RE: [cdn-nucl-l] Pro-nuclear piece in La Recherche

["Brown, Morgan" <brownmj@aecl.ca>]

In order to address public cynicism/skepticism/distrust of anything nuclear,
we have to reach individuals.  Let me give you an example:

Amongst other hats I wear is that of chair of the Whiteshell Campus of the
Deep River Science Academy.  We are a non-profit hands-on science school
that provides six-week projects in which high school students get their feet
wet (sometimes literally) doing scientific research.  We have three main
areas that challenge us each year - getting students, getting projects, and
getting funding.  No surprises there.  Our most effective tool in overcoming
these problems is personal contact.  The occasional newspaper article is
helpful, but ad campaigns (e.g. brochure mailouts) are usually a waste of
effort - the brochures mailed to schools end up in the garbage.  The schools
get bombarded with brochures and junk mail, so much of it doesn't reach our
audience - teachers, students and parents.  Time and time again it has been
people we've met face-to-face, or with whom we've had an mutual
acqaintancet, who help us.  We have one teacher who repeatedly sends us
students, because he is pleased with our program and has seen years of
success.  It is personal contacts, who-knows-who, that get us research
projects.  And going personally and knowing contact people helps us get
donations and sponsorship.  Having an excellent program, with good financial
and administrative management, is not enough to get us what we need - we
have to get our story known.

I believe the same applies to the nuclear business.  While ad campaigns have
their place, I think they are limited and short-lived.  A very simple and
effective means of communicating is the personal one.  Don't be shy if
people ask what you do.  Perhaps you can give a talk at a career day at your
child's school.  Let people see that the nuclear industry is not some
faceless monolith but is composed of many individuals.  I have presented
about 20 talks to junior high school students over about 5 years - that's
400+ children.  I bring along lots of fun stuff like a geiger counter and
samples (I wander about the room, away from the samples, showing the
students that there is radiation everywhere).  I let the students try out
the equipment, to handle a model fuel bundle.

I don't claim that my talks have been brilliant or particularly effective in
convincing the Canadian population to support nuclear.  But I do think they
show students that "nuclear" doesn't have to be feared, that it can do good,
that the people in the business are friendly and share a concern for the
well-being of planet Earth - we aren't mad scientists or corporate money
grubbers trying to rule the world!

So I encourage you to use opportunities, or seek them out, to tell people
personally that nuclear is a lot less scary, and a lot more useful, than the
media and other organizations would have you believe.  Don't rely on the
public relations people to be the only outlet for our good story

Go for it!

Morgan Brown