MSU faculty drive leadership in global risk analysis at SRA 2024 Annual Meeting
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EmailCANR was well-represented at the SRA 2024 Annual Meeting in December 2024. MSU’s involvement was highlighted by Dr. Felicia Wu, who served as president, and Dr. Doug Bessette, Dr. Jade Mitchell and Dr. Adam Zwickle, who served on the SRA’s council.
Twenty-three representatives of Michigan State University (MSU) and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) spoke and presented at the December 2024 Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) meeting in Austin, Texas.
Established in 1980, the SRA is a multidisciplinary, international professional society fostering collaboration among risk analysts. It includes numerous regional organizations and specialty groups, providing ample opportunities for members to network and advance their work across diverse fields.
MSU’s involvement was highlighted by the SRA Presidency of Dr. Felicia Wu, John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor and University Distinguished Professor in the Michigan State University (MSU) departments of Food Science and Human Nutrition, and Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics, who presided over the SRA annual meeting. Dr. Wu’s journey with the SRA began in 1998 as a graduate student, and over the years, she has witnessed the field’s growth in response to emerging global challenges.
“Risk analysis is about understanding not just the magnitude of harm but also the probability of that harm occurring,” said Wu. “It’s about assessing the risks we face, whether the safety of our drinking water, the effects of geopolitical events, or the potential impacts of climate change on our communities.”
CANR was also represented during the meeting by faculty members like Dr. Doug Bessette, Dr. Jade Mitchell and Dr. Adam Zwickle, who served on the SRA’s council, a body responsible for setting the society's strategic direction. Their involvement emphasizes MSU's commitment to advancing risk analysis and addressing complex global issues.
Reflecting on CANR’s leadership in SRA, Dr. Wu remarked, “I’m proud that MSU has such a significant presence at the leadership level of SRA. Only about 14 of us are on the council, and having four people from MSU speaks to how committed our university is to advancing risk analysis globally. That representation is a testament to the strength of our risk science expertise and that breadth allows MSU to make significant contributions to the direction of risk analysis worldwide.”
The annual meeting provided MSU faculty with a platform to engage in critical discussions on climate change, public health and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in risk assessment. It also served as a valuable opportunity for them to connect with colleagues from around the globe, fostering new collaborations and expanding their professional network.
Serving on the council provided valuable executive-level decision-making experience for Dr. Bessette, an associate professor in the Department of Community Sustainability.
“Serving on the council has provided me with invaluable experience in executive decision-making and the opportunity to make recommendations and suggest new trajectories for SRA,” Dr. Bessette explained. “Additionally, SRA has provided a great opportunity to meet scholars and practitioners in risk communication, clean energy, and energy social science, leading to new collaborations, proposals, and co-authored articles. I've also strengthened connections with colleagues here at Michigan State.”
As MSU’s involvement in the Society for Risk Analysis spans various disciplines, Dr. Adam Zwickle, an associate professor in the Department of Community Sustainability, emphasized how risk analysis aligns with the work done within CANR.
“Overall, I believe SRA is a great fit for much of the work done in CANR. Although folks may not be used to framing their work from a risk point of view, much of the research done here is in response to a risk,” said Zwickle. “In the Department of Community Sustainability, it is common to center our science around sustainability, but sustainability is really about building resilience to a risk and reducing environmental, economic, and social risks around a certain issue. So, while an organization like the Society for Risk Analysis might sound very technical, it’s actually a very big tent.”
CANR’s presence at the event was further showcased by the participation of individuals such as Dr. Christian Scott, Dr. Charita Gamlath and Patricia Hsu, who presented on topics ranging from risk communication to foodborne pathogens. Their contributions, part of broader symposia addressing urgent global issues, underscored MSU’s leadership in advancing risk analysis across disciplines.
As Dr. Wu reflects on her time as president of SRA, she looks ahead to MSU’s continued leadership in the field.
“SRA has been my home professional society since I was a graduate student, and it’s been incredible to see how it has grown over the years. One of the greatest honors of my presidency has been helping young risk analysts make connections, get involved in committees and encourage them as they start their careers. The next generation of risk analysts is out there, and they have much to contribute. I hope MSU continues to play a leading role in this field.”
