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Title: Politics and scientific expertise: Scientists, risk perception, and nuclear waste policy

Abstract

To study the homogeneity and influences on scientists' perspectives of environmental risks, the authors have examined similarities and differences in risk perceptions, particularly regarding nuclear wastes, and policy preferences among 1011 scientists and engineers. Significant differences (p<0.05) were found in the patterns of beliefs among scientists from different fields of research. In contrast to physicists, chemists, and engineers, life scientists tend to: (a) perceive the greatest risks from nuclear energy and nuclear waste management; (b) perceive higher levels of overall environmental risk; (c) strongly oppose imposing risks on unconsenting individuals; and (d) prefer stronger requirements for environmental management. On some issues related to priorities among public problems and calls for government action, there are significant variations among life scientists or physical scientists. It was also found that-independently of field of research-perceptions of risk and its correlates are significantly associated with the type of institution in which the scientist is employed. Scientists in universities or state and local governments tend to see the risks of nuclear energy and wastes as greater than scientists who work as business consultants, for federal organizations, or for private research laboratories. Significant differences also are found in priority given to environmental risks, the perceived proximity ofmore » environmental disaster, willingness to impose risks on an unconsenting population, and the necessity of accepting risks and sacrifices. 33 refs., 3 figs., 9 tabs.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States)
  2. Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
5893122
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Risk Analysis; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 13:4; Journal ID: ISSN 0272-4332
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY AND ECONOMY; 11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; NUCLEAR ENERGY; RISK ASSESSMENT; RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT; SCIENTIFIC PERSONNEL; ATTITUDES; CONSULTANTS; ENGINEERS; POLITICAL ASPECTS; SURVEYS; ANIMALS; ENERGY; INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS; MAMMALS; MAN; MANAGEMENT; PERSONNEL; PRIMATES; PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL; VERTEBRATES; WASTE MANAGEMENT; 290600* - Energy Planning & Policy- Nuclear Energy; 290300 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment, Health, & Safety; 054000 - Nuclear Fuels- Health & Safety

Citation Formats

Barke, R P, and Jenkins-Smith, H C. Politics and scientific expertise: Scientists, risk perception, and nuclear waste policy. United States: N. p., 1993. Web. doi:10.1111/j.1539-6924.1993.tb00743.x.
Barke, R P, & Jenkins-Smith, H C. Politics and scientific expertise: Scientists, risk perception, and nuclear waste policy. United States. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.1993.tb00743.x
Barke, R P, and Jenkins-Smith, H C. 1993. "Politics and scientific expertise: Scientists, risk perception, and nuclear waste policy". United States. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.1993.tb00743.x.
@article{osti_5893122,
title = {Politics and scientific expertise: Scientists, risk perception, and nuclear waste policy},
author = {Barke, R P and Jenkins-Smith, H C},
abstractNote = {To study the homogeneity and influences on scientists' perspectives of environmental risks, the authors have examined similarities and differences in risk perceptions, particularly regarding nuclear wastes, and policy preferences among 1011 scientists and engineers. Significant differences (p<0.05) were found in the patterns of beliefs among scientists from different fields of research. In contrast to physicists, chemists, and engineers, life scientists tend to: (a) perceive the greatest risks from nuclear energy and nuclear waste management; (b) perceive higher levels of overall environmental risk; (c) strongly oppose imposing risks on unconsenting individuals; and (d) prefer stronger requirements for environmental management. On some issues related to priorities among public problems and calls for government action, there are significant variations among life scientists or physical scientists. It was also found that-independently of field of research-perceptions of risk and its correlates are significantly associated with the type of institution in which the scientist is employed. Scientists in universities or state and local governments tend to see the risks of nuclear energy and wastes as greater than scientists who work as business consultants, for federal organizations, or for private research laboratories. Significant differences also are found in priority given to environmental risks, the perceived proximity of environmental disaster, willingness to impose risks on an unconsenting population, and the necessity of accepting risks and sacrifices. 33 refs., 3 figs., 9 tabs.},
doi = {10.1111/j.1539-6924.1993.tb00743.x},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5893122}, journal = {Risk Analysis; (United States)},
issn = {0272-4332},
number = ,
volume = 13:4,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993},
month = {Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993}
}