How the Science of Safety Helps Tackle Global Risks [Sponsored]
Apr 8, 2025
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Chris Cramer, Chief Research Officer and Interim President for UL Research Institutes, dives into the pressing safety challenges of our time. He discusses the impact of climate change on public health and the rise of wildfires, emphasizing innovative solutions like fire-resistant construction and indoor air filters. Cramer also explores the complexities of digital safety, particularly in AI, and the need for equitable safety approaches. He advocates for open science as a means to foster collaboration and tackle global risks effectively.
The shift towards renewable energy necessitates the development of safer energy storage technologies to mitigate risks like thermal runaway.
Addressing the safety of digital technologies is crucial to prevent public safety compromises and ensure equitable use in society.
Deep dives
Identifying Pressing Safety Challenges
UL Research Institutes focuses on addressing three major safety challenges in the 21st century: building resilience for a sustainable future, advancing individual and societal health, and promoting safety at the human-digital interface. Increasing demands for energy amid climate threats necessitate a shift towards renewable energy sources while managing the risks associated with these technologies, particularly in battery safety to avoid incidents like thermal runaway. Additionally, the health impacts of anthropogenic activities, particularly regarding air quality and exposure to hazardous chemicals, underscore the need for better understanding and management of environmental risks. Through multidisciplinary research, ULRI aims to fill critical gaps in safety science and create science-based solutions that benefit society as a whole.
Climate Change and Energy Storage Solutions
The urgency to combat climate change highlights the need for safer energy storage solutions, as renewable energy sources like wind and solar are inherently intermittent. Safety science can optimize energy storage technologies, such as batteries, to mitigate risks associated with potential thermal runaway events that can cause fires or toxic gas emissions. For instance, ULRI is actively researching alternative battery chemistries to reduce the safety risks associated with lithium-ion batteries, which, while popular, have serious safety drawbacks. Additionally, the organization is exploring innovative filtering solutions to combat air quality issues exacerbated by climate change effects, such as increased wildfire occurrences that generate harmful smoke.
Safety in a Digital Era
As digital technologies become more integrated into daily life, ensuring their safety and equitable use presents significant challenges. UL Research Institutes emphasizes the importance of studying how artificial intelligence and other digital tools can evolve without compromising public safety or reinforcing societal inequities. The organization is committed to making research findings readily accessible and promoting collaborative efforts to address these complex issues. This approach supports not only the advancement of safety standards but also ensures that innovative solutions are shared across industries to foster safer digital experiences for everyone.
We're surrounded by risks of all sizes, every day. Some people might be risk-takers, while others do whatever they can to avoid them. But how can we tackle the risks that impact society on a global scale, like those linked to sustainable energy, societal health and digital technology? Science journalist Izzie Clarke explores this question in the latest podcast from Scientific American Custom Media. She sat down with Chris Cramer, chief research officer and interim president for the leading safety science organization UL Research Institutes.
This podcast was produced for UL Research Institutes by Scientific American Custom Media, a division separate from the magazine’s board of editors.
