Including Civil Society in R&D Projects on Radioactive Waste Management: interactions with Civil Society (ICS) in EURAD

Abstract

Abstract. One objective of EURAD is to allow innovative ways for close interactions between experts from WMOs (waste management organisations), TSOs (technical support organisations) and REs (research organisations) and civil society (CS) organisations. Based on a model of pluralistic interactions as developed and tested in previous projects (SITEX-II, JOPRAD, Modern2020, etc.), EURAD proposes a framework for interaction that consists of translating scientific/technical results for exchanging with a group of CS representatives, gathering CS views on future EURAD activities, and improving the mutual understanding on research, development and demonstration (RD&D) performed to support the development of safe solutions for radioactive waste. This framework of interaction also develops propositions on how to interact with CS on scientific and technical results, how to deal with uncertainties (inherently linked to the long timeframes and numerous processes considered for geological disposal) and on how to interact with CS stakeholders to promote mutual benefits of the available knowledge, based on cooperation and sharing. The final objective is to create the methodological conditions for interactions between the concerned categories of players to take place on the same footing and fair enough for each category of participants to be able to co-contribute to the framing of the discussions. To do so, the EURAD established interaction activities with a group of representatives of CS organisations (the CS larger group). The composition of this group has been established at the start of EURAD via an open call by the EURAD consortium to CS organisations, such as local communities having interest in radioactive waste management (RWM, local association, local committee of information, local partnership), and national or European CS organisations taking part in interactions in the field of RWM at the national or European level. The interactions between the technical experts and the CS group are facilitated by CS facilitators (also called CS experts), according to the “double wing” methodology elaborated in the SITEX II project, working for linked third parties to mandated players in EURAD, with a standing engagement on RWM and/or having skills/experience on the involvement of CS in scientific and technical issues. The CS experts interact with the institutional experts from the WMOs, TSOs and REs in order to have a better understanding of the field of study and to prepare interactions with the CS larger group. This double wing process enables participation of CS representatives in RD&D projects. This involves the use of specific methods, such as the PEP Serious Game (developed in the SITEX II project) and ad hoc methodologies, such as the 3+1 dialogue developed in the framework of the UMAN project in EURAD working on uncertainties management. In parallel, a process of evaluation of the ICS (interaction with civil society) activities is implemented with the objective to establish criteria enabling good conditions for fruitful interactions with CS in EURAD.