, Managing, and Communicating Risk
Risk Sciences International, Inc. (RSI), headquartered in Ottawa (Canada), specializes in understanding, managing, and communicating risks that impact health, personal livelihoods, property, public infrastructure, the environment, regulatory compliance, stakeholder expectations, and broader societal, industrial, and governmental activities.
RSI provides a range of quantitative and qualitative decision-support services.
These services empower RSI's diverse public, private, and civil society clients to make better-informed choices when addressing present or emerging risks. The work is performed by a team of qualified and experienced scientists, engineers, and other skilled professionals who are committed to reducing uncertainty by providing decision-makers with the highest quality evidence and guidance.
For those who need to better understand, manage, or communicate risks, Risk Sciences International provides the necessary evidence, methods, tools, and counsel to make more informed decisions.
The Risk Sciences International toolbox
Tackling risk requires tools, hence the RSI toolbox which is divided into three familiar pillars.
Whether you need to understand, manage, or communicate risk, RSI has experience picking the right method to provide decision support.
Featured tools
Among the tools listed in our three U | M | C pillars above, some stand for being the most often requested.
Risk-based decision-making
Risk factors
Technological solutions
Communication strategies
Risk assessments
A 60-month sampling of our areas of expertise
Please find below some of the many fields in which RSI has intervened over the past five years (2017-present). Note that these are only some of our sectors among those dating back to 2006. Also note that RSI staff professional experience stretches back into the 1950s.
Chemical safety
Food safety
Drinking water
Public transport
Public health
Air quality
and several more...
Some of the actual projects we have worked on
A small sampling of work performed by RSI staff... (in no particular order)
HIV / AIDS
10-year global campaign to raise awareness on the dangers of HIV/AIDS and support the UNGASS Declaration of Commitment
Nuclear power
Scientific advice and content for nuclear power reactor licensing
Governance
Crisis management during critical election cycle of a United Nations agency
Pharmaceutical
Analysis of events and processes that lead to a contraceptive drug recall
Cancer
Production of 'Cancer is...' - a five-part television documentary series on the state of cancer worldwide
Waste
Strategic guidance to an international convention on transboundary waste
Flooding
Communications strategy for a national flood portal designed to make citizens aware of risks to their property if left unprotected or uninsured
Blood services
Conception of a coherent risk management framework to guide decision-making on the delivery of blood services by stakeholders
Smoke
Perception analysis of wildfire smoke to also support revisions of the health messages used in the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI)
Airport
Analysis of major international airport's traffic and logistics patterns and their risks
Assessment platform
Concept development and deployment of an industry-specific, climate resilience platform
Municipal risk
Online municipal risk and return on investment tool
Fluoride
Expert panel organized to provide national guidance on fluoride in drinking water
Manganism
Updating of clinical diagnostic criteria for manganism
Country foods
Organization of national expert forum on country foods
Plasma
Creation of Plasma Risk Management Model related to national immunoglobulin (IVIG) supply
Food safety
Creation of Problem Formulation Framework for multilateral food safety authority
Cognitive decline
Synthesis of evidence regarding the effect of aging on cognitive abilities of physicians
Artificial intelligence
Framework and methodology on transition away from testing chemicals on animals
RSI 3x3 Granularity matrix
A 3x3 Matrix explaining how RSI works from the high level policy level right down to the most precise and granular level, in each of the three cases, across our three pillars: understanding, managing, and communicating risk.
Understanding risk
|
Managing risk
|
Communicating risk
|
|---|---|---|
| at the policy level | at the policy level | at the policy level |
| at the process level | at the process level | at the process level |
| at the precise level | at the precise level | at the precise level |
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Understanding
risk
Understanding
policy risk
Understanding policy risk
RSI...
RSI leverages its extensive experience in high-level risk policy to offer tailored analysis that directly addresses the unique needs of senior policymakers, boards, investors, and top executives.
Understanding
process risk
Understanding process risk
RSI...
RSI excels at uncovering obscured elements in processes. Crucial details can lurk within manuals or a single worker's practice. Identifying these hidden threats is key to understanding process risk. RSI combines science and experience to address the toughest process risk challenges.
Understanding
precise risk
Understanding precise risk
RSI...
RSI is dedicated to each segment of its 3x3 service matrix. Many clients appreciate our focus on 'understanding precise risk'. While RSI offers a broad range of services, its approach to both policy and process levels is distinct. Furthermore, RSI places emphasis on detailed intervention, with the team skilled in nuanced analysis.
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Managing
risk
Managing
policy risk
Managing policy risk
RSI...
RSI's team, with members who have held top roles across private, public, and civil society sectors, offers pragmatic risk management support for leadership. Their expertise ensures reliable advice for managing high-level organizational risks.
Managing
process risk
Managing process risk
RSI...
RSI concentrates on solutions that enhance efficiency while emphasizing risk prevention, mitigation, or adaptation. While offering technical assistance and service deployment, RSI consistently prioritizes capacity-building. In essence, teaching how to fish...
Managing
precise risk
Managing precise risk
RSI...
Science is pivotal, and RSI scientists stand out in detailed risk analysis. Equally vital is RSI's use of advanced computer models, decision tools, and credible evidence sources. Grasping details, or RSI's termed 'precision level' of a process, underpins RSI's offering and success.
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Communicating
risk
Communicating
policy risk
Communicating policy risk
RSI...
In risk-based, high-stakes policy messaging, trial-and-error doesn't suffice—words carry weight. RSI excels in this arena, offering services from media statements to policy documents, whether simple text or a full global campaign.
Communicating
process risk
Communicating process risk
RSI...
RSI prioritizes messaging goals. Dictating 'what' to do differs from equipping individuals with decision-making knowledge. Every RSI process risk communication starts with: "What is the message's goal?" For instance, is it more impactful to instruct a machine operator to keep the 'red lever down', or to explain how this action saves lives?
Communicating
precise risk
Communicating precise risk
RSI...
Communicating precise level risk is intricate. It demands presenting evidence intelligibly for experts and clearly for those seeking core insights without minutiae. RSI boasts a history of conveying information with reader-tailored language, imagery, data, and crucially, tone.
From our Risk Sciences International CEO
A personal statement regarding the Risk Sciences International 3x3 matrix
After years of dedicated service to a diverse clientele spanning the public, private, and civil society sectors, we have distilled the essence of our business ethos into two guiding principles: relevance and sincerity. We understand that when clients engage with us, they do not want marketing jargon or empty promises, they want relevant services; they also seek the sincere assurance that we have both the know-how and the resources to deliver potentially life-saving guidance.
To meet these expectations, I and my staff are deeply committed to what we call ethical clarity.
Ethical clarity means that we articulate our services clearly, setting realistic expectations and avoiding inflated claims that could compromise trust. With the understanding that our work affects lives, livelihoods and the living world, when we say we can accomplish a task, it is, to the best of our knowledge, a declaration backed by real know-how and resources.
Greg Paoli
Chief Executive Officer
Principal Risk Scientist
RSI ADDED VALUE #1
Policy risk
Process risk
Precise risk
Risk Sciences International intervenes at all levels of an organization's needs, from dealing with governance and policy, to daily operational or management processes, right down to the precision level such as working on a single chemical element or component of a process.
From counseling on matters of strategic risks and opportunities, to analyzing the impacts of a specific molecule or single action, RSI delivers.
Client types and examples
Broadly, who does RSI serve? Specifically, who has RSI staff served?
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.
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.
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.
This listing should not be considered as an endorsement or ongoing relationship by or with any of the organizations named above.
Where we have intervened
What is the geographical scope of RSI staff interventions?
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.
When we intervene
At what point in the risk timeline does RSI intervene?
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BEFORE
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DURING
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AFTER
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?
RSI was borne by science and risk scientists. Scientific principles, math, modeling, statistics, epidemiology, and measurement are at the heart of RSI's work. Understanding, managing, and even communicating risk, though also affected by intuitive decision making, is best supported by evidence-based input.
What tangible output we deliver
Ultimately, counsel takes the form of a deliverable. What does RSI deliver?
Evidence-based recommendations
Usually based on the numbers, but also based on the evidence that RSI uncovers, and known results from previous similar challenges, recommendations are founded in substantiated reasoning.
Calculated or computed results
From biostatistical analysis, through epidemiological studies, to probabilistic outcomes, RSI delivers the numbers that tell the story, that reveal the problem, or that point to the solution.
Systems, processes, software tools, communication products
RSI does more that recommend, RSI builds, maintains, disseminates, and otherwise provides clients with the tools they will need on their risk journey.
Outcomes, according to our clients
According to our clients, what changes most often come from RSI guidance?
Organizational change
At its highest manifestation, RSI's interventions lead to organizational change, or evolution. Of note, change does not imply upheaval but rather evolution towards more risk-based systems and processes.
Better informed decision making
Risk is quickly becoming the critical factor in public, private, and civil sector decision-making. "Is my policy right for my constituents?" "Is this action sustainable or threatening to the biosphere?" "Will my decision be met with support or resistance?" "Is this the right system to implement?" To some degree, every RSI intervention affects decision-making.
Improved compliance
Regulatory bodies provide an essential filter for society. Whether appreciated, or not, the process remains inevitable for access to market. RSI specializes in providing risk-based compliance guidance.
Our staff's mindset
Earlier, we described 'how we think' at RSI; there is also the question of mindset.
While it may sound redundant, to RSI there is an important distinction. On the one hand, as we said, we think like scientists, like managers, and like responders. On the other hand, there is the question of how we approach a risk solution; what mindset do we adopt? It's the "How should I be looking at this risk or opportunity?" question.
In RSI's case, our staff have told us how they think they approach this question.
Analytic
Solving risk-related challenges involves a high degree of analysis using evidence-based input. RSI's scientific roots, and scientific staff, serve its clients well inasmuch as analysis, as per RSI's definition, is not interpretation; it is much closer to calculation and evaluation. We are very good at both crunching numbers and taking apart a process one small step at a time.
Pragmatic
Most, but not all risk-related work requires an analytic mindset. Knowing when to go with a workable solution, over a perhaps more perfect one, is a necessary attribute when giving counsel. RSI strives to deliver real-world advice based both on the evidence, but also on the ability to implement and achieve a solution. Budgets, human resources, regulatory frameworks, these are just some of the potential criteria for making pragmatic recommendations.
Empathetic
Seeing the world through someone else's eyes is not effortless, it requires a conscious attempt at understanding that person's needs. In its work, RSI strives to see the world as either our client does or how their stakeholders do. For instance, if we are asked to advise on the impact of a given process to a community, RSI has the experience to understand, or uncover, how that community might perceive the issue. Indeed, RSI is one of those companies that believes that the taking into account the interest of a client's stakeholders translates into a win-win.
A practical example of what we do
Websites often showcase the best attributes of an organization, sometimes to the point of overwhelming the visitor with information. To simplify, let's zoom in and consider a tangible example that encapsulates what Risk Sciences International does.
Picture a factory — a microcosm of complexities, risks, and stakeholders.
Now, let’s break down the multifaceted risks involved:
- Health & safety: What are the sound levels like, and how might they affect workers' health?
- Compliance: Are all operations in line with regulatory standards?
- Perception: How do both the staff and the surrounding community perceive safety and future expansions?
- Legal concerns: Are there any potential liabilities?
Once we've identified these risks, the decision-making process kicks in:
- Prevention vs. mitigation: Which risks should be prevented outright, and which merely mitigated?
- Forecasting: How can we predict future risks — through data modeling or empirical studies?
- Implementation: Should changes be enacted rapidly, or is a gradual approach more effective?
RSI specializes in navigating this maze. We tailor our approach to various clients and industries but remain focused on one thing: addressing risks and opportunities that have real-world consequences or benefits on lives and livelihoods.
When you step back and look at RSI's overarching picture, you will find that it is all about creating safer, more sustainable outcomes — one organization, one risk, and one solution at a time.
An ability to combine approaches
Is RSI truly multi-disciplinary? Does it have the capacity to deliver on, for example, both scientific analysis and ERP? Or, how is it that RSI can work for the highest rings of a federal government, but also for a small enterprise or NGO in a remote region?
RSI believes that through its diverse human resource capacity, it aptly combines the different ways of solving puzzles.
Subject matter expertise + Sciences + Math
Similarly, RSI is able to both conceive a process, but also deliver the information technology that makes that process possible. From accurate calculation tools, through database projects, and even engagement platforms, the work is done in-house.
Process + Software development
Similarly, RSI is able to both conceive a process, but also deliver the information technology that makes that process possible. From accurate calculation tools, through database projects, and even engagement platforms, the work is done in-house.
Understanding, through managing, to communicating
Perhaps its greatest synergy, is RSI's breadth of offer within the risk spectrum ranging from the most scientific assessment, through the most challenging management recommendation, right up to the messaging that will make that decision reach the required targets.
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
The last word
In summary...
In a world characterized by uncertainties, risk influences individuals, corporations, governmental bodies, and civil society organizations alike. Risk Sciences International (RSI) has devoted years to the cultivation of an exceptional team, committed to remaining at the forefront of industry knowledge, and constantly exposed to rigorous, real-world projects. This meticulous approach to team-building underscores our recognition of the severe implications of inadequate risk practices.
From its inception, RSI has aimed to offer unparalleled UNDERSTANDING of risk through the recruitment of experts specialized in diverse sectors. Our team consists of professionals with backgrounds in public health, urban infrastructure, simulation and modeling, communication, among other disciplines. Comprised of both academic scholars and staff with real-world experience, RSI is equipped with the necessary tools and methodologies to address a myriad of challenges. Whether a project necessitates cutting-edge algorithms, comprehensive risk policy analysis, or impactful perception analysis, our experts provide targeted solutions.
While comprehending risk is crucial, RSI places equal emphasis on MANAGING risk. We possess the operational acumen to collaborate with clients facing time-sensitive challenges, supported by a team trained to deliver prompt responses around the clock. While not all risk events necessitate immediate action, our preparedness for such exigencies sets us apart. Our capabilities extend to developing risk prevention strategies, stakeholder engagement, and technological solution implementation.
Finally, COMMUNICATING has emerged as a vital aspect of risk response. RSI is proficient in executing both simple news releases and complex international campaigns, as well as highly technical communiqués. What distinguishes us is our ability to produce substantive content. Unlike conventional risk communication firms, RSI's communicators are backed by in-house scientists. This evidence-based approach is foundational to engendering trust, and RSI excels in leveraging this evidence for maximum benefit.
When lives and livelihoods are at stake, we hope that you will choose Risk Sciences International as your partner.
Quick links
There are many pages and posts to visit on risksciences.com.
The limited suggestions below could be a good starting point.
