Investigating the degree of 'stigma' associated with nuclear energy technologies: a cross-cultural examination of the case of fusion power

Horlick-Jones, Thomas Edward, Prades, A. and Espluga, J. 2012. Investigating the degree of 'stigma' associated with nuclear energy technologies: a cross-cultural examination of the case of fusion power. Public Understanding of Science 21 (5) , pp. 514-533. 10.1177/0963662510371630

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

The extent to which nuclear energy technologies are, in some sense, “stigmatised” by historical environmental and military associations is of particular interest in contemporary debates about sustainable energy policy. Recent claims in the literature suggest that despite such stigmatisation, lay views on such technologies may be shifting towards a “reluctant acceptance,” in the light of concerns about issues like anthropogenic climate change. In this paper, we report on research into learning and reasoning processes concerned with a largely unknown nuclear energy technology; namely fusion power. We focus on the role of the nuclear label, or “brand,” in informing how lay citizens make sense of the nature of this technology. Our findings derive from a comparative analysis of data generated in Spain and Britain, using the same methodology.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	energy policy; lay expertise; practical reasoning; public understanding of science; risk perception; science and popular culture
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
ISSN:	0963-6625
Last Modified:	19 Mar 2016 22:49
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/28328

Citation Data

Cited 19 times in Scopus. View in Scopus. Powered By Scopus® Data

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item