PIME – Preliminary Programme
Monday 14 October 2024
9 am – 10 am
ITER: Conveying the World's Largest Fusion Experiment in an Evolving Communication Landscape
PIME 2024 will take place at the site of ITER, the fascinating international project to build a tokamak fusion device designed to prove the feasibility of fusion as a large-scale and carbon-free source of energy.
We will kick-off the conference with an insight into how ITER is evolving its communication strategies to effectively convey the complexities and potential of the world's largest fusion experiment amidst changing global energy narratives. The presentation will highlight the team's adaptive approaches to engage diverse audiences and respond to changes.
Speaker: Sabina Griffith, Communication Officer, ITER
Coffee Break
10.30 am – 12.30pm
Navigating Nuclear Narratives: Media, Politics, and Public Perception in a Shifting Landscape
Moderator: Kamen Kraev, NucNet
Shifting Perspectives: Evolving Narratives and Communication Paradigms in Nuclear Power Media Coverage
Jonathan Tirone, Journalist, Bloomberg
Jonathan will explore how media narratives around nuclear energy have evolved since 2022. With the backdrop of shifting political landscapes and heightened public awareness, Johnathan will explore how nuclear power is framed by professional media outlets and discuss the potential communication shifts that may arise as new nuclear projects and the global nuclear ramp-up take shape.
Framing Nuclear: Analyzing Political Discourse on SMRs and Energy Policy through AI
Anouk Luypaert, Researcher, University of Antwerp
Anouk will explore the energy policy frames used by politicians on social media, focusing specifically on nuclear energy and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Using Flanders as a case study, Anouk's research tracks the prevalence of these frames from 2021, before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, through 2024, comparing their use across various political parties. Her team employs cutting-edge AI, including large language models, to analyze social media posts and extract established energy policy frames.
Evolving Public Opinion: How Surveys Reflect Shifts in Nuclear Energy Perception
Jessica Johnson, Communications Director, nucleareurope
Jessica will provide an overview of recent surveys that reveal changing public perceptions of nuclear energy. Drawing from international data, Jessica will examine how nuclear power is increasingly viewed as a solution to pressing challenges such as energy security, sustainability, and affordability and how this renewed attention is shaping public opinion.
Winning Hearts and Minds: Communication Strategies in Nuclear Energy and Climate Campaigns
Malcolm Grimston, Hon Senior Research Fellow, Imperial College
Drawing from his expertise on emotional versus fact-driven communication, Malcolm will highlight the success of campaigns that connect with people's values, everyday experiences, and emotions, particularly in the context of nuclear energy and climate change. His presentation will offer insights into how pro-active communication strategies influence public trust, credibility, and responses to energy system changes and emerging technologies.
Lunch Break
1.30pm – 3.30pm Interactive working groups (in parallel)
WG1: Shaping the narratives of nuclear communications
As the world gears up for a revival of nuclear power, the next decade promises to be a transformative period marked by a series of ambitious construction projects. This resurgence will bring forth a host of new communication challenges and paradigms.
Communications will have to step away from the mainly safety-related narratives or the talk about the need to support nuclear and public opinion into issues related to project life and nuclear ramp-up like, for example, supply chains, costs, funding, schedules, delays, operation, workforce, fuel supply of the future, uranium resources, expanded need for safeguards, nuclear transport etc.
In this workshop we will identify the most relevant narratives and discuss how to shape those narratives.
Moderated by Valerie Faudon, Director General, SFEN
WG2: SMR’s, AMR’s, Micro-reactors – changing the communications paradigm
New reactor technologies are perceived as an innovative, small and easy (easier) to build solutions for nuclear energy, changing the dynamics of communications.
This workshop aims to address the unique challenges in effectively communicating about Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs). As the nuclear industry evolves with these new technologies, it is crucial to develop a strategic communication approach that addresses specific challenges in communicating these innovations. The workshop will foster exchange among communication peers on some of the most relevant issues for communications, including on how to educate the public on those technologies and how to align communications on ‘traditional’ and upcoming technologies.
Moderated by Kamen Kraev, Secretary General, NucNet and John McNamara, Head of Stakeholder Engagement, GB Nuclear (tbc)
Coffee Break
4.00pm – 6.00pm
Plenary: Exchange of Learnings & Introductions to workshops of Day 2
Moderator: Jessica Johnson, Communications Director, nucleareurope
Tuesday 15 October 2024 – 9 am-3 pm
9am – 10.30am Interactive working groups (in parallel)
WG 3: Communication and HR: A beneficial Partnership
As the nuclear industry faces unprecedented workforce demands and increasing competition from other sectors, the question arises: How can a company’s communication strategy significantly impact its ability to attract and retain talent? Is there a visible contribution of communication teams to success/failure of recruiting workforce?
This workshop will explore the critical relationship between communication and HR departments in attracting and retaining top talent. Drawing on real-world experiences from within the sector, we will examine how strategic communication efforts dedicated to workforce-related content can bring measurable benefits for both teams.
With
Callum Thomas, Thomas Thor
Moderated by Jadwiga Najder, Science and Outreach Manager, ENS
WG4: Closing the Gender Gap in Nuclear Support: Understanding and Addressing Perception Differences
A widely observed gender gap exists in perceptions of nuclear power, with men being significantly more likely to express support. This workshop will explore the underlying reasons for this disparity and discuss actionable strategies to bridge the gap. By examining the causes of these perception differences, participants will gain valuable insights to help design more impactful communication strategies.
With
Richard Ollington, Radiant Energy Group
Ann Bisconti (tbc), Bisconti Research Inc.
11am – 1.00pm
WG 5: Local Stakeholder engagement
Effective stakeholder engagement is essential for building public confidence in nuclear programmes. This workshop will explore best practices, challenges, and methods for involving diverse stakeholders throughout a programme’s lifecycle—from planning and construction to dismantling. Participants will discuss how to develop tailored engagement strategies, manage evolving stakeholder landscapes, and addressing concerns through strategic communication.
With
Marieke Klaver, Manager Stakeholder engagement, PALLAS Programme
Marieke will highlight some key aspects of Stakeholder Engagement in a New Build context
Paul-Emmanuel Schoeller, Director of Territorial Action and Institutional Relations, EDF Group
Paul-Emmanuel will shed light on key elements of stakeholder engagement in relation to the long-term operation of power plants.
Moderated by Cora Blankendaal, Pallas
1.00pm – 2.00pm – Lunch break
2.00pm – 4.00pm - Site Visit of ITER