Interdisciplinary risks – a delicate balance between trust and critical review

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We argue that the subject matter and objectives of risk science establish it as an inherently interdisciplinary field, closely connected to both academic disciplines and practical applications. However, risk research faces a range of interdisciplinary challenges. These include the production of low-quality research—characterised by superficial and insufficiently grounded conclusions—a lack of mutual trust between disciplines, limited understanding of risk research, and cultural, institutional, or epistemological oversimplification. Organisations such as the Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) and SRA Europe play a critical role not only in defining the scope of risk research but also in managing its epistemic risks. Effective management of these interdisciplinary challenges can enhance the field’s credibility and increase its appeal to prospective researchers. Therefore, we recommend that contemporary risk researchers actively engage with both risk-related and non-risk disciplines to strengthen the field’s foundations and broaden its impact.