Understanding, Managing and Communicating Risk ™
We are risk scientists, helping business, civil society, and governments, to better face uncertainty and the unexpected.
Based in Ottawa and Washington D.C., RSI works worldwide to tackle risk in chemical and product safety, public health, food safety and defense, climate change adaptation, agriculture, drug safety, public safety and security, and urban risk and resiliency.
RSI News
Quinolones, a popular and powerful anti-biotic with broad coverage and reasonable safety, was concerned to be associated with acute liver failure (ALF). A study published…
Read News Item
Some case reports on Quinolones, a potent and globally popular group of antibiotics that are used to treat a wide range of infections, have raised…
Read News Item
The Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing and the Animal-Free Safety Assessment recently held their annual meeting on advancing toxicity testing in the 21st century…
Read News Item
Dr. Donald Mattison, RSI’s Senior Vice-President and Chief Medical Officer, has accepted an appointment as a University of South Carolina Health Sciences Distinguished Professor in the in…
Read News ItemRSI COVID-19 Timeline
Merck announced today that it is seeking US Food and Drug Administration emergency use authorization for its experimental antiviral Covid-19 treatment, molnupiravir. If authorization is…
Read Entry
Merck has just announced an, as of now, pill-in-development to fight Covid-19. According to an internal Merck study, this pill has cut the risk of…
Read Entry
Early this morning, the CDC followed the recommendations made by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States. The recommendation calls for patients over…
Read Entry
Today, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine won full approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Pfizer vaccine thus becomes the first to be…
Read Entry
Special Announcement:
Participate in the Back-to-Fitness Celebration! JOIN US!
Poster of the Back to Fitness event at TD Place in Ottawa
Join us in a unique opportunity to motivate ourselves, our friends, and our families to get back to fitness. It’s happening soon at Ottawa’s Stadium at TD Place on 12 Sep 2021 and at the University of Ottawa on 19 Sep 2021.
Click here for more information.
UN International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction
October 13, 2021
Risk
What is risk?
- Is it what we tell children to avoid, before telling them how many die from not wearing seat belts?
- Is risk a scientific discipline like epidemiology, toxicology or clinical science?
- Is risk what good leaders factor into all their decisions?
Perhaps risk is all of the above, as well as anything that leads to harm including loss of life, loss of livelihood, loss of commercial viability, even loss of peace.
Can something be done about risk? Can lives and livelihoods really be influenced, even saved, by experts in risk science working with data, models, theories or even expert opinion?
In the real world, risk is anything and everything that lacks certainty. Every one of us, every parent, every citizen, every company, government or organization lives it every day.
For years, Risk Sciences International has laboured to build the best team, keep their knowledge current, challenge them with demanding projects, and keep them grounded in real-world needs. RSI understands that when dealing with risk, there are consequences to poor choices; RSI staff know this and are constantly reminded of it by the very work they perform.
From day one, the challenge RSI set for itself was to understand risk by employing specialized experts able to deliver solutions across sectors. RSI experts hail from multiple sectors ranging from public health, to urban infrastructure, to simulation and modeling, to communication, and more. The company includes both academics and highly technical staff. Its tools are geared to take on any challenge. Whether the project requires the most advanced algorithms, the most thoughtful risk policy analyses, or the most impactful risk messaging, RSI experts understand what is needed.
Understanding risk, diagnosing, simulating, surveilling... all these are essential, but so too is the ability to accompany a client through the thick of the storm. Beyond understanding, RSI helps manage risk. The company has the operational expertise to guide and work with clients who have no time to waste. The team is both motivated and trained to respond day and night, at a moment's notice. Fortunately, many risk events are not solved by racing against the clock, but because some are, RSI is ready. Whether the project calls for a new risk prevention strategy, a convening of stakeholders, or the development of a technological solution, RSI delivers.
Increasingly, communication is a critical component of a risk response. From the simplest news release to the most complex international campaign or a highly technical communiqué , RSI has the expertise and experience to make a difference. Of note, is RSI's ability to deliver substantive content. Unlike traditional risk communication agencies, RSI's communication experts have the benefit of an in-house scientific team. Using evidence is the foundation of building trust, RSI knows how to gather and use that evidence to advantage.
Understanding
Risk
What does RSI seek to understand about risk, and what tools does it use to do so?
Understanding
What does RSI seek to understand about risk, and what tools does it use to do so?
Understand what?
- Risk factors
- Calculated outcomes
- Best practices
- Basic science
- Global trends
- Stakeholder perspectives
- Alternatives
- Risk goals
Understand using:
- Epidemiology
- Toxicology
- Pharmacology
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Engineering
- Simulation
- Statistics
- Surveillance
- Environmental assessments
- Experimental studies
- Observational studies
- Psychographic profiles
- Trends analysis
- Risk modeling
Managing
Risk
What are the methods and means RSI uses to better manage risk?
Managing
What are the methods and means RSI uses to better manage and help respond to risk?
RSI uses multiple methods to help manage risk:
- Regulatory guidance and guidelines
- Economic leverage strategies
- Advisory services
- Community-based solutions
- Technological solutions
- Risk-based decision making
- Lifecycle analysis
- Real-time risk assessment and analysis
- Stakeholder engagement
- On-site inspections
- Stress testing
- Training
The means to enhance risk management include:
- Alternative assessments
- Socio-economic analyses
- Consideration of uncertainty
- Expert advice
- Consensus strategies
- International collaboration
- Risk management frameworks
- Risk decision principles
- Litigation support
- Emergency response
- Crisis management
Communicating
Risk
What means and multipliers does RSI use to communicate and enhance perception effectively?
Communicating
What means and multipliers does RSI use to communicate and enhance perception effectively?
RSI uses multiple means to enhance risk perception and communication:
- Editors
- Translators
- Design talent
- Production facility
- Perception analysis
- Communications analysis
- Communication strategy development
- Urgent tactical response
- Training
Multipliers help enhance risk communication:
- Engagement platforms
- Local to global campaigns
- Use of both traditional and new media
- Media relations
- Peer and internal relations
Understanding, Managing and Communicating Risk 24/7
Clients seeking ongoing vigilance against risk – beginning with understanding, then managing, and ultimately communicating risk – will benefit from either RSI’s comprehensive or integrated retainer offer.
Understanding, Managing and Communicating Risk 24/7
RSI believes strongly in the added value of building long-term relationships. To this end, RSI has established extended ties with key clients, whereby relevant RSI core services are delivered within the framework agreement of an annual retainer package supplemented, as needed, by individual projects. This annual approach guarantees that RSI is ready-to-respond at a moment’s notice, without the wasted time associated with getting-to-know the client when a project begins.
Combining a retainer with as-needed services is the ultimate form of risk preparedness.
More than ever,
More than ever,
risk science matters.
Our world is constantly threatened by natural and climate disasters, public health challenges and pandemics, infrastructure failures, chemical spills or conflicts. There is risk in everything we do as individuals, companies, organizations or governments. It is essential that all those working in the field of risk science – including RSI – intensify their efforts.
In our own lifetime, the Bopal disaster, Chernobyl, 9/11, hurricane Katrina, the Tōhoku earthquake or more recently the COVID-19 outbreak, have all taught us that you can never be too informed, too ready, or too willing to take on the responsibility of mitigating risk.
It is our common duty, to do everything in our power to improve quality of life and life expectancy by better understanding, managing and communicating risk.
The challenge: On March 11, 2011, the 9.1 magnitude Tōhoku earthquake, and ensuing tsunami, hit Japan. It was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Japan. The tsunami reached heights up to 40.5 meters (133 feet) obliterating most of the region. The wave traveled at 700 km/h (435 mph) and reached 10 km (6 mi) inland. Officially, there were 15,899 deaths, 6,157 injured, 2,529 missing, and a total of USD 360 billion in damage.
Daniel Krewski
The event also caused a level 7 meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant that took several months to stablize.
The response: Four years later, in March 2015, UNISDR – the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction – informed by risk scientists, held its World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Tōhoku. The conference produced the Sendai Framework, a document to guide efforts by international development agencies to act before disasters instead of reacting to them after the fact.
Risk science matters.
Risk Services
Scientific Advice
Risk Sciences International experts provide independent peer review for scientific research and studies that can lend peace of mind and authority to years of hard work. RSI staff and affiliated experts from around the world have provided peer reviews of corporate risk assessments and scientist productivity for clients who demand the highest standards of...
Risk Assessment
Risk Sciences International has a wealth of experience in risk assessment to enhance public safety, minimize environmental impacts, and promote health and well-being. RSI staff have more than of 100 years of combined experience in human health risk assessment and quantitative microbiological risk assessment. Furthermore, we have...
Risk-Based Decision Making
Risk Sciences International provides clients with the confidence needed to make important decisions. By identifying all relevant evidence, evaluating its quality, and distilling it into a comprehensive, integrated risk assessment, RSI ensures business decisions are evidence-based and rock solid. The assessment provides the foundation for data-informed risk...
Risk Perception and Communication
Risk Sciences International understands the value of communicating risk with confidence and authority. Risk communication involves understanding the perspective, concerns, and values of the intended audience – their perception – and then presenting the right information to project confidence and ensure understanding...
Modelling and Decision Support
Risk Sciences International knows the value of having proven trusted models for ongoing decision-making. Models can save time and money by helping to simplify the synthesis of diverse data sets, specialized scientific knowledge, and complex analysis into something reliable and reusable. Capturing corporate knowledge in reusable risk models...
Software Solutions
Risk Sciences International specializes in creating user-friendly software solutions that can synthesize multiple models and simulations into actionable results and data that lead to effective decision-making. Well-designed software eliminates much of the repetition, data entry, and research required in analysis that can be detrimental to timely decision making.
Training
Risk Sciences International offers training in risk analysis to assist clients in extending their in-house capacity for risk assessment and management, or for those wishing a more sophisticated understanding of the field. Training ranges from short courses and hands-on workshops covering the technical aspects of risk assessment (such as probability...
Program and Process Review
Program and project reviews can be applied to a range of risk management contexts. Though RSI works with many government risk regulators and is very familiar with their regulatory environments, risk analysis and management processes and challenges are common to many types of settings both in business and civil society. RSI approaches risk program and...
Training
Software Solutions
Scientific Advice
Risk-Based Decision Making
Risk Perception and Communication
Risk Assessment
Program and Process Review
Modelling and Decision Support
RSI Services shortcuts:
"I would like our clients to trust us for our commitment to science and evidence, and our dedication to finding effective, practical solutions that minimize risk."
"I would like our clients to trust us for our commitment to Daniel Krewski
Chief Risk Scientist, CEO
RSI Sectors
Chemical and Product Safety
RSI staff and affiliated scientists have an extensive background in epidemiology, toxicology, and pharmacology, that can help identify and characterize chemical risk and product safety. Clients include a variety of public and private sector organizations. Epidemiology: RSI has analyzed large and complex data sets to explore environmental, occupational...
Public Health
RSI has extensive experience modelling the risks and consequences associated with infectious disease spread amongst human and animal populations. We have worked with public health organizations in more than 175 countries to safeguard public health and help respond to potential threats to the population. RSI has been involved in a variety of projects...
Food Safety and Defense
Risk Sciences International has a team of internationally recognized experts with over 100 years of combined experience in human health risk assessment, quantitative microbiological risk assessment, and risk assessment methodology. RSI staff and affiliated scientists have a wealth of experience in the development of quantitative risk assessments and...
Climate Change and Adaptation
Risk Sciences International has extensive and unique experience in those key domains required to help organizations adapt to climate change: applied meteorology, engineering climatology, climate science, hydrology, social and behavioral science, risk assessment and management, and IT-based decision-support. RSI provides climate risk assessment and...
Agriculture
Approaches to measuring, characterizing, and managing risks and opportunities in the agricultural sector continue to evolve with time, thanks in part to the use of new technologies in the collection of data, and advancements in agriculture-related science and computing power for risk analysis. RSI’s experience in the Agricultural sector ranges...
Drug Safety and Effectiveness Monitoring
Risk Sciences International has significant experience managing drug safety to help related stakeholders ensure the health and well-being of the public. RSI has experience analyzing a wide variety of drugs across all demographics, using a range of analytic and modeling techniques including physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling. RSI’s...
Public Safety and Security
Risk Sciences International has comprehensive experience working with organizations to enhance public safety and security. Areas of expertise include non-biological hazards often associated with occupational health and safety issues, as well as emergency preparedness activities focusing on natural disaster, disease epidemic, or malicious acts. RSI has...
Urban Risk and Resiliency
The planning, design, and operation of the urban space requires multidisciplinary research and decision support to understand and mitigate the impact of hazards, natural or man-made, malicious or accidental. Risk Sciences International applies its expertise in extreme weather and climate change, infrastructure vulnerability...
Urban Risk and Resiliency
Public Safety and Security
Public Health
Food Safety and Defense
Drug Safety and Effectiveness Monitoring
Climate Change and Adaptation
Chemical and Product Safety
Agriculture
"When there is
concern or crisis,
confidence is critical.
RSI creates
the conditions
for confidence."
Greg Paoli
Principal Risk Scientist, COO
At RSI, science matters.
1,000+
1,000+ published, peer-reviewed articles
Collectively, staff at Risk Sciences International have published over one-thousand peer-reviewed articles since RSI's founding in 2006.
A small selection of some of the most important contributions by RSI staff to the field of risk science is featured below.
-
2021 (Current year)
Armstrong V, Karyakina NA, Nordheim E, Arnold I, Krewski D. Overview of REACH: Issues involved in the registration of metals. Neurotoxicology. 2021;83:186-98.
Chiu WA, Paoli GM. Recent advances in probabilistic dose-response assessment to inform risk-based decision making. Risk Analysis. 2021;41(4):596-609.
Farber JM, Zwietering M, Wiedmann M, Schaffner D, Hedberg CW, Harrison MA, Hartnett E, Chapman B, Donnelly CW, Goodburn KE, Gummalla S. Alternative approaches to the risk management of Listeria monocytogenes in low risk foods. Food Control. 2021;123:107601. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2020.107601
2020
Krewski, D., M. E. Andersen, M. G. Tyshenko, K. Krishnan, T. Hartung, K. Boekelheide, J. F. Wambaugh, D. Jones, M. Whelan, R. Thomas, C. Yauk, T. Barton-Maclaren, and I. Cote. 2020. 'Toxicity testing in the 21st century: progress in the past decade and future perspectives', Arch Toxicol, 94: 1-58.
Ramoju, S., M. E. Andersen, A. Nong, N. Karyakina, N. Shilnikova, K. Krishnan, and D. Krewski. 2020. 'Derivation of whole blood biomonitoring equivalents for titanium for the interpretation of biomonitoring data', Regul Toxicol Pharmacol, 114: 104671.
2019
Krewski, D., M. Bird, M. Al-Zoughool, N. Birkett, M. Billard, B. Milton, J. M. Rice, Y. Grosse, V. J. Cogliano, M. A. Hill, R. A. Baan, J. Little, and J. M. Zielinski. 2019. 'Key characteristics of 86 agents known to cause cancer in humans', J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev, 22: 244-63.
Lane, R. S. D., L. Tomasek, L. B. Zablotska, E. Rage, F. Momoli, and J. Little. 2019. 'Low radon exposures and lung cancer risk: joint analysis of the Czech, French, and Beaverlodge cohorts of uranium miners', Int Arch Occup Environ Health, 92: 747-62.
2018
Burnett, R., H. Chen, M. Szyszkowicz, N. Fann, B. Hubbell, C. A. Pope, 3rd, J. S. Apte, M. Brauer, A. Cohen, S. Weichenthal, J. Coggins, Q. Di, B. Brunekreef, J. Frostad, S. S. Lim, H. Kan, K. D. Walker, G. D. Thurston, R. B. Hayes, C. C. Lim, M. C. Turner, M. Jerrett, D. Krewski, S. M. Gapstur, W. R. Diver, B. Ostro, D. Goldberg, D. L. Crouse, R. V. Martin, P. Peters, L. Pinault, M. Tjepkema, A. van Donkelaar, P. J. Villeneuve, A. B. Miller, P. Yin, M. Zhou, L. Wang, N. A. H. Janssen, M. Marra, R. W. Atkinson, H. Tsang, T. Quoc Thach, J. B. Cannon, R. T. Allen, J. E. Hart, F. Laden, G. Cesaroni, F. Forastiere, G. Weinmayr, A. Jaensch, G. Nagel, H. Concin, and J. V. Spadaro. 2018. 'Global estimates of mortality associated with long-term exposure to outdoor fine particulate matter', Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 115: 9592-97.
Fantke, P., L. Aylward, J. Bare, W. A. Chiu, R. Dodson, R. Dwyer, A. Ernstoff, B. Howard, M. Jantunen, O. Jolliet, R. Judson, N. Kirchhubel, D. Li, A. Miller, G. Paoli, P. Price, L. Rhomberg, B. Shen, H. M. Shin, J. Teeguarden, D. Vallero, J. Wambaugh, B. A. Wetmore, R. Zaleski, and T. E. McKone. 2018. 'Advancements in Life Cycle Human Exposure and Toxicity Characterization', Environ Health Perspect, 126: 125001.
2017
Krewski, D., C. Barakat-Haddad, J. Donnan, R. Martino, T. Pringsheim, H. Tremlett, P. van Lieshout, S. J. Walsh, N. J. Birkett, J. Gomes, J. Little, S. Bowen, H. Candundo, T. K. Chao, K. Collins, J. A. G. Crispo, T. Duggan, R. El Sherif, N. Farhat, Y. Fortin, J. Gaskin, P. Gupta, M. Hersi, J. Hu, B. Irvine, S. Jahanfar, D. MacDonald, K. McKay, A. Morrissey, P. Quach, R. Rashid, S. Shin, L. Sikora, S. Tkachuk, M. K. Taher, M. D. Wang, S. Darshan, and N. R. Cashman. 2017. 'Determinants of neurological disease: Synthesis of systematic reviews', Neurotoxicology, 61: 266-89.
Momoli, F., J. Siemiatycki, M. L. McBride, M. E. Parent, L. Richardson, D. Bedard, R. Platt, M. Vrijheid, E. Cardis, and D. Krewski. 2017. 'Probabilistic Multiple-Bias Modeling Applied to the Canadian Data From the Interphone Study of Mobile Phone Use and Risk of Glioma, Meningioma, Acoustic Neuroma, and Parotid Gland Tumors', Am J Epidemiol, 186: 885-93.
Ramoju, S. P., D. R. Mattison, B. Milton, D. McGough, N. Shilnikova, H. J. Clewell, M. Yoon, M. D. Taylor, D. Krewski, and M. E. Andersen. 2017. 'The application of PBPK models in estimating human brain tissue manganese concentrations', Neurotoxicology, 58: 226-37.
2016
Cote, I., M. E. Andersen, G. T. Ankley, S. Barone, L. S. Birnbaum, K. Boekelheide, F. Y. Bois, L. D. Burgoon, W. A. Chiu, D. Crawford-Brown, K. M. Crofton, M. DeVito, R. B. Devlin, S. W. Edwards, K. Z. Guyton, D. Hattis, R. S. Judson, D. Knight, D. Krewski, J. Lambert, E. A. Maull, D. Mendrick, G. M. Paoli, C. J. Patel, E. J. Perkins, G. Poje, C. J. Portier, I. Rusyn, P. A. Schulte, A. Simeonov, M. T. Smith, K. A. Thayer, R. S. Thomas, R. Thomas, R. R. Tice, J. J. Vandenberg, D. L. Villeneuve, S. Wesselkamper, M. Whelan, C. Whittaker, R. White, M. Xia, C. Yauk, L. Zeise, J. Zhao, and R. S. DeWoskin. 2016. 'The Next Generation of Risk Assessment Multi-Year Study-Highlights of Findings, Applications to Risk Assessment, and Future Directions', Environ Health Perspect, 124: 1671-82.
Grool, A. M., M. Aglipay, F. Momoli, W. P. Meehan, 3rd, S. B. Freedman, K. O. Yeates, J. Gravel, I. Gagnon, K. Boutis, W. Meeuwisse, N. Barrowman, A. A. Ledoux, M. H. Osmond, and R. Zemek. 2016. 'Association Between Early Participation in Physical Activity Following Acute Concussion and Persistent Postconcussive Symptoms in Children and Adolescents', Jama, 316: 2504-14.
2015
Al-Zoughool, M., D. Cottrell, S. Elsaadany, N. Murray, T. Oraby, R. Smith, and D. Krewski. 2015. 'Mathematical Models for Estimating the Risks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)', J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev, 18: 71-104.
2014
Krewski, D., M. Westphal, M. E. Andersen, G. M. Paoli, W. A. Chiu, M. Al-Zoughool, M. C. Croteau, L. D. Burgoon, and I. Cote. 2014. 'A framework for the next generation of risk science', Environ Health Perspect, 122: 796-805.
Paoli, G. , and et al. 2014. 'Integration of Information to Identify Safer Alternatives.' in, A Framework to Guide the Selection of Chemical Alternatives (National Academies Press: Washington, D.C.).
2013
Chen, Y., S. B. Dennis, E. Hartnett, G. Paoli, R. Pouillot, T. Ruthman, and M. Wilson. 2013. 'FDA-iRISK--a comparative risk assessment system for evaluating and ranking food-hazard pairs: case studies on microbial hazards', J Food Prot, 76: 376-85.
Mattison D. R. (Ed.) 2013. Clinical Pharmacology During Pregnancy. Academic Press, Cambridge, MA.
2012
Krewski, D., M. C. Turner, L. Lemyre, and J. E. C. Lee. 2012. 'Expert vs. public perception of population health risks in Canada', Journal of Risk Research, 15: 601-25.
2011
Krewski, D., M. Westphal, M. Al-Zoughool, M. C. Croteau, and M. E. Andersen. 2011. 'New directions in toxicity testing', Annu Rev Public Health, 32: 161-78.
Wong, M., J. Toth, S. Haney, D. Krewski, F. A. Leighton, M. Ricketts, D. Westaway, and N. Cashman. 2011. 'PrioNet Canada: a network of centres of excellence for research on prion diseases--ongoing and future research directions', J Toxicol Environ Health A, 74: 73-87.
2010
Tyshenko, M. G., and C. Paterson. 2010. SARS unmasked: Risk communication of pandemics and influenza in Canada. McGill-Queen's University Press, Montreal, QC.
2009
Paoli, G., and Committee on Improving Risk Analysis used by the US Environmental Protection Agency. 2009. 'The Design of Risk Assessments.' in, Science and Decisions: Advancing Risk Assessments (NRC Press).
2008
Tyshenko, M. G., K. P. Phillips, M. Mehta, R. Poirier, and W. Leiss. 2008. 'Risk communication of endocrine-disrupting chemicals: improving knowledge translation and transfer', J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev, 11: 345-50.
2007
Hartnett, E., A. Adkin, M. Seaman, J. Cooper, E. Watson, H. Coburn, T. England, C. Marooney, A. Cox, and M. Wooldridge. 2007. 'A quantitative assessment of the risks from illegally imported meat contaminated with foot and mouth disease virus to Great Britain', Risk Anal, 27: 187-202.
2006
Cardis, E., D. Krewski, M. Boniol, V. Drozdovitch, S. C. Darby, E. S. Gilbert, S. Akiba, J. Benichou, J. Ferlay, S. Gandini, C. Hill, G. Howe, A. Kesminiene, M. Moser, M. Sanchez, H. Storm, L. Voisin, and P. Boyle. 2006. 'Estimates of the cancer burden in Europe from radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl accident', Int J Cancer, 119: 1224-35.
RSI
During these unique times during which physical distancing is affecting all aspects of society and our economy, RSI is well prepared. Since its inception, the company has been equipped and trained to deliver results remotely. We use virtual meeting applications extensively, as well as virtual training and webinar software. The nature of risk management is such that all RSI staff have always been a moment's notice away from intervening in urgent matters.
Important: Our sincere thanks go out to all first responders worldwide who have so bravely helped us all to face this unique challenge.
