RiskCartography is an internetbased tool to map and visualize controversies. It has been developed by the Munich Institute for Social and Sustainability Research and the Environment Science Center of the Augsburg University in cooperation with the software company SouCon. This tool is dedicated to researchers working on scientific and technological controversies. It is designed as part of the EU-Project MACOSPOL (Mapping Controversies in Science for Politics).

The rapid scientific and technological development involves not only chances but also several risks. There is for example a controversial debate on dietary supplements, novel food and nanoscale materials or substances due to a lack of trusted scientific knowledge concerning the risks of these developments. Therefore the need of methods for elucidating and communicating risks is increasing.
Our risk-cartography enables you to get intuitional, immediate and cross-linked access to the debates on risks concerning dietary supplements and nanoscale materials. Produced arguments, divergent positions of involved protagonists, issues, matters of dispute, transformation of materials or substances and often astonishing interrelations are made accessible clearly arranged and lucent using argumentation maps.
The visualization of the “maps” is each taking place on the left of your screen. On the right you are provided with short information on the present view in the “Information Box”. The “Navigator” on top assists you to orientate yourself in the unclear world of systemic risks.
In addition to the visualization of the controvery showing protagonists, technologies, issues, matters of dispute and statements you can gain a chronological overview on the issues each. Please choose the field “chronology” for that purpose. The substance story furthermore offers you absorbing background information on things discussed controversially and risks concerning their manufactoring and utilization. For that purpose please choose the field “substance stories”.

We wish you a fascinating trip into the world of systemic risks concerning dietary supplements and nanoscale materials. Please do not hesitate to place comments, suggestions or critique on the project's workshop page.

Thank you for your interest!

Your RiskCartography-Team