As part of the project to promote communication on science and technology, JST decided in 2012 to run a “Communication Network Establishment Support Program for Risk in Science and Technology.”
Ever since the Great East Japan Earthquake, there has been a growing interest in the state of risk communication and the risk of natural disasters, and the spread of knowledge regarding risks has become an important issue. For these reasons, JST is providing support to initiatives to promote and develop science and technology communication regarding risks, as well as working to develop and share effective methods for these activities through the building of a network and cooperation among the main organizations involved such activities at universities and science centers across Japan.
The program aims to build a cross-sectional network to cultivate understanding from multiple perspectives among the general population for the fundamental philosophy behind risks in a variety of fields ranging from natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, to radiation, healthcare issues, food safety, etc.
| Name of Proposed Program | Project with Citizen Participation to Provide Opportunities for Questioning and Learning about Risks in Daily Life | Development of Communication Technology Contributing to Securing of Radiation Safety, and Building of a Network among Experts |
|---|---|---|
| Institution | Hokkaido University | Kyoto University |
| Outline | People will engage in communication on science and technology regarding risks centered on food and agriculture, by establishing a place for citizens to participate in discussions allowing the involvement of people who traditionally would not have taken part. Then networks will be built through collaboration with various people involved both at the regional and national level. | The state of communication on science and technology regarding the “effects of radiation on health will be surveyed and analyzed from the perspectives of ordinary citizens as well as experts. Then based on the results, risk communication technology will be developed and a network built to give full play to the skills required for overcoming risk phenomena. |
JST, an integrated organization of science and technology in Japan, establishes an infrastructure for the entire process from the creation of knowledge to the return to the society. For more information, visit http://www.jst.go.jp/EN/