When: Wednesday 14th November, 8:45am – 9:45am
Where: L2, Level 2 to the left of the registration/foyer area, down the hallway and through the doors on the right
Hashtag: #W4

Modern society is governed by consideration of risks. Social, economic and environmental risks abound and their impact enhanced by social media. In this session, Mary Anne Waldren interviews Kate Hughes about how risks of pollution remediation are communicated by experts to the public. Kate’s recent research inquiry finds that scientists need more than scientific literacy to communicate risks because, all risks are ultimately socially constructed. Kate’s insight about social literacy are worth hearing. They are new, and draw their pedigree from her experience of remediation at the Homebush Olympic site in Sydney, and the adjacent and infamous dioxin contaminated site once owned by Union Carbide. When it comes to risk, it’s context that matters, and this session really starts a new conversation about experts’ risk communication.

Session Chair

Mary Anne Waldren, Consultant, MAW Action Pty Ltd

Presenter

Kate Hughes, Research Communications and Advocacy, Right To Know Publications