Human geography project leader

Staffordshire's division of geography is undertaking a three-year Pounds 200,000 project for the Health and Safety Executive examining perceptions of risk in people who live near chemical plants. Lancaster and Brunel universities are also participating in the collaborative venture, led by Staffordshire and which has another 18 months to run.

Gordon Walker, project leader, said it would result in clear recommendations for Government, the chemical industry and local authorities about how to manage hazardous sites. It will also contribute to the academic understanding of risk perception.

Researchers are studying the history of seven hazardous sites and their surrounding communities by talking to focus groups - a method not usually associated with risk perception research. "By using focus groups we feel we can get underneath the initial measure of a level of concern and understand a bit more about why people feel the way they do, which you can't typically do with a questionnaire or a psychometric approach," said Dr Walker.