Public engagement on nuclear power: it’s not (just) about the science
Why is the safest source of power which we have yet developed regarded by a significant number of people as being unacceptably dangerous? The response of the nuclear industry and its supporters tends to be to bewail that the public is ‘irrational’ and/or ‘ignorant’. However, it can be argued that actually, given the activities and messages that the nuclear industry and its regulators promote, the public’s response is perfectly rational and it is the industry which is less so. This talk will look at some examples and suggest alternatives.
School of Physics and Astronomy Colloquium
Date: Wednesday 12 February 2020
Time: 15:00 - 16:00
Venue: Lecture Theatre 257, Kelvin Building
Category: Public lectures
Speaker: Malcolm Grimston
Abstract
Why is the safest source of power which we have yet developed regarded
by a significant number of people as being unacceptably dangerous? The
response of the nuclear industry and its supporters tends to be to
bewail that the public is ‘irrational’ and/or ‘ignorant’. However, it
can be argued that actually, given the activities and messages that the
nuclear industry and its regulators promote, the public’s response is
perfectly rational and it is the industry which is less so. This talk
will look at some examples and suggest alternatives.