Abstract
This paper describes an exercise in helping scientific experts find common ground with local residents following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident. The first section discusses the effects of the accident in Iitate Village, which was fully evacuated after the accident, and the village’s sociocultural background, and presents a case study of a collaboration between experts and villagers in preparing an information booklet for the villagers. The second section discusses the potential for collaborations of experts in different disciplines to connect science and people, clarifies what experts learned from such a collaboration, and explains that cross-disciplinary collaboration is essential to avoiding confusion among residents. Concerns and questions from local residents were specific to their situation; residents needed specific information and advice on specific situations at specific times. The residents considered those concerns important and needed answers that would allow them to regain control over their lives. An information booklet was prepared to help local experts to build trust with the residents by providing them with the information they sought. The experts considered the process of developing the booklet to be a good example of collaboration with residents. Understanding the social values of residents, sharing those values, and making a commitment to the community were significant steps in building trust.
Highlights
The executive summary of the Fukushima 2017 White Paper by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) stated that “in general, doses were low and that associated risks were expected to be low” (UNSCEAR, 2017), supporting the conclusion of the Committee’s 2013 report
This paper describes an exercise in helping scientific experts find common ground with local residents following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident
The first section discusses the effects of the accident in Iitate Village, which was fully evacuated after the accident, and the village’s sociocultural background, and presents a case study of a collaboration between experts and villagers in preparing an information booklet for the villagers
Summary
The executive summary of the Fukushima 2017 White Paper by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) stated that “in general, doses were low and that associated risks were expected to be low” (UNSCEAR, 2017), supporting the conclusion of the Committee’s 2013 report. The 2017 White Paper provided extensive information, including newly available data and literature on radiation levels throughout Japan, radionuclide deposition densities in the environment, radionuclide concentrations in food and drink, and exposure doses to the Japanese public. It reviewed background information such as population demographics, patterns of food consumption, occupancy factors, location (dose reduction) factors, land use, and protective measures. As we’ve learned, the term safe means low risk, and not everyone agrees on what low risk means” (Jorgensen, 2016) This arbitrariness suggests that each of us bases our perception of radiation exposure risk on unique judgments and interpretations (Morioka, 2014; Kusumi et al, 2017). The second section discusses the potential for collaborations of experts in different disciplines to connect science and people, clarifies what experts learned from such a collaboration, and discusses why such cross-disciplinary collaboration is necessary
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