Partner 40 – Süddeutsches Insitute für Empirische Sozialforschung (SINE)

Founded in 1999, sine is an independent social scientific research institute based in Munich, Germany. We have performed extensive research on risk issues in national and international context. The focus of the studies has been in recent years on public risk perception and risk communication strategies of risk management and stakeholders in the field of health, food and environmental risks. In that regard we have conducted research inter alia for the WHO, the OECD, the International Risk Governance Council and the German Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). Sine was involved in several European funded projects of FP 5 and FP 6, such as: “Stakeholders in Risk Communication“ (‚STARC‘, CA); “Public Perceptions of BSE and CJD risk in Europe, their interplay with media, policy initiatives and surveillance issues. Drawing the lessons for information policy” (STREP); “Promoting Food Safety through a New Integrated Risk Analysis Approach for Foods” (‘SAFE FOODS’, IP) or within the NoE: “Prevention, Control and Management of Prion Diseases” (‘NeuroPrion’).

In all of these international comparative projects, recommendations in regard to improved risk governance, including risk and crisis communication were formulated and best practices identified. Sine is familiar with qualitative as well as quantitative social scientific research methodology and with the organisation and moderation of expert and stakeholder workshops as well as conducting expert interviews and focus group research.

In EDENext sine will be in charge for WP 5: risk perception and risk communication in regard to vector-borne infections and how to adequately address and involve key actors of public health agencies as well as stakeholders within a PH risk control and communication strategy.