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Researcher Name: Heather Lowrie Affiliated Staff: Supervisors: Dr James Mittra Professor Donald Mackenzie Project Start Date: 01.10.2008 Project End Date: 30.09.2012 Contact Details: Heather Lowrie Funder: ESRC Background: Technological innovations are frequently portrayed as not amenable to traditional insurance mechanisms due to the lack of actuarial data. This homogenising view overlooks the fact that insurance coverage is uneven among countries, sectors and risks. However, emerging technological risks (such as from nanotechnologies and genetic engineering) pose a challenge for liability underwriters. The project explores how underwriters make the decision to provide protection against liability where there is a lack of experiential data and risks from a technology are complex, uncertain and ambiguous. As risk transfer capacity may regulate the rate and direction of innovation, the project also explores the role that the nature of a risk plays in innovation processes in the life sciences. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the project is to understand the role of risk transfer mechanisms such as insurance and reinsurance in the management of complex, uncertain and ambiguous technological risks. Research Methods: This is an interdisciplinary project that draws on research in science and technology studies, law, economic sociology and anthropology. The research methods are interviews, documentary analysis and ethnographic observation. Key Findings: Wider implications for policy: Project Update: Publications: External Links: Further information:
Heather Lowrie
Technological innovations are frequently portrayed as not amenable to traditional insurance mechanisms due to the lack of actuarial data. This homogenising view overlooks the fact that insurance coverage is uneven among countries, sectors and risks.
However, emerging technological risks (such as from nanotechnologies and genetic engineering) pose a challenge for liability underwriters. The project explores how underwriters make the decision to provide protection against liability where there is a lack of experiential data and risks from a technology are complex, uncertain and ambiguous.
As risk transfer capacity may regulate the rate and direction of innovation, the project also explores the role that the nature of a risk plays in innovation processes in the life sciences.
The aim of the project is to understand the role of risk transfer mechanisms such as insurance and reinsurance in the management of complex, uncertain and ambiguous technological risks.
This is an interdisciplinary project that draws on research in science and technology studies, law, economic sociology and anthropology. The research methods are interviews, documentary analysis and ethnographic observation.
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