Defending Modernity? Communicating with the Public about Nuclear Energy: Historical Perspectives

自20世纪40年代进入公众视野以来，英国核能机构一直在努力管理自己的公众形象，并保持公众的信任。自上世纪70年代以来，反对声音尤其强烈，而支持核计划的经济理由也越来越难以维持。为了做到这一点，它开创了现在被称为科学传播的新技术，从公开演讲和传单，展览和游客中心，信息电影和录像以及私有化宣传，到向全国直播的壮观的核火车相撞事故。这些活动在国家档案馆中有详细的记录，但除了1957年的火灾外，很少受到关注。相反，学者们把注意力集中在反对核能的人身上。这些文献还以简单化和同质化的术语描绘了核工业和核工业中的人们，同时强调了抗议运动中的多样性。本项目将通过关注自20世纪50年代末以来支持核电发展的政府部门和国家机构如何促进和捍卫其承诺来填补这一空白。学生将探索组织如何制定外部沟通策略，如何相互合作（并挑战），如何与更广泛的行业和国际伙伴合作，以及这些策略如何随着时间的推移而变化。这个项目被认为是对科学传播史的贡献，但它也将为当前的决策者提供经验教训，包括那些对重大基础设施项目感兴趣的决策者。

Since it emerged into the public eye in the 1940s the British nuclear establishment has worked hard to manage its public image and retain public trust. It has done so in the face of opposition that has grown particularly vocal since the 1970s and as economic arguments for the nuclear programme have become increasing difficult to sustain. To do this it pioneered new techniques for what is now known as science communication, from public talks and leaflets, exhibitions and visitor centres, information films and videos and privatisation publicity to a spectacular nuclear train crash that was broadcast live to the nation.These activities are well-documented in The National Archives, but apart from the fire in 1957, have received little attention. Instead scholars have concentrated on opponents of nuclear power. This literature has also portrayed the nuclear industry and the people within it in simplistic and homogenous terms, whilst stressing the diversity within the protest movement. This project will fill this gap by focussing on how Government departments and state agencies that supported the development of nuclear power promoted and defended their commitment from the late 1950s. The student will explore howorganisations formulated their external communications strategies, collaborated with (and challenged) each other, the wider industry and international associates and how these strategies changed over time. The project is framed as a contribution to the history of science communication but it will also offer lessons for current policy makers, including those interested in major infrastructure projects.