Nuclear Risk, from Radioisotope (Bio)Chemistry to Public Perception
Is nuclear power your concern? A comparative analysis of the perception of nuclear risk among two populations in France
Academy 3 highlight
Social concern about the possible impacts of nuclear energy has increased worldwide. Knowing how individuals and populations perceive nuclear risk is key to the development of appropriate prevention and resilience strategies. This interdisciplinary project brings together geographers, radiochemists, lawyers, biologists, and rescuers around this issue of nuclear risk perception.
The project
Since the end of the Second World War, the significant development of the civil nuclear industry in Northern Hemisphere countries, and elsewhere, has raised new issues in terms of environmental impact, long-term management and defense. However, the nuclear sector is an industrial field that is subject to controversy and which induces diverse and varied fears that blur both the actual risks and the actual perception of these risks. We have thus built an interdisciplinary consortium of researchers (geographers, radiochemists, lawyers, and biologists) and rescue professionals to specifically address the question of nuclear risk and its public perception.
Our analysis is based on an internet survey of two populations in France having different profiles regarding nuclear risk and perception: one population of “experts” composed of firefighters, and one population of “non-experts” composed of Université Côte d'Azur students. To these two populations we posed a series of similar questions relating to their knowledge and perception of nuclear risk, and gathered a total of 2300 responses. Among the results, the analysis revealed that firefighters' confidence in the nuclear industry is twice as high as that of students (50%, compared to 22% for students). We also found that students who study the basic sciences are more in favor of a partial exit from nuclear power (55% compared to less than 20%) and more open to changing their mind if they were to receive more relevant information on the subject (55%) than students in other domains of study (10-15%).
We are now in the process of initiating pedagogical and information outreach actions for the general public.
The +
In the social sciences, perception has long been a useful concept for understanding risk situations, distinguishing between perceived risk and actual risk. Although surveys on nuclear risk perception are not new (see "IRSN barometer" https://barometre.irsn.fr), our study is unique in that biologists, radiochemists, geographers and rescuers address social science issues to develop adapted tools and acquire a shared knowledge on the public perception of nuclear impact.
What’s next?
Initially funded as a “small” project by the Academy 3, this study will become a component of the larger METARISK project to study the impact of chemical and radio-toxicological risks on human populations. In the next few years, we will contribute to the "laradioactivite.com" CNRS website, enhancing public knowledge and perception of radioactive phenomena by providing information to general public and conducting pedagogical actions with public stakeholders such as the Parc National du Mercantour.
Project information
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Scientific domain
Social sciences and chemistry
Theme Nuclear risk
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Key words Nuclear Risk assessment Radioactivity Public perception |
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Total budget
20 000 € from Académie 3
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Students inolved
N. Pottier (Master 1) |
| Partner laboratories
SDIS06, Service de Santé et de Secours Médical, Villeneuve Loubet
Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Géoazur, Nice Université Côte d’Azur BIAM-TIRO-MATOs CEA/UNS Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, GREDEG , Nice Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, INSERM, IPMC, Nice |
Project members
C. Den Auwer
S. Pérez H. Michel G. Creff M-R. Beccia D. Josse F. Castagnola D. Provitolo G. Carle T. Pourcher P. Steichen N. Glaichenhaus S. Russo |
Christophe Den Auwer
Université Côte d'Azur, Institut de Chimie de Nice (ICN)
Project valorization
Publications:
- Christophe Den Auwer, Simon Bayle, Maria Rosa Beccia, Sandra Bosio, Gaelle Creff, Aurelie Jeanson, Herve Michel, Christophe Pitiot, Cyril Zurita. A Table-Top Cloud Chamber to Observe Radioactivity in the Uranium Decay Chain. Journal of Chemical Education, 2021.
- Sandra Perez, Christophe Den Auwer, ThierryPourcher, SandraRusso, CyrilDrouot, Maria-Rosa Beccia, Gaelle Creff, Franck Fiorelli, Audrey Leriche, Fréderic Castagnola, PascaleSteichen, Geoges Carle, Hervé Michel, Nicolas Glaichenhaus, Denis Josse, Nicolas Pottier, Damienne Provitolo.Comparative analysis of the perception of nuclear risk in two populations (expert/non-expert) in France. Energy Reports Volume 6, November 2020, Pages 2288-2298
# 2nd International Conference CBRNE, Lyon, 29 Mai - 1er Juin 2017
Poster : Nuclear Risk, from Radioisotope (bio)chemistry to Public Perception, Den Auwer Christophe, Michel Hervé, Creff Gaëlle, Beccia Maria Rosa, Josse Denis, Castagnola Frédéric, Provitolo Damienne, Pérez Sandra, Carle Georges, Pourcher Thierry, Steichen Pascale
# Journées d’Etude de la chimie sous rayonnement et de la radiochimie, Strasbourg, 27 Mai / 1er Juin 2018
Poster : Une approche de la perception publique de l'énergie nucléaire
C. Den Auwer, H. Michel, G. Creff, M-R. Beccia, D. Josse, D. Provitolo, S. Pérez, G. Carle, T. Pourcher, S. Russo, P. Steichen
# JIREC 2018, Erquy, 20/23 Mars 2018
Communication : Energie nucléaire, de la radiochimie à la perception publique
C. Den Auwer, H. Michel, G. Creff, M-R. Beccia, D. Josse, D. Provitolo, S. Pérez, G. Carle, T. Pourcher, S. Russo, P. Steichen
# Journées de l’Académie 3, 30 Octobre 2018, CUM, Nice
Communication : Nuclear Risk, from Radioisotope (bio)chemistry to Public Perception
C. Den Auwer, H. Michel, G. Creff, M-R. Beccia, D. Josse, F. Castagnola, D. Provitolo, S. Pérez, G. Carle, T. Pourcher, P. Steichen, N. Glaichenhaus
# 3d international conference CBRNE, Nantes, 20-23 Mai 2019
Poster : Comparative analysis of the perception of nuclear risk among two populations (expert/non-expert) in France
Sandra Pérez, Christophe Den Auwer, Thierry Pourcher, Sandra Russo, Cyril Drouot, Maria Rosia Beccia, Gaelle Creff, Franck Fiorelli, Audrey Leriche, Fréderic Castagnola, Denis Josse, Pascale Steichen, Georges F. Carle, Nicolas Glaichenhau, Hervé Miche, Nicolas Pottier, Damienne Provitolo
# IUPAC conference, Paris, 5-12 Juillet 2019
Poster : Comparative analysis of the perception of nuclear risk among two populations (expert/non-expert) in France
Sandra Pérez, Christophe Den Auwer, Thierry Pourcher, Sandra Russo, Cyril Drouot, Maria Rosia Beccia, Gaelle Creff, Franck Fiorelli, Audrey Leriche, Fréderic Castagnola, Denis Josse, Pascale Steichen, Georges F. Carle, Nicolas Glaichenhau, Hervé Miche, Nicolas Pottier, Damienne Provitolo
