On 13 November 2015, UNU-IAS will organize a public seminar on Understanding and Communicating Risks Post-Fukushima. A panel of experts will discuss the specific challenges of understanding and discussing risks related to nuclear accidents, and what forms of risk communication are appropriate and effective.
The seminar will share key findings from a UNU-IAS research workshop on the topic (see Related Files), which will conclude earlier in the day. It will consider how radiation issues have been understood in society and the potential of participatory forms of risk communication as an alternative to traditional, top-down method of communication. The discussion will draw upon experiences and analysis from the Fukushima nuclear accident, where rebuilding trust remains a considerable challenge, as well as comparable cases such as Chernobyl. With an international and interdisciplinary group of panelists, the event will provide a diverse range of perspectives on challenges and strategies for risk communication in the context of nuclear accidents.
Following short presentations by the panellists there will be an interactive discussion with the audience. After the seminar light refreshments will be available.
Simultaneous Japanese–English translation will be provided at this event.
Advance registration is required (by 17:00 PM on Thursday, 12 November 2015). Please click on the REGISTER button above to access the online registration page. Kindly note that registration will close once the maximum number of registrants is reached.
15:00–15:10 Opening Remarks
15:10–15:50 Panel Presentations
15:50–17:00 Interactive Discussion
17:00– Reception
The nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has highlighted the urgent need to seek and implement better ways of communicating about such issues, both in Japan and beyond. While most initial studies suggest that the direct physical health consequences of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident will be limited, ongoing concerns and a range of positions on radiation risks are complicating the recovery process. Tensions have arisen between and within communities — and even within households. Many of these problems are connected to difficulties in understanding and discussing risks related to nuclear radiation.
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This event is part of the UNU-IAS Fukushima Global Communication Programme, a research initiative examining impacts of the Great East Japan Earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident of 11 March, 2011 on people and society, the challenges of the recovery process in Fukushima, and related issues of risk and information provision.