A new article published in Risk Sciences introduces "risk sciences" as an emerging interdisciplinary field focused on understanding and managing uncertainty across natural, social, economic, and technological domains. The study proposes a three-dimensional framework to organize diverse risk research, aiming to strengthen societal resilience in an increasingly complex and uncertain world. Uncertainty has become a defining feature of modern existence, encompassing challenges from climate change and pandemics to financial instability, cybersecurity threats, and disruptive technologies.
The article, authored by Runhuan Feng from Tsinghua University and published with DOI 10.1016/j.risk.2025.100029, outlines a conceptual framework that moves beyond narrow definitions of risk. Instead of offering a single perspective, the framework establishes three dimensions to organize how risks are studied and managed. The first dimension, identification and assessment, focuses on recognizing risks, evaluating their likelihood and impact, and modeling potential losses or consequences. This dimension incorporates methods ranging from causal risk-factor models used in disaster research to statistical trend analysis common in finance and insurance.
The second dimension, mechanism and strategy, examines how risks are addressed in practice. Mechanisms include concrete tools such as risk avoidance, mitigation, and transfer, while strategies refer to broader, coordinated plans that integrate multiple tools and stakeholders. Examples include national catastrophe risk management systems or international risk governance frameworks that coordinate responses across borders and sectors.
The third dimension, behavior and decision, highlights how individuals, organizations, and institutions perceive risk and make decisions under uncertainty. Drawing on insights from economics, psychology, and behavioral science, this dimension explains why real-world decisions often deviate from purely rational models and how cognitive biases, information asymmetry, and institutional structures shape risk-related behavior. Feng explains that "risk sciences is not a single discipline, but an ecosystem of interconnected research" that brings together perspectives from natural sciences, social sciences, engineering, economics, and beyond to better understand complex risks and design more effective responses.
Using this framework, the article reviews major research areas shaping the field, including climate and catastrophe risks, digitalization and cybersecurity, disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence, and global societal challenges. It identifies emerging trends such as the growing use of network analysis, agent-based modeling, and closer links between academic research, industry applications, and public policy. The framework's interdisciplinary approach allows researchers and practitioners to connect insights across traditionally separate domains, potentially leading to more comprehensive risk management strategies.
The article concludes by introducing Risk Sciences, a new open-access journal designed to foster interdisciplinary integration and innovation. The journal's central hypothesis is that synthesizing diverse approaches to risk can help build a shared knowledge base that supports better decision-making and enhances resilience in an era of escalating uncertainty. As organizations and governments face increasingly interconnected challenges, this framework provides a structured approach to navigating complexity. The establishment of risk sciences as a distinct field could influence how educational institutions structure programs, how research funding is allocated, and how policymakers approach systemic risks that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries.
