Verified by Psychology Today

David Ropeik

About

David Ropeik is a retired Harvard Instructor, author, consultant, and public speaker on risk perception, risk communication, and risk management.

He is the author of Curing Cancer-phobia: How Risk, Fear, and Worry Mislead Us (Johns Hopkins U Press, 2023) and How Risky Is It, Really? Why Our Fears Don't Always Match the Facts (McGraw Hill, 2012), and the co-author of RISK: A Practical Guide for Deciding What's Really Safe and What's Really Dangerous in the World Around You (Houghton Mifflin, 2002).

David was a television reporter for WCVB-TV in Boston from 1978-2000, where he specialized in reporting on environment and science issues. He twice won the DuPont-Columbia Award, often cited as the television equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize, and also won seven regional EMMY awards. He was a Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT 1994-95, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Society of Environmental Journalists from 1991-2000.

Read more about David Ropeik.

Books by David Ropeik
Recent Posts
Why Our Cancer-phobia Is Outdated and Harmful

Our fear of cancer is in some ways outdated, excessive, and harmful: a phobia. Understanding the history and psychology of that fear, and recognizing its harms, can help.

Our fear of cancer is in some ways outdated, excessive, and harmful: a phobia. Understanding the history and psychology of that fear, and recognizing its harms, can help.

Cancer-phobia: Our Fear of Cancer Is Outdated and Harmful

Our fear of cancer is in some ways outdated, excessive, and harmful—a phobia. Understanding the history and psychology of that fear, and recognizing its harms, can help.

Our fear of cancer is in some ways outdated, excessive, and harmful—a phobia. Understanding the history and psychology of that fear, and recognizing its harms, can help.

Can It Be True? Does Cancer Screening Provide No Net Benefit?

Screening for cancer gives us a sense of power and control over a disease many still see as a death sentence. But screening causes harm, too.

Screening for cancer gives us a sense of power and control over a disease many still see as a death sentence. But screening causes harm, too.

Surprisingly Cautious News Coverage of Aspartame and Cancer

Another new potential carcinogen, aspartame, is in the news. Only this time, unusually, the news media has reported on the latest cancer scare with caution and context.

Another new potential carcinogen, aspartame, is in the news. Only this time, unusually, the news media has reported on the latest cancer scare with caution and context.

Consider the Benefits and the Harms of Cancer Screening

Fear of cancer drives many of us to screen for the disease, but few realize that screening may harm as well as help.

Fear of cancer drives many of us to screen for the disease, but few realize that screening may harm as well as help.

Cancer Deaths Are Down but Cancer Fear Isn't. Why?

The remarkable progress we've made against cancer is not reflected In the public's persistently high fear. Beware that fear. It can harm too.

The remarkable progress we've made against cancer is not reflected In the public's persistently high fear. Beware that fear. It can harm too.