After a period of phasing out, nuclear power has once again become a hot topic in Sweden. The Swedish government wants to see increased investment in nuclear power, and possibilities for new nuclear power plants at Ringhals and in municipalities around Sweden are currently being investigated.
Nuclear power technology is being developed at a time when the challenges are different from those that arose during the intense debates surrounding the 1980 referendum. New technology brings with it new risks and major societal challenges, such as secure energy supply, climate, and safety, creating different conditions and raising new questions about nuclear energy.
"Technology is important, but it doesn't tell the whole story. We need to understand how the nuclear power of the future will affect people and societies. That's where our project comes in," says Kristina Stenström, project manager.
The project brings together researchers from five faculties at two universities: natural sciences, engineering, medicine, and social sciences at Lund University, and humanities at Karlstad University.
Åsa Thelander at the Department of Communication focuses on communicative aspects of nuclear energy, and one of the project's three doctoral positions will be located at the Department of Communication.
If new nuclear energy in the form of small modular reactors (SMRs) becomes a reality, Sweden may gain many new nuclear power municipalities. This will require communication that creates understanding and security. The researchers want to compare how risks are explained in Sweden and internationally and investigate how communication can be developed to meet future needs.
If you are interested in contributing to the development of knowledge about nuclear energy and communication, a call for applications for a doctoral position in this field will be published shortly.