“ODISCÉ” OR HOW TO ENCOURAGE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN SCIENTISTS AND SOCIETY ON THE SUBJECT OF NUCLEAR AND RADIOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT
89% of French people believe that pluralistic structures help to improve the identification and reduction of risks.
Since its creation in 2002, IRSN has adopted an open approach to society in response to public expectations and to strengthen the Institute's expertise; over time, this approach has led to the testing of innovative dialogue and involvement mechanisms. However, one thing is clear today: civil society is becoming increasingly concerned with the important issues of nuclear safety and radiation protection.
IRSN is therefore aiming for even more openness by creating the ODISCÉ committee to give a new impetus to the regular discussions between experts and stakeholders on nuclear and radiation risks.
ENCOURAGING INTERACTIONS BETWEEN SCIENTISTS AND SOCIETY
The committee will foster regular and in-depth discussions to encourage new interactions between scientists and society on the assessment of nuclear and radiation risks.
This advisory body, in close contact with the Director General of the Institute, will also enable discussions to be instigated with a wider audience. All kinds of topics could be covered: installation safety, transport and waste, radiation protection of the general public, workers and within the health sector, environmental monitoring, crisis management, etc.
A COMMITTEE OF PARTICIPATION EXPERTS AND CORRESPONDENTS
ODISCÉ comprises approximately twenty members from different backgrounds: participation experts, experts from associations, non-institutional experts, operator and administrative authority correspondents and representatives of institutes that have signed the charter of openness to society.
Chaired by Michel Badré, who is also a member of the joint Inrae-Cirad-Ifremer-IRD ethics advisory committee and president of the HCTISN group to monitor consultation and dialogue for the Cigéo project, ODISCÉ will advise IRSN on new discussions to be organised to strengthen the robustness of its assessment projects by developing the debate.
A FIRST DISCUSSION MEETING
The inaugural meeting of the ODISCÉ committee was held on 27 January. During this first meeting, Jean-Christophe Niel, Director General of IRSN, stressed the importance of this committee to drive the Institute's policy of openness to society.
Michel Badré accepted the role of chairman and expressed his hopes that the committee will provide advice to bridge the gap between experts, citizens and politicians. Both men asserted their ambition to work in this direction.
