Decisions on Complex Interdisciplinary Problems of Health and Environmental Risk (D-CIPHER) (2017-2018)

This project team aimed to improve holistic understanding of decisions about complex public health and environmental risks by generating comprehensive case study profiles on specific salient risks and related decisions. The project team brought together focused research expertise from a diverse array of disciplines to tell the story of (and reconsider) past risk-based scenarios from multiple angles.

In 2017-2018, the team focused on fluorinated chemicals. Introduced to replace toxic ammonia as a refrigerant in the 1920s, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were later found to deplete the stratospheric ozone layer. Bans resulted in ozone protection, but primary replacement chemicals are potent greenhouse gases, and some may be flammable or toxic.

The team examined each “decision node” along the story arc of the risk from a variety of vantage points, considering each key decision point, assessing what was known, assumed, decided and how that determined the path forward—and how each decision might have been improved.

The team assessed the engineering and scientific dimensions of the situation; the historical context of the risk; stakeholder perspectives, media and public coverage of the risk(s); the legal and regulatory framework, including statutes, agencies, oversight and potential new regulatory policies; and economic, behavioral, cultural, ethical and sociological considerations involved in identifying and evaluating risk mitigation options.

The team developed a suite of pedagogical tools, including templates for teaching modules on the risks of CFCs using aspects of the team’s methodology and reading guides, and an infographic poster.

Timing

Summer 2017 – Summer 2018

Team Outcomes

Khara D. Grieger, Tyler Felgenhaur, Ortwin Renn, Jonathan Wiener, Mark Borsuk. “Emerging Risk Governance for Stratospheric Aerosol Injection as a Climate Management Technology.” 2019. Environment Systems and Decisions

DeCIPHER: The Saga of CFCs, Ozone Depletion, and Climate Change (Mark Borsuk, Kathleen M. Burns, Ryan Calder, Christian Capobianco, Tyler Felgenhauer, Christine Gerbode, Christine Ogilvie Hendren, Elizabeth Hunsaker, Francesca Martella Kehl, Sandy Kendall, Jason Y. Lee, Tasfia Nayem, Holly Ren, Drew Shindell, Amalia Turner, Micaela Unda, Priscilla Wald, Ai Wang, Jonathan B. Wiener), presented at Bass Connections Showcase, April 18, 2018

Reflections

Tasfia Nayem

Kathleen Burns

Analyzing Risks and Incentives for Global Climate Policy Challenges (Tasfia Nayem)

Lizzie Hunsaker

This Team in the News

Six Ph.D. Graduates Who Leveraged Bass Connections for Their Doctoral Training

“This Is Not a Course, It’s a Joint Research Project:” Advice from a Bass Connections Team Leader

Faculty Perspectives: Jonathan Wiener

Faculty Perspectives: Mark Borsuk

Jonathan Wiener on Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Narrating Climate Change and Weathering Environmental Risk

New Year’s Eve in the City of Oaks

Project on Health and Environmental Risk Invites Students to Join Team in Spring

Designing for Extremes: CEE Program Challenges Students to Plan for the Unexpected

See related team DECIPHER: Case Studies in Drinking Water Quality (2018-2019).

no CFCs 1989

Team Leaders

  • Mark Borsuk, Pratt School of Engineering-Civil & Environmental Engineering
  • Richard Di Giulio, Nicholas School of the Environment
  • Christine Ogilvie Hendren, Pratt School of Engineering-Civil & Environmental Engineering
  • Drew Shindell, Nicholas School of the Environment-Earth and Climate Sciences
  • Jonathan Wiener, Duke Law

/graduate Team Members

  • Kathleen Burns, English-PHD, English-AM
  • Christian Capobianco, Bioethics and Sci Policy - AM
  • Ai Wang, Master of Environmental Management, Environmental Economics/Policy
  • Christine Gerbode, Master of Environmental Management, Environmental Economics/Policy, Non Degree
  • Elizabeth Hunsaker, Chemistry-PHD
  • Amalia Turner, Continuing Education, Continuing Education
  • Yongwoo Lee, Master of Environmental Management, Environmental Economics/Policy
  • Tasfia Nayem, Master of Environmental Management, Environmental Economics/Policy

/undergraduate Team Members

  • Francesca Martella Kehl, Environmental Sciences (BS)
  • Micaela Unda, Environmental Sci/Policy (AB)
  • Holly Ren, Public Policy Studies (AB)
  • Sandra Kendall, Political Science (AB)
  • Alexandra Fisher, Public Policy Studies (AB)

/yfaculty/staff Team Members

  • Lori Bennear, Nicholas School of the Environment-Environmental Sciences and Policy
  • Peter Ubel, Fuqua School of Business
  • Prasad Kasibhatla, Nicholas School of the Environment-Environmental Sciences and Policy
  • Priscilla Wald, Arts & Sciences-English
  • Robert Wolpert, Arts & Sciences-Statistical Science