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Should I Risk It?

This collection of resources was developed in collaboration with Professor David Spiegelhalter of the University of Cambridge.

Often in the media there are stories about activities that can reduce or increase various risks. How can you decide whether you should be concerned about these risks?

These resources explore how to interpret media stories, so you can decide for yourself what the risk is and whether you should change your behaviour.

  • A bacon roll on a plate.
    problem

    How Risky Is My Diet?

    Age
    11 to 16
    Challenge level

    Newspapers said that eating a bacon sandwich every day raises the risk of bowel cancer by 20%. Should you be concerned?

  • A red London bus.
    problem

    Journey to School

    Age
    11 to 16
    Challenge level

    How risky is your journey to school?

  • Statins tablets in a blister pack.
    problem

    Statins and Risk

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level

    "Statins cut the risks of heart attacks and strokes by 40%"
    Should the Professor take statins? Can you help him decide?

  • A park with police tape across the fence.
    problem

    Risk and Crime

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level

    Are you at risk of being a victim of crime? How does your perception of that risk compare with the facts and figures?

  • Trusting the Tabloids
    problem

    Trusting the Tabloids

    Age
    11 to 16
    Challenge level

    Can you match the cards and figure out whether the tabloid headlines can be trusted?

These resources were originally developed by the Millennium Mathematics Project Motivate Programme in collaboration with Professor David Spiegelhalter, funded by a Wellcome Trust grant.