Audible “Risk”
What it's about:
Science is complex and research findings are often difficult to summarise in two or three short sentences. To make scientific topics more accessible for the public, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) is starting a new audio format: “Risiko – Der BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment-Podcast” (“Risk - The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment Podcast”) aims to give detailed insight into what the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment deals with in its day-to-day work. “Newspapers, news portals and social media posts are constantly warning us about new health risks. Plasticisers in sun creams, microplastics or supposedly carcinogenic substances in food. With this podcast we want to investigate such topics in depth – in a calm, scientific and understandable way”, says Professor Andreas Hensel, President of the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment.
Episodes of External Link:“Risiko – Der BfR-Podcast” will be released around once a month in future. The individual episodes are about 30 minutes long and always focus on one particular health risk. In a casual conversation scientists explain the most important points concerning real or supposed health risks. They also discuss the myths and fake news which might be spreading online and some already circulating for years. In the first episode explains how scientific risk assessment really works and how risks are perceived. The second episode deals with the health risks of tattoos and the third episode is about microplastics.
The “Risiko” podcast is available for free on all usual podcast platforms and apps. All episodes can also be listened to individually on the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment website.
Episode 1: External Link:“Risk perception: Are we afraid of the wrong things?”
Guest: Professor Dr Gaby-Fleur Böl, Head of the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment Department Risk Communication
Episode 2: External Link:“Tattoo inks: Body decoration with adverse effects?”
Guest: Dr Ines Schreiver, Head of the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment Dermatotoxicology Study Centre
Episode 3: External Link:“Microplastics: Small particles – big risk?”
Guest: Dr Holger Sieg, Head of the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment Working Group on Microplastics
About the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment
The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) is a scientifically independent institution within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMELshort forGerman Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture) in Germany. The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment advises the Federal Government and the States (‘Laender’) on questions of food, chemicals and product safety. The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment conducts independent research on topics that are closely linked to its assessment tasks.