The Neglected Role of Education in Brazilian Research Regarding Nuclear Theme versus Scientific and Technological Knowledge, Perception and Risk Communication

Abstract

Studies of risk perception and risk communication concerning the nuclear area are quite common in scientifi c literature. However, though numerous studies on this topic point to the importance of scientifi c and technological knowledge in facilitating the reduction of perceived risks, there are few papers that effectively discuss the role of education in risk communication on the subject, particularly in Brazil. The objective of the present work was to refl ect on this problem by analyzing the results obtained from two case studies on the implementation of the Brazilian Multipurpose Reactor, in the city of Iperó, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. As was verifi ed in the investigation, most participants of the study had high perception of risk with respect to the implementation of the reactor. Nevertheless, although important in the project of the reactor implementation, it was verifi ed that the state, municipal and community schools of the city of Iperó had not participated, in the public hearings nor had they discussed the issue inside the school community, until the moment of the research.