Gerd Gigerenzer Nicole Siemers

Fee Band

  • Conference Speakers£10k to £25k
  • Behavioural Economics, Science, Health & Medicine, Psychology

The author of Risk Savvy: How To Make Good Decisions, Gerd Gigerenzer has become one of the foremost names in the understanding of judgement and decision-making. Taking an opposing view to the likes of Daniel Kahneman, Gerd argues the best choices are made not by rationally considering all the probable factors, but through experience and the use of memory and recognition of a situation.


Biography

Gerd Gigerenzer is a psychologist specialising in rationality, problem-solving and decision-making. A director of the Harding Center for Risk Literacy and of the Center for Adaptive Behavior and Cognition at the Max Planck Institute, he actively takes an opposing view of the rational /irrational nature of human decisions.

An acclaimed academic, Gerd has taught in the US and his native Germany specialising in the area of heuristics. Heuristics refers to methods of risk-assessment, decision-making and problem-solving based predominantly on experience rather than rational calculation (be it conscious or subconscious). Gerd’s ideas have come to prominence as the work of the likes of Daniel Kahneman and Dan Ariely has saught to highlight the rational /irrational nature of the mind.

Gerd looks at how decisions are best made in uncertain situations, with unknown variables and factors which should influence us but don’t. He argues that whilst the behavioural economists’ view is one of calculation, ‘semi-ignorance’ of a situation can often lead to better judgements than those with high levels of knowledge. Groups with some basic knowledge will perform as well or better than the experts in sports rankings or investments. Whilst professionals such as the emergency services tend towards using a ‘best guess’ heuristic approach rather than weigh up various provable factors.

Contrary to the work of Daniel Kahneman, Gerd argues rationality is an adaptive tool not strictly governed by rules of formal logic or probability. He suggests that different types of decision or thought require different approaches based on areas such as memory or recognition, rather than a one-size-fits-all rational strategy.

Gerd’s work has produced a number of academic and popular books, each retaining his entertaining and practical approach. Reckoning with Risk: Learning to Live with Uncertainty, and Gut Feelings: The Intelligence of the Unconscious both tackle these idea around how the best reactions and judgements are made and have both been translated into 18 languages. His latest work, Risk Savvy: How To Make Good Decisions has become a global phenomenon as people from all areas of life and business seek to understand the nature of good decision-making.

More Details

Books

Book written by Gerd Gigerenzer (Germany)
Book written by Gerd Gigerenzer (Germany)

Contact

We’re on hand to help you find the perfect speaker, presenter or performer for your events. Call or email our London office and use our agents' experience to expertly match you with the right person for your programme!


From time to time we send out emails announcing new speakers and free tickets to our showcase events including Speakers Breakfasts and the JLA Real Variety Show. Please tick the box below if you would like to receive these emails.

Don't miss anything!

We will never share the data you submit here with a third party. Information is stored in a database in order to service your enquiry, but is deleted once it is no longer required. You may request to have this data removed at any time.

JLA Presents


Event - 30/04/2024 - 9:00 am

Speakers Breakfast

Understanding AI Now

Speakers
Priya Lakhani and Anne-Marie Imafidon

We were joined at 87 Barts Close by three brilliant speakers on a panel that delved into the complex world of Artificial Intelligence. Over the hour our panellists de-mystified AI, speaking about AI’s immense promise for enhancing our lives, alongside the apprehension it has generated regarding job security, privacy infringement, and ethical considerations.

Location

87 Barts Close, 87 Bartholomew Close, London, EC1A 7EB

WATCH

Event - 06/02/2024 - 9:00 am

Speakers Breakfast

Looking Ahead to International Women’s Day

Speakers
Samira Ahmed, Eniola Aluko, Julia Gillard, and Alex Mahon

We were joined by four fantastic speakers to look ahead at International Women’s Day. With the theme of this year’s event being #InspireInclusion, we were lucky enough to hear from four women who have each blazed a trail in their respective fields: CEO of Channel 4, Alex Mahon; the former Australian Prime Minister and Chair of Kings’ Global Institute of Women’s Leadership, Julia Gillard; one of the leading voices in football, Eniola Aluko MBE; and broadcaster and journalist, Samira Ahmed.

Location

Bishopsgate Institute, London

WATCH