30 years of the Risk Dialogue Foundation
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Risk Dialogue Foundation. The vision of the colloquium at the University of St. Gallen at that time still fits today: the population and stakeholders should be involved in transformation processes at an early stage and thus be enabled to develop solutions together.
For 30 years, the Risk Dialogue Foundation has been bringing together actors from different interest groups with the aim of contributing to the risk competence of society. As a non-profit and neutral foundation, it supports the knowledge-based and interdisciplinary weighing of opportunities and threats around different risk topics. This promotes sustainable and viable solutions. Current topics include new technologies and energy infrastructures, social developments and challenges such as demographic change and the behaviour of people in risk and crisis situations.
The Risk Dialogue Foundation now has an immense portfolio of publications and risk dialogues (see www. risiko-dialog.ch).
It all started with a colloquium at the University of St. Gallen. The review of 2018 alone shows important, contemporary dialogues concerning our society and technological developments.
Generation Y -experiencing risk differently
In 2018, the Foundation conducted a study for the first time to examine the changing perspectives and behaviour of Generation Y, i.e. 18- to 37-year-olds in Switzerland. As a joint project with Swiss insurance companies and other companies, the assessment of opportunities and risks in the context of work and leisure, as well as general future prospects from the perspective of Generation Y, were examined.
Young people attach great importance to personal responsibility, the ability to adapt and learn, health and a wealth of experiences. "Many of them are concerned with the conscious use of their personal resources, such as time and well-being, in order to be able to cope with the many challenges they face.
In a demanding and challenging work environment, this means reducing stress through sufficient recovery time and positive feedback," according to the foundation's website.
People want to obtain specific information on the Internet and check various sources. Nevertheless, according to a study résumé,
"personal responsibility reaches its limits."
-Self-determination over personal data, while desired, "is not perceived as a real-world goal."
"Responsibility is reaching its limits"
Focus on "Digitalization
The newly created focus area "Digitization" was successfully introduced in 2018. The Risk Dialogue Foundation is specifically addressing the question of how the digital transformation can succeed with people in the context of opportunities and risks. Two goals are to be pursued in the process:
The promotion of the ability of individuals and organisations to deal with transformation and the participatory development of pragmatic solutions through dialogue.
The funding could be secured for the next three years through the mo- biliar from the area of societal engagement. Within the three participation levels "Technology in Discourse", "Living and Working Together" and "Society and Democracy", various types of projects are planned, ranging from dialogue events to support for the pilot project.
Furthermore, concrete cooperation projects with the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW), TA-SWISS (Foundation for Technology Assessment) could be realized.
Through such projects, the Foundation continues to investigate new technologies and their influence on society, politics and the lives of people in Switzerland. The foundation will continue to design and moderate dialogue events, advise organisations and conduct research on socially relevant topics.
