Quiz and Answers for Environmental Quality and Governance
Key ☒=answer
Quiz 1 - Risk society and reflexive modernization
Question 1 1 point
Complete the following statement with the most correct answer:
"The discovery of DDT in the eggshells of birds nesting on the Galapagos Islands was an important
turning point for the global environmental movement because ...
A. ☐... it revealed the unforeseen consequences of human activity on the environment"
B. ☐... it represented an economic risk to the farming industry in the United States"
C. ☒... it revealed the unforeseen consequences of human activity on the environment and raised
concerns of unforeseen consequences for human health"
D. ☐... it represented a risk to the environment upon which the farming industry in the United
States was dependent"
This is the most correct answer. DDT was not only seen as an unforeseen consequences of human
activity on the environment, but also on human health. This meant that the conditions of simple
modernity were questioned - not all the side effects of modernisation were being adequately dealt with
by science and there were unforeseen consequences on both the environmental and human health.
Question 2 1 point
The politics of ‘left’ and ‘right’ are no longer meaningful for novel environmental risks because
governments were established for the accumulation and redistribution of welfare and to provide security
to a national citizenry.
A. ☒True
B. ☐False
Beck argues that risk requires the disorganisation of existing state institutions because national
governments were not designed to deal with ubiquitous and commonly transboundary environmental
problems. Their design was focused on the accumulation and redistribution of welfare and to provide
security to a national citizenry.
Question 3 1 point
The authority of the state is partially drawn from the authority of science.
A. ☒True
B. ☐False
The authority of the state is partially linked to the authority of science. Key examples here are when
governments claim their policies are science-based. It does mean, however, that there are no competing
sources of scientific knowledge, nor that the state is always empowered by making such claims.
Question 4 1 point
Complete the sentence:
"Under conditions of reflexive modernity we ...
A. ☒... question whether COVID-19 can be resolved by science-based policies alone"
B. ☐... can detect environmental impacts with our own senses"
C. ☐... do not question the authority of the science and policy makers
D. ☐... trust that scientists remain objective when negotiating with politicians"
,This answer is most correct. Under conditions of reflexive modernity we question the relationship
between science and the state. In addition to the state we see additional measures taken by individuals,
non-state organisations, international (transboundary organisations), and the private sector to resolve
global risks like COVID-19.
Question 5 1 point
Under conditions of risk society, environmental hazards are distributed along class divisions and wealth
A. ☐True
B. ☒False
the statement is false. Reason being that under conditions of risk society hazards (potential dangers to
health and society) are not distributed along class divisions and wealth, They are instead ubiquitous -
people in society are exposed to these hazards irrespective of wealth and class.
Question 6 1 point
Match the following terms with the correct description.
A. A course of action, written or otherwise agreed, that shapes action towards a given goal outside
the formal channels of the state.
B. The group of people with a shared identity and/or purpose seeking to supplement formal
processes of politics.
C. The distribution of power to groups other than the state seeking to contribute to resolving a key
societal challenge.
1. Sub-polity B
2. Sub-policy A
3. Sub-politics C
Question 7 1 point
We are no longer dependent on scientists in the risk society.
A. ☐True
B. ☒False
Under conditions of the risk society we question the authority of scientists, but remain dependent on
science to assess risk and enable us to deal with the side effects of modernity.
Question 8 1 point
Reflexivity means that societal practices are constantly examined and changed in response to incoming
information about those same practices.
A. ☒True
B. ☐False
Question 9 1 point
Risk society involves a transformation in the way society attempts to organise the identification and
mitigation of environmental risk. Which of the following statements are false.
A. ☒Decision making under conditions of risk society remain limited to the state.
B. ☒The democratization of science undermines its credibility.
C. ☐Some argue that scientists can act as guides for citizens in collecting and interpreting
environmental risk
D. ☐Risk society involves breaking down our assumptions of who 'experts' are
,Various authors argue that under conditions of risk society we are forced to revisit assumptions of who
'experts' are. Said differently, scientists and the state no longer have a monopoly on knowledge creation
and 'truth. We instead see the emergence of multiple sources of knowledge and expertise that require
new way of negotiation to reach societal policies for changing practices and taking action to resolve
complex problems.
The democratization of science then opens up new roles for scientists - either as guides for citizens (as
Frank Fischer argues), or as counter-expertise (in the words of Beck). The scientific process is therefore
not completely undermined, but our acceptance of expertise does.
Question 10 1 point
Beck and Willms wrote:
"Risk … marks the beginning of a civilization that seeks to make the unforeseeable consequences of its
own decisions foreseeable, and subdue their unwanted side effects through conscious preventative action
and institutional arrangement.
Which of the following answers is most correct?
A. ☐Institutional arrangements include government laws and policies designed to manage risk
B. ☒Institutional arrangements include both government laws and policies and private norms and
standards designed to mitigate the effects of hazards
C. ☐Institutional arrangements include all forms of risk assessment
D. ☐Institutional arrangements includes governmental risk assessment
Quiz lecture 2 - Inter- and transdisciplinarity
Question 1 1 point
Fill in for each statement, what type of research is indicated? Choose from interdisciplinary,
multidisciplinary, and transdisciplinary research. Type your answer as: ID (for interdisciplinary') MD
(multidisciplinary) or TD (transdisciplinary)
Team members working together on the same research question and use some shared concepts and
methodologies: ___ID___.
The problem definition is jointly developed by researchers from multiple disciplines: ___ID___.
Team members use various approaches; the questions and spatial scales of their research are framed by
the discipline that defines the problem: ___MD_.
Integrating different types of knowledge, perception, and values: ___TD___.
Knowledge is created within disciplines; conclusions may generate new research questions that are
applicable to other disciplines: ___MD___.
Researchers’ desire to develop strategies to cope with wicked problems in specific societal contexts
generated this kind of research: ___TD___
Question 2 1 point
A transdisciplinarity process may serve capacity building among all participants
A. ☒True
B. ☐False
Question 3 1 point
, A transdisciplinarity process is similar to a contract based consultancy project
A. ☐True
B. ☒False
Question 4 1 point
A transdisciplinarity process is a research process merely lead by scientists
A. ☐True
B. ☒False
Question 5 1 point
A transdisciplinarity process comes always after interdisciplinary processes
A. ☐True
B. ☒False
Bridges and Barriers: Indicate below whether it is an individual (or personal) bridge or barrier
or a disciplinary bridge or barrier to developing and conducting interdisciplinary team
research
Indicate below whether it is an individual (or personal) bridge or barrier or a disciplinary
bridge or barrier to developing and conducting interdisciplinary team research
Question 6 1 point
Few common units, standards, and measurements
A. ☐Individual bridge
B. ☐Individual barrier
C. ☐Disciplinary bridge
D. ☒Disciplinary barrier
Question 7 1 point
Rigid adherence to own expertise
A. ☐Individual bridge
B. ☒Individual barrier
C. ☐Disciplinary bridge
D. ☐Disciplinary barrier
Question 8 1 point
Active communication to resolve or overcome barriers in a group project
A. ☒Individual bridge
B. ☐Individual barrier
C. ☐Disciplinary bridge
D. ☐Disciplinary barrier
Question 9 1 point
Willingness to try something new
A. ☒Individual bridge
B. ☐Individual barrier
C. ☐Disciplinary bridge
D. ☐Disciplinary barrier
Key ☒=answer
Quiz 1 - Risk society and reflexive modernization
Question 1 1 point
Complete the following statement with the most correct answer:
"The discovery of DDT in the eggshells of birds nesting on the Galapagos Islands was an important
turning point for the global environmental movement because ...
A. ☐... it revealed the unforeseen consequences of human activity on the environment"
B. ☐... it represented an economic risk to the farming industry in the United States"
C. ☒... it revealed the unforeseen consequences of human activity on the environment and raised
concerns of unforeseen consequences for human health"
D. ☐... it represented a risk to the environment upon which the farming industry in the United
States was dependent"
This is the most correct answer. DDT was not only seen as an unforeseen consequences of human
activity on the environment, but also on human health. This meant that the conditions of simple
modernity were questioned - not all the side effects of modernisation were being adequately dealt with
by science and there were unforeseen consequences on both the environmental and human health.
Question 2 1 point
The politics of ‘left’ and ‘right’ are no longer meaningful for novel environmental risks because
governments were established for the accumulation and redistribution of welfare and to provide security
to a national citizenry.
A. ☒True
B. ☐False
Beck argues that risk requires the disorganisation of existing state institutions because national
governments were not designed to deal with ubiquitous and commonly transboundary environmental
problems. Their design was focused on the accumulation and redistribution of welfare and to provide
security to a national citizenry.
Question 3 1 point
The authority of the state is partially drawn from the authority of science.
A. ☒True
B. ☐False
The authority of the state is partially linked to the authority of science. Key examples here are when
governments claim their policies are science-based. It does mean, however, that there are no competing
sources of scientific knowledge, nor that the state is always empowered by making such claims.
Question 4 1 point
Complete the sentence:
"Under conditions of reflexive modernity we ...
A. ☒... question whether COVID-19 can be resolved by science-based policies alone"
B. ☐... can detect environmental impacts with our own senses"
C. ☐... do not question the authority of the science and policy makers
D. ☐... trust that scientists remain objective when negotiating with politicians"
,This answer is most correct. Under conditions of reflexive modernity we question the relationship
between science and the state. In addition to the state we see additional measures taken by individuals,
non-state organisations, international (transboundary organisations), and the private sector to resolve
global risks like COVID-19.
Question 5 1 point
Under conditions of risk society, environmental hazards are distributed along class divisions and wealth
A. ☐True
B. ☒False
the statement is false. Reason being that under conditions of risk society hazards (potential dangers to
health and society) are not distributed along class divisions and wealth, They are instead ubiquitous -
people in society are exposed to these hazards irrespective of wealth and class.
Question 6 1 point
Match the following terms with the correct description.
A. A course of action, written or otherwise agreed, that shapes action towards a given goal outside
the formal channels of the state.
B. The group of people with a shared identity and/or purpose seeking to supplement formal
processes of politics.
C. The distribution of power to groups other than the state seeking to contribute to resolving a key
societal challenge.
1. Sub-polity B
2. Sub-policy A
3. Sub-politics C
Question 7 1 point
We are no longer dependent on scientists in the risk society.
A. ☐True
B. ☒False
Under conditions of the risk society we question the authority of scientists, but remain dependent on
science to assess risk and enable us to deal with the side effects of modernity.
Question 8 1 point
Reflexivity means that societal practices are constantly examined and changed in response to incoming
information about those same practices.
A. ☒True
B. ☐False
Question 9 1 point
Risk society involves a transformation in the way society attempts to organise the identification and
mitigation of environmental risk. Which of the following statements are false.
A. ☒Decision making under conditions of risk society remain limited to the state.
B. ☒The democratization of science undermines its credibility.
C. ☐Some argue that scientists can act as guides for citizens in collecting and interpreting
environmental risk
D. ☐Risk society involves breaking down our assumptions of who 'experts' are
,Various authors argue that under conditions of risk society we are forced to revisit assumptions of who
'experts' are. Said differently, scientists and the state no longer have a monopoly on knowledge creation
and 'truth. We instead see the emergence of multiple sources of knowledge and expertise that require
new way of negotiation to reach societal policies for changing practices and taking action to resolve
complex problems.
The democratization of science then opens up new roles for scientists - either as guides for citizens (as
Frank Fischer argues), or as counter-expertise (in the words of Beck). The scientific process is therefore
not completely undermined, but our acceptance of expertise does.
Question 10 1 point
Beck and Willms wrote:
"Risk … marks the beginning of a civilization that seeks to make the unforeseeable consequences of its
own decisions foreseeable, and subdue their unwanted side effects through conscious preventative action
and institutional arrangement.
Which of the following answers is most correct?
A. ☐Institutional arrangements include government laws and policies designed to manage risk
B. ☒Institutional arrangements include both government laws and policies and private norms and
standards designed to mitigate the effects of hazards
C. ☐Institutional arrangements include all forms of risk assessment
D. ☐Institutional arrangements includes governmental risk assessment
Quiz lecture 2 - Inter- and transdisciplinarity
Question 1 1 point
Fill in for each statement, what type of research is indicated? Choose from interdisciplinary,
multidisciplinary, and transdisciplinary research. Type your answer as: ID (for interdisciplinary') MD
(multidisciplinary) or TD (transdisciplinary)
Team members working together on the same research question and use some shared concepts and
methodologies: ___ID___.
The problem definition is jointly developed by researchers from multiple disciplines: ___ID___.
Team members use various approaches; the questions and spatial scales of their research are framed by
the discipline that defines the problem: ___MD_.
Integrating different types of knowledge, perception, and values: ___TD___.
Knowledge is created within disciplines; conclusions may generate new research questions that are
applicable to other disciplines: ___MD___.
Researchers’ desire to develop strategies to cope with wicked problems in specific societal contexts
generated this kind of research: ___TD___
Question 2 1 point
A transdisciplinarity process may serve capacity building among all participants
A. ☒True
B. ☐False
Question 3 1 point
, A transdisciplinarity process is similar to a contract based consultancy project
A. ☐True
B. ☒False
Question 4 1 point
A transdisciplinarity process is a research process merely lead by scientists
A. ☐True
B. ☒False
Question 5 1 point
A transdisciplinarity process comes always after interdisciplinary processes
A. ☐True
B. ☒False
Bridges and Barriers: Indicate below whether it is an individual (or personal) bridge or barrier
or a disciplinary bridge or barrier to developing and conducting interdisciplinary team
research
Indicate below whether it is an individual (or personal) bridge or barrier or a disciplinary
bridge or barrier to developing and conducting interdisciplinary team research
Question 6 1 point
Few common units, standards, and measurements
A. ☐Individual bridge
B. ☐Individual barrier
C. ☐Disciplinary bridge
D. ☒Disciplinary barrier
Question 7 1 point
Rigid adherence to own expertise
A. ☐Individual bridge
B. ☒Individual barrier
C. ☐Disciplinary bridge
D. ☐Disciplinary barrier
Question 8 1 point
Active communication to resolve or overcome barriers in a group project
A. ☒Individual bridge
B. ☐Individual barrier
C. ☐Disciplinary bridge
D. ☐Disciplinary barrier
Question 9 1 point
Willingness to try something new
A. ☒Individual bridge
B. ☐Individual barrier
C. ☐Disciplinary bridge
D. ☐Disciplinary barrier
