In this lunchtime series of lectures, a selection of LSE's academics from across the spectrum of the social sciences explain the latest thinking on how social scientists work to address the critical problems of the day. They survey the leading ideas and contributions made by their discipline, explain the types of problems that are addressed and the tools that are used, and explore the kinds of solutions proposed.

The lecture explores the role of risk in major social theories such as those of Giddens, Beck and Luhmann, and discusses the impact of risk on our understanding of contemporary society. Dr Dodd will focus on the example of the sociology of economic life in order to illustrate how a sociological interpretation of risk can enhance our understanding of economic institutions, markets and money.

Nigel Dodd is in the Department of Sociology and writes on social theory and the sociology of economic life, particularly the sociology of money. He is currently writing a book, Laundering Money, for Princeton University Press.

source: http://www2.lse.ac.uk/publicEvents/events/2009/20090828t1304z001.aspx