Risk Communication Programs after the Fukushima Nuclear Accident: A Comparison of Epistemic Cultures [PDF]

Management of risk perception, in addition to risk itself, is an important pillar of risk governance. This paper explores the citizen radiation measuring organizations as an example of risk communication and contrasts their ‘epistemic culture’ with that of the nuclear industry’s risk communication programs. Two policy recommendations are made in the paper. First, risk communication needs to be firmly decoupled with public relations. Second, the cost (including remunerating citizens for their participation) of open, participatory, and sustained dialogue about radiation risks needs to be factored in any cost estimate of nuclear power.