How do we train for crises, understand risks, and build more resilient societies in a changing world?
RisCon26 brings together hands-on workshops where participants explore cutting-edge approaches to societal risks, crisis training, artificial intelligence, and geospatial risk analysis—bridging research and real-world application.
Workshop – RiskLab
The conference will feature three workshops developed and facilitated by RiskLab researchers. RiskLab is the Centre for Societal Risk Research’s primary platform for the exchange of knowledge and experience regarding societal risks and serves as an infrastructure for research on pedagogical methods related to societal risks (for more information, see RiskLab® at the Centre for Societal Risk Research (CSR) | Karlstad University).
Each workshop will enable participants to share their experience and knowledge related to the daily overarching theme in an interactive and playful way. The primary aim is therefore to learn from each other and discuss ideas. At the same time, the workshops will give the opportunity for RiskLab researchers to collect data related to societal risks and the use of serious games.
More information will be provided by email to the registered conference participants in due time.
Photo source: https://www.kau.se/csr/om-csr/risklabr/riskkoping
Workshop – Swedish Competence Centre for Satellite Enabled Social Science Analytics (SESAC): Critical Infrastructures and Accessibility Analysis under Flood Conditions
This workshop introduces participants to Earth Observation (EO), Geographical Information Systems (GIS), and basic spatial analysis for understanding both the direct and indirect impacts of flooding on critical infrastructure, road networks, and accessibility. It is designed as an entry-level, hands-on training session that makes complex geospatial datasets more accessible and applicable in practice.
The analysis is based on a realistic flood scenario in Sweden, where extreme precipitation leads to river and lake overflow, widespread flooding, and surface-water accumulation. Roads become inundated, disrupting access to essential facilities such as hospitals and emergency services.
Participants will work around a central question:
How does flooding change accessibility, and who is most affected?
Using flood hazard outputs, GIS layers, road-network data, critical-infrastructure locations, and demographic information, participants will explore how different datasets can be combined to understand real-world impacts and support societal resilience. Through guided examples and user-friendly tools, the workshop follows the full analytical chain — from flood exposure mapping to accessibility assessment and interpretation of the resulting impacts.
The overall goal is to bridge scientific methods with society-centred applications and foster interdisciplinary collaboration across the natural and social sciences. The workshop is open to students at all levels, researchers, practitioners, stakeholders, and professionals. No prior programming experience is required.
Date: 8 October 2026
Time: 13:00–14:30
Capacity: Maximum 30 participants
Registration
Participants registered for RisCon26 will select their preferred workshops separately through the conference registration system and will receive confirmation of their placement.
The workshop is also open to participants who have received a special invitation through the SESAC network and who are not otherwise registered for RisCon26. Participation through this route is free of charge, with the 300 SEK workshop fee covered by SESAC.
SESAC-only registration: https://sola.kau.se/csrworkshop/
Deadline: 11 September 2026
Workshop – Information Systems group / Service Research Center at Karlstad University: An AI Mediated Serious Game for Crisis Training – Exploring Practical Use, Quality, and Governance
Crisis training exercises are widely recognised as essential for preparedness, coordination, and decision making under pressure. At the same time, organisations often face practical constraints: developing and facilitating high quality exercises requires significant expertise, preparation time, and organisational resources. This limits how frequently training can take place and who can access it.
This workshop explores an AI mediated approach to scenario based crisis training, in which a generative AI system supports the role traditionally held by an Exercise Facilitator. The system assists with configuring exercises, generating scenario developments (“injects”), pacing interactions, and adjudicating participant actions, while maintaining an evolving shared picture of the situation. The approach is developed through iterative prototyping and is grounded in established exercise guidance (e.g., HSEEP, ISO 22398), aiming to align with current practice rather than replace it.
Participants will take part in an AI mediated tabletop style exercise using this format, followed by a structured reflection on its performance and implications. The discussion focuses on three practical dimensions: (1) training quality (e.g., realism, engagement, and learning value), (2) facilitation and control (e.g., transparency, ability to intervene, and human-AI collaboration), and (3) governance and responsible use (e.g., reliability, accountability, and appropriate reliance on AI in safety critical contexts).
By bringing together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, the workshop aims to assess where AI mediated facilitation may realistically add value, where it introduces new risks, and under what conditions it could support more scalable and repeatable crisis training. The session is intended to generate concrete insights for organisations considering such approaches, as well as to identify priorities for further research and development.
By engaging crisis management researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, the session aims to assess the potential and limitations of AI mediated training and to identify design requirements for responsible adoption.