Nuclear Energy Knowledge Research Articles

Explanatory model of the psychosocial variables related to the social acceptance of a uranium mine project in northwest Spain.

The demographic growth and the development of the welfare system have been accompanied by an important social dilemma between preserving nature or promoting energy development by assuming the benefits and risks of both proposals. This research attempts to address this social dilemma by analyzing the psychosocial factors that influence the acceptance or rejection of a new uranium mining development and exploitation project. The main objective was to test an explanatory theoretical model of uranium mining project acceptance, based on the interrelation of sociodemographic variables (e.g., age, gender, economic and educational situation, and level of knowledge about uranium energy) and cognitive variables (e.g., environmental beliefs, risk, and benefit perceptions), along with the activation of an emotional balance in response to the proposal of constructing a uranium mine. Three hundred seventy-one individuals responded to the questionnaire about the variables included in the model. The results showed that older participants showed lower levels of agreement with the mining proposal people, while women and those with greater knowledge of nuclear energy perceived greater risks and had a more negative emotional balance. The proposed explanatory model based on sociodemographic, cognitive, and affective variables showed good fit indices for explaining the assessment of the uranium mine. Thus, age, level of knowledge, risks and benefits, and emotional balance had a direct effect on the acceptance of the mine. Likewise, emotional balance showed a partial mediation effect between the relationships existing between the perception of benefits and risks and the acceptance of the mining proposal. The results are discussed based on the consideration of analyzing sociodemographic, cognitive, and affective variables to understand potential conflicts in communities affected by energy projects.

The Analysis of High School Students’ Perception and Knowledge of Renewable and Nuclear Energy

While the public's perception and knowledge of renewable and nuclear energy sources have been studied extensively, not as much emphasis has been placed on high school students. This study’s goal was to explore this topic amongst high schoolers specifically in the San Francisco Bay Area and investigate pre-existing findings while addressing gaps in previous research. From the study, positive support for renewable energy and critical opinions on nuclear energy were reciprocated. A notable gender difference regarding perception of nuclear energy was also supported: female students tended to respond more negatively toward nuclear energy compared to male students. Public school students were found to have a more positive perception toward renewable energy compared to private school students. This study also revealed school and the internet as crucial sources of renewable and nuclear energy knowledge among high school students, pointing to their significance in the spread of information about these energy types. Finally, a weak positive correlation between the perception of nuclear and renewable energies was discovered.

Thinking, not talking, predicts knowledge level: Effects of media attention and reflective integration on public knowledge of nuclear energy.

By applying the cognitive mediation model, this study seeks to investigate factors influencing public knowledge of nuclear energy in Singapore. In addition, this study seeks to extend the cognitive mediation model by explicating the knowledge variable into four facets - general science knowledge, perceived familiarity, content nuclear knowledge and contextual nuclear knowledge. Using data collected from an interviewer-led door-to-door survey with 1000 Singapore citizens and permanent residents (PRs), we found that attention to TV news, website news and social media news stimulated news elaboration and interpersonal discussion. However, attention to print newspaper was neither associated with news elaboration nor interpersonal discussion. We also found that news elaboration could enhance factual knowledge such as general science knowledge, content nuclear knowledge and contextual nuclear knowledge, while interpersonal discussion could enhance perceived familiarity. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

APLIKASI TEKNIK FUZZY DELPHI DALAM PEMBANGUNAN MODUL PEMBELAJARAN STEM TENAGA NUKLEAR BAGI MATA PELAJARAN SAINS TINGKATAN EMPAT

This study was conducted quantitatively to develop a nuclear energy STEM learning module based on expert consensus. Nuclear energy education in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is an important agenda in the Malaysian Education Development Plan (PPPM) 2013-2025 to meet the aspirations of the country and the needs of the global world. The role of teachers is important in the teaching and learning of nuclear energy so that the objectives of the lesson are achieved. Learning the topic of nuclear energy is considered a difficult topic to understand because it cannot be seen, felt or smelled. Teachers with limited knowledge of nuclear energy also contribute to students’ knowledge misconceptions. This study was conducted using Fuzzy Delphi technique questionnaire instrument on 11 experts to obtain views and consensus. Fuzzy Deplhi technique data were analyzed to determine the elements of sub - topics, content, strategies and learning styles as well as appropriate resource training in the learning modules. The results of the study showed that all elements met the requirements, namely the threshold value d was less than 0.2 and the percentage of the expert group was more than 75%. This shows that all the items are required by the expert panel in developing the nuclear energy STEM learning module for the form four Science subject.

Knowledge, belief, and attitude of Bangladeshi youth toward the development of nuclear power

Public support is one of the major challenges for maintaining a sustainable nuclear power program for any country. Although Bangladesh’s decision to build its maiden nuclear power plant (NPP) has received significant scholarly attention, the study regarding public perception is largely ignored. To fill this gap, this study investigated how Bangladeshis view the government’s decision to build NPPs. The study evaluated Bangladeshi youth’s knowledge, belief, and attitude toward the development of nuclear power. Applying the survey research technique, we found that 49% of the 450 respondents were positive toward NPPs, while 12% had no idea about NPPs. Women, in comparison to men, were found to have less knowledge of nuclear energy. Additionally, 41% of the respondents believed that the decision for establishing the country’s first NPP at Rooppur was right. However, 54% of the respondents expressed concerns over the safety, security, and sustainability of NPPs. Most importantly, a significant distrust among the respondents was observed in the capability of the regulator and operator for maintaining the NPP in a safe, secured, and sustainable manner. The study concludes that more policy actions are necessary to increase public support for nuclear power.

Exploring virtual reality technology and the role of mindfulness in promoting nuclear power knowledge and public acceptance in China

ABSTRACT As demand for energy usage by economic agents increases and the incremental impacts of climate change in the society (environmental pollution and carbon emission), the relevancy of nuclear power energy generation to sustain the growing economy in China needs to be considered. Because the young generation today is deemed to play a significant role in future social development, their knowledge of nuclear energy would, to a large extent, promote sustainable future energy consumption and simultaneously protecting the environment. Developing a strategic nuclear energy communication mechanism is an essential component of preparedness toward public acceptance, and public knowledge is vital to its success. This study aimed to investigate the usage of virtual reality as a communication technique. Survey data was collected from 562 students using playtest method, and SmartPLS 3.0 structural equation modeling was employed for the analysis. Informed by the public understanding of science (PUS) theory and deficit model, the results of this study revealed the significant relationship between mindfulness in nuclear power VR promotion content and perceived benefit, safety awareness, public knowledge, and public acceptance. We further tested the mediating role of perceived presence in the model. We have highlighted the theoretical and practical implications of the study.

An assessment of public knowledge, perception and acceptance of nuclear energy in Ghana

Social acceptance of nuclear energy is critical for its successful implementation. Ghana has decided to develop nuclear energy to augment its growing demand for electricity. The study assesses the level of public knowledge, perceptions, risk and policy support for nuclear power development among Ghanaians. A nationally representative survey of Ghanaian adults (N = 1128), aged 18 and older, was conducted from August 1 to 2018 to November 28, 2018. The findings of the study indicate that, 72% of respondents have knowledge of nuclear energy, however only 28% of the respondents were aware of Ghana’s nuclear development plan. We observed that about 51% of the respondents support Ghana’s nuclear development plan despite the low level of awareness. Most respondents showed concern for the safety and prospects of having nuclear energy, fully adopted in the country. Social risk investment was identified as the most significant risk associated with nuclear power development. Majority of the respondents were much more ‘interested’ in how nuclear energy will impact or affect people or communities should they adopt the technology or in case of accidents. These findings provide useful insights for nuclear energy adoption and policy directions in Ghana. The Government of Ghana and other major stakeholders of nuclear power technology should develop a communication strategy to increase and sustain publicity and education of Ghana’s nuclear power development plan to citizens.

Public acceptance of nuclear power among Malaysian students

Malaysian government’s aim to include nuclear energy for electricity generation has triggered various reactions from all especially the public. The objective of this study is to have a better understanding on the knowledge, sources of information of nuclear power and sources of energy chosen by Malaysian in 20 years’ time. Besides that, we want to examine the level of acceptance and perception of Malaysian towards nuclear energy and we want to identify the correlation between public perceptions with the acceptance towards nuclear power in Malaysia, and also to study the differences between perception and acceptance of nuclear power with gender and educational level. For this research methodology, the research questions are given orally or through paper-pencil and also social networking site such as Facebook or through electronic media application such as WhatsApp and Google docs. The data were analysed using a SPSS version 22.0 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). Results showed that more than 50% of the respondents have the knowledge of nuclear energy. A part of from that, only 39 % are confident government can afford to build NPP in Malaysia and 41 % disagree nuclear energy is the best option for future energy. From analysis using SPSS 22 we estimate negative perception will give a negative acceptance in term of support towards the use of nuclear energy in power generation in Malaysia. There are also slight correlation that the higher the level of education of Malaysian, the more negative the perception of Malaysian in accepting nuclear energy as source of power in Malaysia. Therefore in shaping a positive acceptance of NPP in Malaysia, the authorities need to educate the people with the knowledge of nuclear in order to overcome the negative perception towards nuclear power.

Preferences, Knowledge, and Citizen Probability Assessments of the Terrorism Risk of Nuclear Power

AbstractHow does the American public assess risk when it comes to national security issues? This paper addresses this question by analyzing variation in citizen probability assessments of the terrorism risk of nuclear power plants. Drawing on the literature on how motivated reasoning, selective information processing, and domain‐specific knowledge influence public opinion, we argue that heterogeneous issue preferences and knowledge of nuclear energy and homeland security have important explanatory power. Using original data from a unique 2009 national survey in the United States, we show that Americans are divided in their probability assessments of the terrorism risk of nuclear power plants. Consistent with our theoretical expectations, individuals who support using nuclear power to meet rising energy demands, who are generally less concerned with terrorism, or who are more knowledgeable about terrorism and nuclear security tend to provide lower assessments of the likelihood that nuclear power plants increase terrorist attacks, and vice versa. The findings have implications for the literature on public opinion, risk assessment, energy policy and planning, and homeland security.