EPSRC/ESRC/NERC/Defra Collaborative Centre of Excellence in Understanding and Managing Natural and Environmental Risks (the 'Risk Centre')

Defra与其利益相关者、受监管社区、其伙伴部门和公民分担风险管理责任。政策必须以证据为基础，并了解风险，以便能够做出优先、高质量和可执行的决策，并获得利益攸关方的信任。对于政策制定者来说，风险管理必须是实用的，并建立在尖端科学的基础上。EPSRC/ESRC/NERC/Defra理解和管理自然和环境风险卓越合作中心（“风险中心”）将为Defra提供实用研究，工具和建议，同时推进世界领先的风险科学研究议程。它的作用是促进提供世界领先的知识，理解和管理风险，为Defra和其他决策者制定政策提供证据基础。为了保持领先地位，风险中心将：（1）领导定量风险科学的发展;（2）对社会对风险和治理问题的反应产生新的理解;（3）创造学术和政策实践的融合;（4）在研究和Defra社区内发展专业知识;（5）成为风险专业知识的权威来源，特别是在洪水、放射性废物、动植物疾病、空气质量和气候变化方面。一个首要的要求是帮助Defra更好地向其利益攸关方解释其动机和行动，因此风险中心工作的一个重要方面也将是用无障碍语言传达环境安全信息。

Defra shares its risk management responsibilities with its stakeholders, regulated communities, with its partner departments and with citizens. Policies need to be evidence-based and risk-informed so that prioritised, high quality and implementable decisions can be made that have the confidence of stakeholders. For policy makers, risk management must be practical and founded on cutting edge science.The EPSRC/ESRC/NERC/Defra Collaborative Centre of Excellence in Understanding and Managing Natural and Environmental Risks (the 'Risk Centre') will deliver practical research, tools and advice to Defra, whilst progressing a world-leading research agenda in risk science. Its role is to facilitate the provision of world-leading knowledge, understanding and managing of risk to provide an evidence base to inform policy development by Defra and other policy makers . To be cutting edge, the Risk Centre will: (1) lead the development of quantitative risk science; (2) generate new understanding about the societal response to risk and issues of governance; (3) create a fusion of academic and policy practice; (4) develop expertise within the research and Defra communities; and (5) be an authoritative source of risk expertise, especially on floods, radioactive waste, animal and plant disease, air quality and climate change. An overarching requirement is help Defra better explain its motives and actions to its stakeholders and so an important aspect of the Risk Centre's work will also be in communicating messages on environmental safety in accessible language.