Improving Risk Communication Through Interactive Training in Communication Skills

Conference · Wed Apr 24 00:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:6021384

White, Douglas A. ^[1]; White, Robin K. ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

This paper describes a workshop in communication and public speaking skills recently conducted for a group of public officials whose responsibilities include presenting risk information at public meetings associated with hazardous waste sites. We detail the development and execution of the 2 1/2 day workshop, including the development and integration of a 45-minute video of a simulated public meeting used to illustrate examples of good and bad communication behaviors. The workshop uses a mock public meeting video, participatory video exercises, role-playing, an instructor, and a resource text. This interactive approach to teaching communication skills can help sensitize scientists to the public's understanding of risk and improve scientists' confidence and effectiveness in communicating scientific information.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6021384
• Report Number(s): CONF-9104197-1; ON: DE91009155
• Resource Relation: Conference: Hazardous Materials Control Research Institute (HMCRI) Superfund Southeast Conference, Houston, TX (United States), 24-26 Apr 1991
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
WASTE MANAGEMENT
COMMUNICATIONS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INFORMATION DISSEMINATION
PUBLIC HEALTH
PUBLIC INFORMATION
PUBLIC OFFICIALS
PUBLIC OPINION
PUBLIC RELATIONS
RISK ASSESSMENT
INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
290200* - Energy Planning & Policy- Economics & Sociology
290300 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety