Building and maintaining trust is crucial if nuclear power is to be included in the energy mix of the future, and day-to-day risk communication is essential in gaining trust. Engaging in effective risk communication to address the concerns of stakeholders under a range of prevailing circumstances can be a complex undertaking. To assist professionals in the nuclear sector, the NEA created a Risk Communication Training Course (RCTC), the first of its kind in the nuclear sector.
NEA held the third edition of the RCTC on 28-31 October 2024. The course was hosted by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) in Ottawa, Canada and brought together 60 students and lecturers from 25 countries.
Launched in 2022, the RCTC aims to help participants improve their day-to-day risk communication skills on to enhance public understanding. It provides communication and technical professionals working in public organisations, such as regulatory authorities, technical safety organisations and agencies for radioactive waste management, with the fundamentals of risk communication.
The third edition of Risk Communication Training Course (RCTC)
In his welcoming remarks, NEA Director-General William D. Magwood, IV expressed gratitude to colleagues from the CNSC and international experts and highlighted the importance of clear, transparent and continued communication in building and maintaining public trust, in particular as new technologies are adopted in the nuclear sector to meet societal needs.
CNSC President and CEO Pierre Tremblay welcomed participants and emphasised that, “with the rise of disruptive, innovative and emerging technologies, including small modular reactors (SMRs) and artificial intelligence, now is the time to further strengthen trust by reaching new audiences and demonstrating our commitment to the highest safety standards through plain language and accessible communications.”
Featuring lectures from communication experts and technical professionals working in nuclear energy organisations, the 2024 edition addressed current communication challenges, such as mainstream use of social media and its impacts on information transfer, risk perception and trust, and the application of new technologies in the transmission of mis- or dis-information. The course material was adapted to evolving needs, ensuring alignment with the requirements of NEA member countries and participants in the domain of risk communication.
After the conclusion of the course, the participants had the opportunity to visit the Chalk River and CNSC laboratories, where they toured the inorganic chemistry, radiochemistry and radiation physics sections at the CNSC, as well as the non-destructive testing laboratories, environment effects monitoring laboratories and waste management areas on the Chalk River site.
