I am a Psychology major at UCLA and it has been an incredible journey interning at the Lloyd’s Register Foundation Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk (IPUR) for the past two months, between July – August 2023 as a part of my university’s educational exchange programme. 

Before joining IPUR, I wasn’t aware that there could be an organisation dedicated solely to studying risks. I didn’t realise how significant and widespread the concept of risk is in our daily lives until I had the opportunity to work here. My time here at IPUR taught me a lot about risk communication, and it has been a transformative experience.

I’ve seen how important risk is in shaping how people understand things and make decisions in their daily lives. This connects closely with what I’ve been studying as I recognised the interconnectedness of risk perception, cognition, and human behaviour. Applying risk communication strategies in real life showed me how it helps people make informed choices.

Throughout my time here, I had the privilege of being involved in a number of impactful and interesting projects and events. One project was Project Wavelength which aimed to understand how people see risks differently based on their personal characteristics and experiences.

I worked on gathering and organising information about how healthcare providers in Singapore perceive health risks. I also played a part in the organisation and running of a health risks stakeholder workshop, the main goal of which was to bring together different healthcare providers to talk openly about how they see risks and how to communicate about them effectively. This experience helped me learn more about analysing data and finding patterns, which in turn contributed to creating better ways to talk about risks.

I also conducted a comprehensive literature review to understand why people spread false information and how it affects trust and belief. 

My time at IPUR has been more than just an internship for me. The team felt like a second family, especially since I’m an international student far away from home. They supported me at my lowest, and the office became a place of comfort and positivity. I learned a lot from the work of experts from different backgrounds in research, which further widened my horizons and enriched my learning about various aspects of the field. I also learned how to analyse data better, improve my research methods, and understand how to use strategies to talk about risks.

I’ve learned so much here, worked on interesting projects, and met some wonderful people and formed meaningful and priceless connections that would last me a lifetime. Learning about risk communication has expanded my knowledge and enriched my studies. I’m really thankful for this experience and excited to use what I’ve learned as I continue studying the complexities of human behaviour.