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Dialoguing with people as a radiological protection professional: lessons from Chernobyl and Fukushima

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Category: Communications
Published: Tuesday, 08 March 2016 13:13

LOCHARD J.

FMU International Symposium: Five Years Since the Great East Japan Earthquake,Tsunami and Nuclear Crisis. 8 March 2016, Fukushima Medical University, Japan.

Abstract

The accidents of Chernobyl and Fukushima highlighted the difficulty for experts to communicate with the affected population. Scientific information and technical explanations are not able by themselves to restore confidence of those whose autonomy has been severely amputated by the sudden irruption of radioactivity in their daily lives. It is only by establishing a process of regular dialogue between experts and local communities that it is possible to gradually restore confidence through the development of a practical radiological protection culture allowing everyone to make informed decisions to protect oneself taking account of the prevailing local circumstances.

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Communicating on Radiation Risk: Between Science and Narrative

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Category: Communications
Published: Tuesday, 10 November 2015 14:10

LOCHARD J.

Second Conference on Science, Technology, and Society (STS) : Perspectives on Nuclear Science, Radiation, and Human Health: The View from Asia, Nagasaki, Japan, 10-11 November 2015

Abstract

Radiation protection professionals suffer from a lack of confidence, which dates back to the history of the development of nuclear weapons and nuclear power. Their involvement in the management of accidents at Chernobyl and Fukushima has not helped to restore this confidence and even in some cases has aggravated the gap with the population. For decades, the profession has tried to respond to criticism of all kinds, but also to the legitimate questions from citizens in trying to explain the nature of the health risk, its importance given the circumstances and to put it into perspective with other comparable risks. Despite all the deployed efforts ‘risk-communication’ has not succeeded to reverse the trend and the temptation is great for some professionals to think that the fear of radiation is powered by irrationality or even some kind of phobia.

Read more: Communicating on Radiation Risk: Between Science and Narrative

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