Call for abstracts: International Symposium on Communicating Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies to the Public due 30 March 2018
Interested participants have until 30 March 2018 to submit abstracts for oral or poster presentations at the International Symposium on Communicating Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies to the Public, to be held in Vienna, Austria, from 1 to 5 October 2018.
The IAEA International Symposium on Communicating Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies to the Public is the first of its kind and will bring together a broad range of experts responsible for communicating with the public in a nuclear or radiological emergency and for emergency preparedness and response (EPR). The symposium will include participants involved in EPR at the facility, local, national and international levels, as well as representatives of the media, non-governmental organizations, academia and the public.
“We have learned that public communication is one of the most important challenges for the management of nuclear and radiological emergencies,” said Jason Cameron, Vice-President of Regulatory Affairs and Chief Communications Officer of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and Chair of the symposium. “During an emergency, our broad mission includes effectively communicating about protective actions, reducing rumour and fear, facilitating relief efforts and maintaining public trust and confidence in emergency response efforts.”
The IAEA is seeking presentations highlighting innovative ideas, new approaches to public communication technology and contemporary public communication solutions, including methods and tools.
“The symposium will have discussions on the latest developments regarding communication with the public in a nuclear or radiological emergency,” added Cameron. “As a forum for networking and information exchange among practitioners in the areas of communication and EPR, the symposium will provide participants with an opportunity to share experiences and good practices, and to offer their ideas on how to further strengthen the preparedness of States and of the international community.”
The symposium sessions will cover the following topics: emergency preparedness and response, stakeholder engagement, public communication channels and tools in emergencies, social media, effective communication, psychology of communication, coordination of information, communicating in different types of emergencies, the question “Am I safe?” and lessons learned. The IAEA welcomes abstracts in any of these topics.