Education, training and information to the general public are key factors in the governance of ionising radiation risks. Communication about ionising radiation with the general public has to to be further improved, as highlighted also by the 2011 accident in Japan. An effort is needed to analyse the state of the art and the existing needs in education, training and information, and to coordinate the information and communication about ionising radiation at European level.
This proposal aims specifically at coordinating the information and communication strategies related to ionising radiation for the general public, in order to get a better understanding of the effects of ionising radiation, taking also into consideration the lessons learnt from the 2011 accident in Fukushima (Japan). It addresses the call Fission-2013-6.0.2: Education / training / information towards the public.
The proposal, further referred to by the acronym EAGLE (Enhancing educAtion, traininG and communication processes for informed behaviors and decision-making reLatEd to ionizing radiation risks), will help to identify and disseminate good practices in information and communication processes related to ionising radiation. For this purpose, the consortium intends to review national and international data, tools and methods as well as institutional work in order to identify education, information and communication needs and coordination possibilities at European level. The lessons learned from the nuclear accident in Fukushima will also provide a valuable input. The main goal of the project is to enhance public understanding of ionizing radiation and to facilitate a coordinated communication approach. Moreover, EAGLE will foster a move towards the ideal of citizen-centred communication, including a participative component.The project will bring together representatives of nuclear actors, users of ionizing radiation, authorities, mass and social media, and informed civil society.