Public perception of radioactive waste

Abstract

The failure of Nirex's application to construct a Rock Characterisation Facility at Sellafield has led to some rethinking on the public's perception of the issues involved in radioactive waste management. This paper proposes that the importance of creating the right public impression has been grossly underestimated in the past because science has been left to the scientists. It has been assumed that a scientific consensus will be achieved and that the public will accept its findings. The reality is that the public are far more sophisticated in their perception of the issues. The paper goes on to explore the factors shaping public perception and proposes some possible solutions to help the public buy into the problem.