Enhancing Public Perception of the Nuclear Industry: Radiation Mapping as an Educational Tool

This work presents the use of radiation mapping as a tool to educate secondary school students about basic radiation principles and the risks associated with different levels of radiation exposure. The course, undertaken at Bodmin College, Cornwall, UK, combines the normal lessons on radioactivity with an interactive radiation mapping task using ground-based radiation mapping equipment. The task required the students (as a group) to radiologically map their local area in order to better understand what constitutes background radiation and what factors cause variability in this measurement. The resultant radiation map was then used to help put exposures from other sources into context compared with the background dose the students receive in their day to day lives. An exit poll following the completion of the course showed an improvement in the students perception of the risks associated with low-level radiation exposure alongside an improvement in all participating student's opinions on the nuclear industry and whether they would be happy to live nearby to nuclear industry infrastructure. By implementing more interactive and tangible methods to educate the public about radiation exposure and the nuclear industry, it is potentially possible to break down barriers that currently prevent the construction of necessary infrastructure, such as long-term waste depository facilities and new reactors.