x-Risk Course
Open access · Self-paced

Module 1

Welcome to Module 1

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Welcome to Module 1: Measuring and Managing Risks

Module 1 Overview

Module Roadmap & Estimated Time

  • Lesson 1: Introduction to "Normal" Risks Est. 45-60 mins
    • 1.1: Define risk and explore frequency, severity, and scope.
    • 1.2: Explore risk perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors.
    • 1.3: Characterize the five types of risk management strategies.
    • 1.4: Define existential and global catastrophic risk.
  • Lesson 2: Risk Settings, Preferences, and Insurance Est. 90-120 mins
    • 2.1: Analyze risk in situations without insurance.
    • 2.2: Explain insurance as a risk reduction mechanism.
    • 2.3: Apply Expected Value and Actuarial Fair Premium.
    • 2.4: Apply concepts of Risk Preferences and Utility.
    • 2.5: Differentiate self-protection vs. self-insurance.
    • 2.6: Evaluate saving and diversification strategies.
    • 2.7:Understand early warning systems and information value.
    • 2.8: Describe the role of recovery and resilience.
    • 2.9: Compare management of normal vs. existential risks.
    • 2.10: Risk Management at Robinson
Math Trigger Warning: Lesson 2 (particularly 2.3 and 2.4) contains far more math than the rest of the course. This is not representative of the rest of the course; math will decrease significantly after Lesson 2.
Tip: Consider how your own perceptions of risk differ from others and reflect on which strategies apply to both everyday and existential risks.

x-Risk Course · Existential Risk: An Open Course

Designed and led by Professor Stephen H. Shore. Online contributors: Abbad Ali and Suyog Thengale.

Course overview · Team · Start here

Original course materials © Stephen H. Shore · CC BY-NC 4.0. Third-party materials retain their own terms.

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0