INSTITUTIONAL DESIGN FOR RISK SOCIETY[2nd half of semester](GIGA/GG)

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INSTITUTIONAL DESIGN FOR RISK SOCIETY[2nd half of semester](GIGA/GG)

Lecturer(s)	AKIYAMA, MIKI
Credit(s)	2
Academic Year/Semester	2026 Spring (2nd Half)
Day/Period	Tue.1,2
Campus	SFC
Class Format	Face-to-face classes (conducted mainly in-person)
Registration Number	16090
Faculty/Graduate School	POLICY MANAGEMENT / ENVIRONMENT AND INFORMATION STUDIES
Year Level	1, 2, 3, 4
Field	ADVANCED SUBJECTS SERIES OF POLICY MANAGEMENT
Grade Type	This item will appear when you log in (Keio ID required).
English Support	With English Support
Related Classes	B6153 ヘルスリサーチの基礎/INTRODUCTION TO INTEGRATED HEALTH RESEARCH C1049 エビデンスに基づく健康政策とコミュニケーション/EVIDENCE BASED HEALTH POLICY, MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION
Location	SFC;Other
Course Requirements	This item will appear when you log in (Keio ID required).
Student Screening *For conditions regarding "additional permission", please refer to the "Student Screening Details" section. Approval for additional permission is at the lecturer's discretion, and is not guaranteed.	This item will appear when you log in (Keio ID required).
Screening Method *If selection is by lottery: Complete the course registration process and check your permission status on the course registration screen. If selection is by assignment: Carefully review the "Student Screening Details" section, register for the course via the "Assignment Submission URL," and submit the required assignment.	This item will appear when you log in (Keio ID required).
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Course Description	Courses that integrate theory and practice through an interdisciplinary exploration of "Policy Design", "Social Innovation, Management, and Organizations", "International Strategy", "Language, culture, and Communication" and "Methodologies in Policy Management Studies. Cultivate the ability to make policy proposals for research activities.
K-Number	FPE-CO-04003-212-86

Course Administrator	Faculty/Graduate School	FPE	POLICY MANAGEMENT / ENVIRONMENT AND INFORMATION STUDIES
Course Administrator	Department/Major	CO
Main Course Number	Level	0	Faculty-wide
	Major Classification	4	Advanced Subjects
	Minor Classification	00	Series of Policy Management
	Subject Type	3	Elective subject
Supplemental Course Information	Class Classification	2	Lecture
	Class Format	1	Face-to-face classes (conducted mainly in-person)
	Language of Instruction	2	English
Academic Discipline		86	Comprehensive / Integrated Areas (Social Sciences)

Course Summary

Analyzing and managing societal risks to health, safety, and environmental quality have become dominant themes in interdisciplinary areas of social science and natural science. The continued growth of research and applications addressing issues in risk analysis, and their extension include a broad spectrum of scientific, social, and political perspectives, have been motivated by scientific and technological advances as well as societal needs.
This course is designed to provide a basic understanding of and an integrated view of current landscape of risk analysis. Topics include risk analysis, health impact assessment, environmental health and safety, and policy making and evaluation processes. The course mainly deals with selected applications of epidemiological methods and findings to public-health issues.

Course Description/Objectives/Teaching Method/Intended Learning Outcome

Analyzing and managing societal risks to health, safety, and environmental quality have become dominant themes in the social and natural sciences. The continued growth of research and applications addressing issues in risk analysis, and their extension include a broad spectrum of scientific, social, and political perspectives, have been motivated by technological advances as well as societal needs. On the other hand, risk is unequally distributed in the society. It is well known that under-served groups and low-income communities have poorer health outcomes than others. They are more frequently exposed to multiple environmental hazards and social stressors. This composition applies both domestically and globally.

Thus, this course is designed to provide a basic understanding of and an integrated view of current landscape of risks. The course mainly deals with selected topics of global health, risk assessment, risk management, and communications. Students will be provided multiple views on risks in the society from different perspectives. Please be are that classes include extensive discussions and group activities. Class attendance is vital.

Course Taught by Faculty Member with Professional Experience

Not applicable

Active Learning MethodsDescription

Presentations
Discussions, Debates
Group work

Preparatory Study

Students are expected to read through the materials and references given in class in advance. (approsimately 1.5h)
Pre- and post-assignments related to the class will be given and students are expected to work on them. (approximately 1h)

Course Plan

Lesson 1

Title

Basic concepts and frameworks

Overview

Why do we need to study risk? The students will get an overview of the course and the basic concept of risk and related terms. The lecture also presents some of the frameworks, which represent relationships between important concepts regarding risk analysis and policy developments and choices.

Class Format

Same as the whole Class Format

Lesson 2

Title

Changing Society, Changing Risks

Overview

Risks are often controversial and cross-disciplinary approaches are needed to understand and manage them in the society. New technology may reduce some risk for some groups of people while it increases other risks for other groups. By looking at historical rise and fall of a product of chemical substance, the students will understand complex trade-offs of risks among different parties in the world.

Class Format

Same as the whole Class Format

Lesson 3

Title

Planetary and Global health－Concepts

Overview

Planetary health refers to "the health of human civilization and the state of the natural systems on which it depends". Improving planetary health over the long term requires a deep understanding of the impacts of environmental problems at local, national, and global scales. The first week, we learn the concept of planetary health bay looking at some examples. Issues such as climate change, poor sanitation and water security, the risks of thermal and nuclear power, and COVID-19 are areas that are complex and require interdisciplinary solutions.

Class Format

Same as the whole Class Format

Lesson 4

Title

Global Health Emergency

Overview

Globalization is producing new forms of risk to health and well-being. Among others, COVID-19 may be ongoing and the most serious pandemic in the past 100 years. A global health policy specialist will be a lecturer. The students will learn what are new emerging risks and how international organizations are playing role to control such risks. Students will discuss how to make decisions regarding big mass-gathering events under the circumstance of pandemic. The lectures may include complex political aspiration and hegemony regarding production and distribution of vaccine. In the class, students will make active discussion over such topics.

Class Format

Same as the whole Class Format

Lesson 5

Title

Life course, Gender, and Health Risks (1)

Overview

We encounter different health risks in different life stages. Some population groups may be considerably more vulnerable or being at higher risk of living than others. Among others, “gender” is one of the most important social determinants of health and it is getting increasing attention globally. We will have Dr. Miho Iida, OBGYN doctor, who specializes in women’s health at Keio University Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health. In this class, students will learn differences in gender and how it impacts on health of individuals throughout their life course.

Class Format

Same as the whole Class Format

Lesson 6

Title

Life course, Gender, and Health Risks (2)

Overview

Different health risks exist in different life stages. In this class, students will discuss the ways to improve health and to prevent health risks. The students will learn the concept of “life course approach” and think example of a current public health measure that utilizes the life course approach to improve health inequalities related to gender.

Class Format

Same as the whole Class Format

Lesson 7

Title

The political infrastructure of risk assessment

Overview

Environmental injustice and the disenfranchisement of marginalized communities are deeply entwined with concepts of risk - whether social, economic, or political. In the first half of the lecture, we will critically examine how "objectivity" and "subjectivity" come together to form understandings of risk. In the second half of class, we'll go over a brief history of the environmental justice movement in the US, and take a closer look at some modern-day examples. We'll also explore the potential upsides and downsides of mapping riskscapes of environmental injustices and hazards.

Class Format

Same as the whole Class Format

Lesson 8

Title

The riskscapes of environmental justice

Overview

The lecture will be on a brief history of the U.S. environmental justice movement and some examples of environmental injustices. Students will explore the potential of mapping riskscapes of environmental injustices and hazards. Students will be able to identify political infrastructure, which distort risk assessment and scientific evidence.

Class Format

Same as the whole Class Format

Lesson 9

Title

What is "sustainability" and its relevance to the world energy situation? (1)

Overview

The sustainable delivery of energy is hot issue. According to the current energy scenario, there are serious challenges to the energy sustainability and security worldwide. We will have Mr. Masa Mezaki, CEO of GPSS Holdings, a renewable energy company. The aim of this class is to provide an overview of major energy sources including clean energy by addressing benefits and risks. Students will discuss what progresses should be made towards energy sustainability.

Class Format

Same as the whole Class Format

Lesson 10

Title

What is "sustainability" and its relevance to the world energy situation? (2))

Overview

Class Format

Same as the whole Class Format

Lesson 11

Title

Empowerment, Advocacy and Communication

Overview

Advocacy is powerful way to mobilize resources and power to deal with societal problems and to make the betterment of society. Advocacy can be done in pursuit of specific benefits of individual and/or a group of people. Advocacy may be able to bring the improvement of health and well-being of individuals, communities, and the society. We will have a professional advocacy communicators from APCO Worldwide. Students will experience the planning of advocacy program and learn how to determine stakeholders, influence decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions.

Class Format

Same as the whole Class Format

Lesson 12

Title

Empowerment, Advocacy and Communication

Overview

Students will participate the advocacy workshop, which continues from the previous class.

Class Format

Same as the whole Class Format

Lesson 13

Title

Communicating Risk

Overview

The topic of this class is “Communicating Risk”. The area we cover today will be a part of risk communication and a part of crisis communication. Risk communication is an interactive process that involves the exchange of information among interested parties and/or individuals, which often have different level of literacy. The students will learn the difference between risk communication and crisis communication the challenges of each. By the end of the class, the students will understand factors that affect public risk perception and acceptance, and the risk communication process and importance of crafting message to the targeted audience.

Class Format

Same as the whole Class Format

Lesson 14

Title

Wrap up and reflection

Overview

Share your learnings from the 7-week (14 sessions) course. The professor will talk why she started this course and the events that led to it.

Class Format

Same as the whole Class Format

Other

Title

Wrap up

Overview

The final class will be a wrap-up session to review what you have learned in the course. Students will discuss how we should prepare for societal risks to health, safety, and environmental quality, etc.

Class Format

Same as the whole Class Format

Method of Evaluation

The final grading will be determined as follows:

• Assignments (in class or homework) (65-70%),

• Class attendance and contributions (30-35%).

Generative AI Policy for Classes

This course prioritizes students' critical thinking and communication skills, so the use of generative AI is generally prohibited.
Generative AI may not be used for the following activities:
・Creating reports or assignments
・Preparing for in-class discussions or presentations
If use is discovered, the work may be excluded from evaluation or subject to disciplinary action as academic misconduct. If you have questions, consult with the instructor beforehand.

Textbooks

Reading materials for each class will be provided on K-LMS.

Reference Books

1. Rachael Carson, “Silent Spring”, 1994, Mariner Books.
Re-printed version is available at http://library.uniteddiversity.coop/More_Books_and_Reports/Silent_Spring-Rachel_Carson-1962.pdf
2. Ulrich Beck “Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity”, 1992, Sage Publications. Available at SFC Library.
3. A Life-course Approach to Women’s Health: Implications for Health Care and Implementation in the United Kingdom (UK).
4. G20 Okayama Health Ministers' Meeting, "Public Health Emergency During Mass Gathering Simulation Exercise Guide", October 20, 2019.
5. Rachel Morello-Frosch, et al. “Understanding The Cumulative Impacts of Inequalities in Environmental Health: Implications for Policy”, Racial & Ethnic Disparities: No.5 (2011): 879-887.

Lecturer's Comments to Students

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Lab / Skill-development / On-site training	An educational approach in which students deepen their understanding of educational content through first-hand experience and trial-and-error by initiating their own activities at facilities and accommodations both on and off campus.
Fieldwork	An educational approach in which students conduct surveys and observations on their own to collect information both on and off campus.
Presentations	An educational approach in which students deepen their understanding of educational content by preparing materials and delivering presentations in class.
Discussions, Debates	An educational approach in which students deepen their understanding of educational content through sharing and discussing their opinions on designated topics.
Group work	An educational approach in which students are divided into small groups and assigned tasks on issues related to educational content.
Role-playing	An educational approach in which students deepen their understanding of educational content by being assigned specific roles to play, thus allowing them to experience different viewpoints.
Flipped classroom	An educational approach in which students study the course lecture in advance, and questions and discussions relating to that content are then held in class.
Problem-based learning	An educational approach in which students acquire knowledge and skills related to educational content by attempting to tackle specific projects or problems posed to them.